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Death Battle: Lion vs Tiger

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Death Battle Claim: African Lion vs Bengal Tiger by Kiryu2012

Kiryu: All right, the combatants are set. Let’s end this debate once and for all.

Gwangi: It’s time for a Death Battle!!!

***

Nobody knows how it happened, but it did. A battle that nobody saw coming would commence on this land.

Perhaps they both escaped from captivity. Perhaps someone intentionally left them there to battle it out. Whatever the reason, their battle would leave thousands of animal experts, amateurs and professionals alike, debating for days on end.

A wide grassland…

As the sun peeked its light through the cloudy skies, two large carnivores approached the grassland on opposite ends. One of them was a resident of Africa that normally lived in groups. The other was a loner of India whose fur was striped to help in camouflage. Both animals continued on their designated path until they came to a halt, stopping about 30 meters from each other as they looked at one another.

The lion and tiger remained still as they sized each other up. Their jaws were parted, exposing their pointed canines. The pantherines had come here for a specific reason.

To kill each other.

The sky began to darken as a storm was brewing. Rain began to plummet from the heavens as the lion and tiger began to approach each other.

At first, the cats merely trotted along the grass. But soon, the predators began to pick up speed as they neared one another.
A crack of lightning roared in the horizon, acting as a ring bell as the lion and tiger reached each other.

It would be a clash of carnivores.

FIGHT!



Reaching one another, the lion made the first move, springing forward to slam into the incoming tiger. Falling to the ground, both cats snarled and tore at each other, digging their claws into each other’s bodies and biting at their faces. After a brief moment, the scuffle was broken off as the cats pulled away from each other and got back up. Baring his teeth in a snarl, the lion swung with his right forelimb, swatting the tiger’s face as the striped cat recoiled.

Rearing onto his hind legs, the tiger retaliated with several swipes of his front legs, his claws raking themselves across the lion’s face and mane, small bits blood and fur being sent flying from the assault. Managing to endure the attack, the lion bit into the tiger’s left forelimb, just as the tiger bit into the lion’s mane, his teeth bypassing the cat’s fur and digging into his hide.

Both cats reared up and swatted at one another furiously, the lion constantly shifting between favoring his left and right foreleg as he swung with each limb. The tiger, meanwhile, stood upon his hind limbs and struck again and again with both forelimbs, making the lion recoil.

Blood trickling down their numerous cuts and other wounds, the two cats took a moment to recuperate, snarling at one another and baring their teeth in an act of intimidation. Neither pantherine, however, was willing to yield.

The tiger suddenly ran forward to tear into his opponent, only for the lion to jump to the tiger’s right, dodging the attack. Seizing the opportunity, the lion pounced on the tiger, biting into the larger cat’s back and grappling with his forelegs. The tiger snarled and snapped at the lion, struggling while the lion held on tightly. After a moment of this, the tiger fell back, forcing the lion to lose his grip and letting the striped pantherine roll way.

Just as the lion rose back to his paws, the tiger struck fast, decking the lion across the face with his outstretched right leg. Recoiling as the tiger’s claws left numerous large cuts on the left side of his face, the lion roared threateningly at his striped opponent. The tiger, however, cared not for the display as he rushed forward to press his assault.

Rearing back as the tiger approached, the lion swung with his right arm, only for the tiger to stand on his hind legs again as he brought his forelimbs to bear, inadvertently blocking the incoming blow. The pantherine struck again and again with his paws, each impact making the lion recoil in pain. Finally, the lion managed to bite into the tiger’s right paw, making the striped cat yowl in pain and cease his assault.

As the lion released his toothy grip on his enemy’s paw, the tiger was quick to retaliate, biting into the lion’s neck again. Yowling as he felt his opponent’s teeth puncture his hide, the lion swatted with his left arm, clawing the tiger’s shoulder and making him release his hold.

Both cats once more engaged in a flurry of swipes, the pantherines striking each other in the face, shoulders, and chest over and over. Blood and fur were occasionally sent flying as a result of their clash.

After a moment of this, the tiger swatted the lion across the face again, nearly flooring the African pantherine as he stumbled away. Springing forth, the tiger slammed into the lion, bowling him over. The striped felid pressed his assault, pouncing on the lion and digging his teeth and claws into his underside.

The lion promptly retaliated, grabbing the tiger with his forelimbs and kicking away with his hind legs. His hindlimbs’ claws cut away at the tiger’s side, forcing the cat to back away, letting the lion get back on his feet.

Both cats spent a moment to rest, panting heavily as they stared each other down. Both were torn up, bloody, and exhausted. They desired an end to this battle, and an end would be coming soon.



Sucking in a lungful of air, the tiger lunged for the lion, the maned cat rearing back as the tiger was upon him. The striped felid struck hard with his right forelimb, making the lion recoil as blood dribbled down the cuts spread over the left side of his face.

Anger causing adrenaline to pump through his veins, the lion sprang for the tiger, slamming directly into his larger opponent and successfully toppling him. Both cats ripped into each other, digging their claws into one another’s skin and biting with their pointed teeth. The tiger proved superior, however, forcing the lion back with several blows to the head.

Dazed, bloodied, and tired, the lion halfheartedly snarled as the tiger rose back up. The tiger wasn’t very much better himself, sporting dozens of bloody gashes and claw marks, but he still had just enough energy to keep going.

With one last lunge, the tiger pounced upon the lion, tackling the smaller cat to the ground. The lion snapped and swatted at his striped opponent in desperation, but with his wounds and loss of blood, he just didn’t have the strength to repel the tiger. The larger pantherine wasted no time in biting into the lion’s mane, managing to get past the hair as his teeth found his neck and punctured it.

Kicking at the tiger’s side, the lion struggled valiantly to free himself, but his fate was sealed. The tiger’s jaws closed tightly around the lion’s throat, piercing his windpipe and spilling blood out upon the ground beneath them.
After a moment of this, the lion’s struggles began to slow as the puddle of blood beneath the cats grew ever larger, until finally, all movements from the African pantherine ceased.

Releasing his grip on the lion’s neck, the tiger relaxed as he proceeded to lay down next to his foe’s fallen body. Victory was his, but now he must rest. He was simply too wounded and too exhausted to celebrate.

KO!!!

***



Gwangi: Oh man, here comes the rage from the lion fanboys!

Kiryu: This was quite a close fight for sure, but the tiger held several key advantages that the lion ultimately could not overcome.

Gwangi: First and foremost, size. Tigers are known as the world’s largest living cats for a reason; tigers can reach up to 569 pounds, if not even bigger if some studies are correct, while lions typically weigh less than this, usually around 300 to 500 pounds. Even at equal size, the tiger’s still heavier due to its larger muscle mass. So the tiger is the larger of the two.

Kiryu: The tiger also had a stronger set of jaws that are better suited for flat out killing, while the lion’s are more suited for restraining, and whereas the lion fight with one swing of a forelimb at a time, the tiger fights with both forelimbs at once, rearing up and swinging like a boxer.

Gwangi: Tigers also take more impressive prey than the lion, hunting gaur, water buffalo, and even elephants and rhinos on occasions, whilst lions typically avoid such large game, and remember than lions typically hunt in groups.

Kiryu: Now the lion does have its own advantages. In terms of combat experience, the lion holds the edge for dealing with animals like hyenas, leopards, African wild dogs, cheetahs, and of course fellow lions. The lion also has better stamina due to being a cursorial hunter and having a larger heart and lungs.

Gwangi: Even still, the tiger’s got more advantages over the lion than vice versa. While the lion has its mane, stamina, and fighting experience, the tiger’s got size, strength, larger canines, better fighting skills, and feats in hunting more impressive prey. Looks like the lion’s been kicked off the throne as the King of the Jungle.

Kiryu: The winner is the Bengal Tiger.

Bengal-tiger-in-the-water 179286-1920x1200[1] by Kiryu2012
Bengal Tiger
+Size and weight advantage
+Stronger
+Hunts more impressive prey
+More impressive teeth
+Better fighting skills
-Less stamina
-Less fighting experience

African Lion
+More experience in combat
+Higher stamina
+Mane could offer some protection
-Smaller
-Less impressive overall
-Outclassed in strength
Got a distinct feeling this'll be my most controversial DB so far. <_<

Anywho, enjoy.
© 2018 - 2024 Kiryu2012
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MatthewAlexander1244's avatar

I like him, the tiger gets victory for the speed of his blows and the reaction he has to evade blows added to the best fighting ability