Measured Power

The following is some information that was presented on the National Geographic television show, Fight Science: Mixed Martial Arts, first shown on January 27, 2008.

Some champion Mixed Martial Arts cage fighting champions were tested to determine their striking power. They struck a car crash dummy specially set up to measure the force of their strikes.

Bas Rutten

The striking force of his reverse punch was measured at 500 pounds per square inch (PSI), the same as for a professional boxer.

His roundhouse kick to the chest resulted in a 2.2” chest compression on the crash test dummy. A 1” chest compression in a car accident is considered is potentially fatal.

Randy Couture

The striking force of his standing reverse punch was also measured at 500 PSI

The striking force of his full-mount reverse punch on the ground was measured at 2000 PSI. The increase in force was due to his being able to drop is body weight into the punch from his grounded position.