Californians appear to be feeling unusually brave, according to a new survey ranking the states where residents are most convinced they could survive — or even prevail in — an encounter with a professional UFC fighter.
In the Golden State, 25% of respondents said they believe they could absorb a full-power punch from a UFC heavyweight and still stay on their feet.
The EportsGG poll, which surveyed 2,000 adults across the United States, asked participants two fighting-related questions: whether they thought they could take a maximum-force punch from a UFC heavyweight without being knocked out, and whether they believed they could knock out a UFC athlete if they were given the chance to throw the first punch.
California landed at the top of the study’s “fighting confidence” list, with one in four respondents answering “yes” to the first question — far higher than the 13.7% national average among qualifying states.
The confidence did not stop there. The survey also found that 26.8% of Californians think they could knock out a UFC fighter with a clean, unanswered opening punch.
Lee Mitchell, a personal trainer who has worked with professional MMA fighters, said the findings highlight how unrealistic many people’s assumptions are when it comes to the force, technique and danger involved in elite-level combat sports.
“A UFC heavyweight’s punch isn’t just about power, it’s about how fast and precisely it’s delivered,” Mitchell said. “Most people have never taken a real punch in their life, let alone one from someone whose entire career is built around years of training in ways to hurt you efficiently.”
Mitchell likened taking that kind of strike to “stepping in front of a moving car.”
Nevada came in second with 21.7% believing they could take the hit, with another 17.4% thinking they could knock out a pro fighter if given the first punch.
Texas placed third, with 18.2% confident they could withstand the punch and 21.8% believing they could deliver a knockout blow.
Georgia followed at 17.9%, ahead of Colorado at 15.2%, Arizona at 15.1%, North Carolina at 14.9%, Washington at 14%, New York at 13.9% and Louisiana at 12.8%.
Michigan proved considerably more realistic with only 7.1% willing to step into the imaginary Octagon.
The remaining states seemed to have their heads on straight — not enough answering “yes” to even rank.
