# The Gauntlet has been thrown! Justin Bieber vs Tom Cruise, in the Octogon... who wins? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 10, 2019, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gauntlet-has-been-thrown-justin-bieber-vs-tom-cruise-in-the-octogon-who-wins/835297 "2019-06-10T13:55:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gauntlet-has-been-thrown-justin-bieber-vs-tom-cruise-in-the-octogon-who-wins/835297/21 "2019-06-10T15:49:47Z")
It does kind of remind me of the Bonaduce vs Osmond fight back in, what was it, 1994? At least there the ages were about equal. I think you people who think Cruise would win are just nuts. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gauntlet-has-been-thrown-justin-bieber-vs-tom-cruise-in-the-octogon-who-wins/835297/22 "2019-06-10T16:09:32Z")
Cruise is, to be sure, older; but he’s basically a stuntman who does a lot of sit-ups. Like, pick a number, and he’s probably doing more sit-ups than that _already_. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gauntlet-has-been-thrown-justin-bieber-vs-tom-cruise-in-the-octogon-who-wins/835297/23 "2019-06-10T16:20:44Z")
Beneath Cruise’s flashy smile and leading man looks is a sinister monster that destroys careers. He knows how to hook onto his opponent’s greatest insecurity and fear and tear it out like a forced birth. Bieber would be defeated mentally as well as physically. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gauntlet-has-been-thrown-justin-bieber-vs-tom-cruise-in-the-octogon-who-wins/835297/24 "2019-06-10T16:24:54Z")
Just tell Cruise that Bieber is an SP\*…Justin won’t stand a chance. \*Suppressive Person…in Scientology, someone who needs to be put down in the strongest possible manner. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gauntlet-has-been-thrown-justin-bieber-vs-tom-cruise-in-the-octogon-who-wins/835297/25 "2019-06-10T16:32:19Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Cruise is, to be sure, older; but he’s basically a stuntman who does a lot of sit-ups. Like, pick a number, and he’s probably doing more sit-ups than that _already_. Bieber doesn’t exactly look like he doesn’t work out. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gauntlet-has-been-thrown-justin-bieber-vs-tom-cruise-in-the-octogon-who-wins/835297/26 "2019-06-10T16:39:02Z")
I enjoy Tom Cruise’s movies. I do not enjoy Justin Bieber’s music, or anything else about him. So, I vote Cruise. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gauntlet-has-been-thrown-justin-bieber-vs-tom-cruise-in-the-octogon-who-wins/835297/27 "2019-06-10T16:51:40Z")
Cruise would wipe the floor with him. He does his own stunts to the point where he learned rock climbing up insane walls, and crazy motorcycle tricks. If he doesn’t already have at least 1 black belt in something I would be truly shocked. On the other hand, I doubt he’ll even acknowledge this stupid stunt. The whole thing reads like drunk posting. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gauntlet-has-been-thrown-justin-bieber-vs-tom-cruise-in-the-octogon-who-wins/835297/28 "2019-06-10T17:48:56Z")
Well, looking at things, Cruise was a wrestler in school and apparently trains very intensely both during filming and in his down time. If being in top shape is a thing, Cruise is it. Bieber, on the other hand, got slapped by Orlando Bloom. Bieber said earlier he’d been training and hoped to kick Connor McGregor’s ass in the ring. Right. My money’s on Cruise. He may be wacky but at least he’s not a poser looking for attention. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gauntlet-has-been-thrown-justin-bieber-vs-tom-cruise-in-the-octogon-who-wins/835297/29 "2019-06-10T17:57:32Z")
Which one’s going to play Sondra Locke? ---
**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 10, 2019, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gauntlet-has-been-thrown-justin-bieber-vs-tom-cruise-in-the-octogon-who-wins/835297/30 "2019-06-10T19:44:08Z")
OK, I didn’t research it to that (or any, really) level of detail, but if Cruise was a competitive wrestler back in the day, that’s probably enough to give him an edge. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gauntlet-has-been-thrown-justin-bieber-vs-tom-cruise-in-the-octogon-who-wins/835297/31 "2019-06-10T20:13:33Z")
You could almost say that Cruise has (•_•) ( •_•)\>⌐■-■ (⌐■\_■) All the Right Moves ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gauntlet-has-been-thrown-justin-bieber-vs-tom-cruise-in-the-octogon-who-wins/835297/32 "2019-06-10T20:27:42Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > Well, looking at things, Cruise was a wrestler in school and apparently trains very intensely both during filming and in his down time. If being in top shape is a thing, Cruise is it. That is something to Cruise’s advantage in knowledge and experience, but he’s still 56 and we don’t know what kind of fighting condition he is in now. He could be in great shape, a lot of actors spend their time training to look good, usually a lot of cardio in there, but at 56 he may have some wear and tear. Bieber danced in his act, I have never seen him, but maybe someone knows if he was any good at it. Did he show the kind of dexterity, balance, and quickness that makes some dancers very athletic, and potentially trainable to fight, or was he just bumping and grinding for teenage girls? Given that they both have 6 months to train, and to investigate each other’s potential, I still think they are morons and the best fighter between them could still lose. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gauntlet-has-been-thrown-justin-bieber-vs-tom-cruise-in-the-octogon-who-wins/835297/33 "2019-06-10T20:32:23Z")
Are they having a feud or something? What on earth brought this on? ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gauntlet-has-been-thrown-justin-bieber-vs-tom-cruise-in-the-octogon-who-wins/835297/34 "2019-06-10T20:38:21Z")
Well, based on absolutely nothing I’d say it’s brought on by Justin Bieber needing some publicity. He hasn’t released a studio album or toured in a few years based on his wiki article. He’s in danger of becoming a famous-to-be-famous sort. I mean, good for him and all, but it’s not top flight. Cruise, on the other hand, is a real god in the entertainment industry. His movies make money, his production company does good work, he knows everyone and despite his religious oddness seems to be respected in Hollywood and the broader entertainment industry. It really seems like Bieber jumping on Cruise to generate press for himself. I wouldn’t be surprised if Connor MacGregor was in on it as well given how fast he jumped on the issue. The whole thing reeks of press agents working hard. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gauntlet-has-been-thrown-justin-bieber-vs-tom-cruise-in-the-octogon-who-wins/835297/35 "2019-06-10T20:38:33Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Are they having a feud or something? What on earth brought this on? In Bieber’s case, I’m guessing drugs. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gauntlet-has-been-thrown-justin-bieber-vs-tom-cruise-in-the-octogon-who-wins/835297/36 "2019-06-10T21:53:36Z")
Cruise has put a lot of effort into the physicality of his roles. There’s a video clip of him breaking his foot, you can see the bone snapping, and he keeps running. I don’t know from his punching skills, but I’m guessing he can take a lot more of a hit than Beiber. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gauntlet-has-been-thrown-justin-bieber-vs-tom-cruise-in-the-octogon-who-wins/835297/37 "2019-06-10T21:54:59Z")
You know, if Justin Bieber for some reason challenged a pal of mine to a fistfight, and I later saw my pal sprinting around a track while karate-chopping the air with each hand, I’d say to myself, _huh, I guess there’s going to be a fight._ By contrast, if I saw Tom Cruise sprinting around a track while karate-chopping the air with each hand, I’d say, _huh, I wonder if he’s heard?_ ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gauntlet-has-been-thrown-justin-bieber-vs-tom-cruise-in-the-octogon-who-wins/835297/38 "2019-06-10T23:28:23Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > You know, if Justin Bieber for some reason challenged a pal of mine to a fistfight, and I later saw my pal sprinting around a track while karate-chopping the air with each hand, I’d say to myself, _huh, I guess there’s going to be a fight._ > > By contrast, if I saw Tom Cruise sprinting around a track while karate-chopping the air with each hand, I’d say, _huh, I wonder if he’s heard?_ If I saw Tom Cruise running, I’d wonder where the cameras were hidden. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gauntlet-has-been-thrown-justin-bieber-vs-tom-cruise-in-the-octogon-who-wins/835297/39 "2019-06-10T23:40:36Z")
I’m going with Cruise as well. Given his position in the church of Scientology and what I know of that church, my guess is that Cruise is someone who has a high level of “do whatever it takes to get the job done” whether it’s acting, religion, or a hypothetical bout in the octagon. Bieber probably has a lot less of that than Cruise does. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gauntlet-has-been-thrown-justin-bieber-vs-tom-cruise-in-the-octogon-who-wins/835297/40 "2019-06-10T23:53:43Z")
I just heard this referred to as “the rumble in the under 5’10” jungle". [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gauntlet-has-been-thrown-justin-bieber-vs-tom-cruise-in-the-octogon-who-wins/835297.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gauntlet-has-been-thrown-justin-bieber-vs-tom-cruise-in-the-octogon-who-wins/835297.md?page=3)