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CLIFFS: Given that humans get slower and have health problems as they get larger, what do you think is the IDEAL height and weight for a fighter? Evidence from any other sport is welcome.
Long version:
Okay, so I just read some basic information about the square-cube law, which (from what I see) states that as an animal's size increases, it's muscular strength goes up by x2 (squared), while its mass increases by x3 (cubed). So, basically, this explains why ants can lift 40-times their body weight, and why giant creatures have trouble supporting even their own body weight (which is why its much easier for huge animals to evolve and thrive in the ocean). Furthermore, people tend to have health problems once they get beyond a certain size.
So with that in mind, what is the actual ideal body-size for a human fighter?
We all know that guys in the extreme range who don't suffer from acromegaly, such as Stefan Struve (6'11" 260) and Semy Schilt (6'11" 290), have had some decent success in MMA, but hardly dominated.
But is this because they simply don't have the right athleticism? The NBA has shown us some incredibly large men with extreme physical gifts. Wilt Chamberlain was 7'1" and roughly 275 pounds and capable of some amazing athletic feats (he also wanted to fight Muhammad Ali). Shaq was 7'1" 300 (or more) and also toyed with fighting MMA, in his prime he was incredibly strong.
Would these men have been able to dominate with very little training? Nikolai Valuev won 2 heavyweight titles at 7-feet tall and 300 pounds (though I haven't seen much boxing).
Perhaps instead we can look at the NFL and wrestling. Alexander Karelin and Brock Lesnar, possibly the two most physically-gifted wrestlers who competed on a public stage, were both actually close to the same size. Karelin was around 6'3"-6'4" and wrestled at 286 pounds, Lesnar was 6'3" and roughly 290 during his training before cutting. Karelin was known to dominate men who were actually taller and heavier.
Lawrence Taylor and Dick Butkus, two of the greatest linebackers ever in the NFL, were both roughly 6'3" and 240 pounds.
So could 6'3" be the ideal height for a combat sportsmen? What's the best weight? Or is there just not enough of a sample size to see what giants could really do?
Long version:
Okay, so I just read some basic information about the square-cube law, which (from what I see) states that as an animal's size increases, it's muscular strength goes up by x2 (squared), while its mass increases by x3 (cubed). So, basically, this explains why ants can lift 40-times their body weight, and why giant creatures have trouble supporting even their own body weight (which is why its much easier for huge animals to evolve and thrive in the ocean). Furthermore, people tend to have health problems once they get beyond a certain size.
So with that in mind, what is the actual ideal body-size for a human fighter?
We all know that guys in the extreme range who don't suffer from acromegaly, such as Stefan Struve (6'11" 260) and Semy Schilt (6'11" 290), have had some decent success in MMA, but hardly dominated.
But is this because they simply don't have the right athleticism? The NBA has shown us some incredibly large men with extreme physical gifts. Wilt Chamberlain was 7'1" and roughly 275 pounds and capable of some amazing athletic feats (he also wanted to fight Muhammad Ali). Shaq was 7'1" 300 (or more) and also toyed with fighting MMA, in his prime he was incredibly strong.
Would these men have been able to dominate with very little training? Nikolai Valuev won 2 heavyweight titles at 7-feet tall and 300 pounds (though I haven't seen much boxing).
Perhaps instead we can look at the NFL and wrestling. Alexander Karelin and Brock Lesnar, possibly the two most physically-gifted wrestlers who competed on a public stage, were both actually close to the same size. Karelin was around 6'3"-6'4" and wrestled at 286 pounds, Lesnar was 6'3" and roughly 290 during his training before cutting. Karelin was known to dominate men who were actually taller and heavier.
Lawrence Taylor and Dick Butkus, two of the greatest linebackers ever in the NFL, were both roughly 6'3" and 240 pounds.
So could 6'3" be the ideal height for a combat sportsmen? What's the best weight? Or is there just not enough of a sample size to see what giants could really do?
