We’ll break down various elements of this fight and show you what would happen if you found yourself toe to toe with the king of the jungle.
Comparing an Unarmed Human and a Lion
What Are the Key Factors in a Fight Between an Unarmed Human and a Lion?
As with all battles that happen in the wild, the fight between an unarmed human and a lion would come down to five main factors. They are size, predatory behavior, speed, defenses, and offenses. Each of these elements will influence the fight. So, figuring out whether a human or a lion comes away from this match alive means that we need to compare information and decide which animal has an advantage in a specific situation. After that, we’ll talk about how the fight would play out based on those factors. Let’s get to it!
Unarmed Human vs. Lion: Size
A lion is larger than a human being. The average lion weighs between 260 and 550 pounds, and it grows up to 3.9 feet tall and measures up to 8.2 feet long at its highest. Meanwhile, the average unarmed human weighs about 130 to 199 pounds and stands between 5 feet 3 inches and 5 feet 9 inches in height. Of course, larger humans are around as well. Still, lions have the size advantage in this battle.
Unarmed Human vs. Lion: Speed
Lions are much, much faster than human beings. A lion can run comfortably at about 35 mph. Yet, in the moments when they are about to bring down some prey, they can reach speeds between 40 and 50 mph. Humans have an average running speed between 6.5 and 8 mph. The very fastest human reached 27.5 mph during a full sprint. This speed is unattainable for most people. The lions have a significant speed advantage.
Unarmed Human vs. Lion: Defenses
Lions are known for living in pride, where other members of their group help to keep them safe from harm. On a physical level, their large size and power make them hard to take down and kill. Furthermore, they have the speed to help escape adverse situations. They also have manes that protect their otherwise vulnerable necks from bites. Without weapons or armor, humans are very fragile beings. Unarmed humans would have to rely on their senses to identify and avoid danger while using their intelligence to come up with a plan to stay safe. That’s not going to help much in a fight with a wild animal. Lions have an advantage in terms of physical defenses.
Unarmed Human vs. Lion: Offensive Capabilities
Lions are offensive powerhouses. They prefer to use a powerful bite to strangle their prey to death. Their bite force of 650 to 1,000 PSI is more than enough to do that job against the animals they hunt. Helping matters is the fact that they have 3 to 4-inch-long fangs that cause deep punctures and help them break vertebrae and skulls alike. Lions also have the power to smack an animal with their paws and cause significant harm. Lastly, they can use their claws to shred prey’s flesh. They’re loaded for battle. Unarmed humans are not nearly as prepared for a physical fight. We can punch, kick, choke, wrestle, or bite other animals. However, our bite force is weak, our teeth are relatively small, and there is no way that a human is going to punch or kick a lion to death. Lions have a significant advantage in terms of offensive capabilities.
Unarmed Human vs. Lion: Predatory Behavior
Lions can use two methods of hunting. They will either ambush prey and kill it right away or use several attackers to wear it down and kill it. The way they attack depends on what animal they’re hunting and if the lion is alone or with others. Humans use a variety of different hunting tactics when they’re armed with tools and weapons. However, their best bet is to use an ambush attack when unarmed. Lions have an advantage in terms of predatory behavior.
Who Would Win in a Fight Between an Unarmed Human and a Lion?
No, an unarmed human could not beat a lion in a fight. Even if a human came upon a sleeping lion, their chances of killing it would be laughably small. Humans aren’t going to knock out a lion with a kick or punch in one shot. They’re also not going to strangle a lion to death. So, how do they win the fight? Sure, humans can flee and try to evade the creature. However, lions are good hunters, and if they were dead set on killing a human, they would have no trouble. The lion could use any sort of attack it wants to kill the unarmed human. The most likely attack method would be to leap on the human and bite them in the head or neck, causing rapid blood loss and immense trauma. Lions kill armed humans from time to time. They’re deadly, hard to kill, fast, and deceptively sneaky for an animal that size. If a human with weapons has a hard time killing a lion, an unarmed person doesn’t stand a chance. It should go without saying, but don’t try to attack wild animals. Leave them alone. Top of Form
Up Next:
Lion vs Hyena: Who Would Win in a Fight?Lion vs Wolf: Who Would Win in a Fight?Cave Lions Vs Modern Lions: Who Would Win In A Fight?Could an Unarmed Human Beat a Grizzly Bear?
