# Have there ever been combat sports with more than two opponents? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [June 13, 2012, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-combat-sports-with-more-than-two-opponents/625045 "2012-06-13T18:56:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2012, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-combat-sports-with-more-than-two-opponents/625045/1 "2012-06-13T18:56:50Z")
I have difficulty recalling any combat sport where more than two people fight each other at the same time. I vaguely recall that some gladiatorial fights involved naval engagements or gladiators/animals match ups. Aside from that, has it happened? There also seems to be a phenomenon among Russian youth of gathering in two groups of several dozen and going at it. It’s rather chaotic because, as you can imagine, the type of person who engages in such fights isn’t a great strategic mind. For more precision, I mean combat sports where the fight is genuine, not WWF stuff. Why don’t we see combat sports with more than two people? Would it be too obviously savage (as opposed to stuff like boxing and MMA)? Too difficult to referee? Too much going on at once for the audience to enjoy? ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2012, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-combat-sports-with-more-than-two-opponents/625045/2 "2012-06-13T19:01:01Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > I have difficulty recalling any combat sport where more than two people fight each other at the same time. I vaguely recall that some gladiatorial fights involved naval engagements or gladiators/animals match ups. Aside from that, has it happened? > > There also seems to be a phenomenon among Russian youth of gathering in two groups of several dozen and going at it. It’s rather chaotic because, as you can imagine, the type of person who engages in such fights isn’t a great strategic mind. > > For more precision, I mean combat sports where the fight is genuine, not WWF stuff. > Why don’t we see combat sports with more than two people? Would it be too obviously savage (as opposed to stuff like boxing and MMA)? Too difficult to referee? Too much going on at once for the audience to enjoy? There was the medieval melee. As opposed to jousting, it was a group combat activity. > **[Best Non GamStop Casinos UK - Updated List for June 2025](https://castles.me.uk/)** > > Best Non GamStop Casinos UK in June 2025. No UKGC limits, fast payouts, crypto accepted, no GamStop restrictions, instant signup. Explore top trusted sites now. ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2012, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-combat-sports-with-more-than-two-opponents/625045/3 "2012-06-13T19:11:46Z")
Football ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2012, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-combat-sports-with-more-than-two-opponents/625045/4 "2012-06-13T19:21:31Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > Why don’t we see combat sports with more than two people? Would it be too obviously savage (as opposed to stuff like boxing and MMA)? Too difficult to referee? Too much going on at once for the audience to enjoy? Any time you have more than two combatants, the ideal strategy is to avoid all fighting as much as possible, until there’s only 1 other combatant standing. You can either do this by running around like a chickenshit, or teaming up with people. It’d be like Risk. Hold South America and build up your armies, waiting for two other powerhouses to beat the snot out of each other so you can swoop in and pick up the pieces. Fun to play, hardly fun to watch. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2012, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-combat-sports-with-more-than-two-opponents/625045/5 "2012-06-13T19:28:56Z")
Do you mean more than two factions, or factions of more than one person each? ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2012, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-combat-sports-with-more-than-two-opponents/625045/6 "2012-06-13T19:49:37Z")
Chrosnos, I mean two factions with more than one person each. As steronz mentions, having more than two factions (especially an odd number) is a recipe for stalemate. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2012, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-combat-sports-with-more-than-two-opponents/625045/7 "2012-06-13T20:01:03Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > Chrosnos, > > I mean two factions with more than one person each. As steronz mentions, having more than two factions (especially an odd number) is a recipe for stalemate. The tournament melee seems to be the sort of thing you are looking for. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2012, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-combat-sports-with-more-than-two-opponents/625045/8 "2012-06-13T22:13:34Z")
The hunger games ---
**Author:** ![Peanut\_Gallery](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/838e76/32.png) [@Peanut\_Gallery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanut_Gallery)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2012, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-combat-sports-with-more-than-two-opponents/625045/9 "2012-06-13T23:21:19Z")
They call it Sando MMA [link](http://www.google.com/search?q=Sando+MMA&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#q=Sando+MMA&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=aNd&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=imvns&source=lnms&tbm=vid&ei=EiDZT-TsEOWW6AG_7fWJAw&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=4&ved=0CD0Q_AUoAw&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=5963cd702c508452&biw=1311&bih=694) ---
**Author:** ![Willcross](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b2d939/32.png) [@Willcross](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Willcross)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2012, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-combat-sports-with-more-than-two-opponents/625045/10 "2012-06-14T00:43:02Z")
There used to be real “battle royals” in the early 1900’s or so I’ve been told. Jack Johnson competed in them. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2012, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-combat-sports-with-more-than-two-opponents/625045/11 "2012-06-14T00:53:33Z")
Paintball is a team combat sport with multiple variations. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2012, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-combat-sports-with-more-than-two-opponents/625045/12 "2012-06-14T00:56:58Z")
Oak beat me to it. (curse you Red Baron… \) Yeah, tactical team combat with simulated weaponry is a good thing to participate in and to watch. A melee in an SCA event is really more fun than it sounds. And there are always nice ladies who want to patch you up afterwards.