Grizzly BearvsBengal Tiger

This is actually one of the best animal matchups in terms of competitive balance. The tiger is faster, more agile, and arguably a more skilled predator. But the grizzly outweighs it by 300+ pounds and has the durability to absorb the tiger's attacks.

Bengal tigers regularly kill prey much larger than themselves — including Asian black bears and sloth bears. But those bears are significantly smaller than a North American grizzly. The grizzly's combination of size, fat layer, and thick fur makes it much harder to bring down than any prey the Bengal tiger typically encounters.

The tiger's best strategy is to use its speed and agility to get behind the grizzly and target the neck or spine. This is how tigers kill bears in the wild — from behind, with a surprise attack. In a face-to-face confrontation, the tiger loses much of its advantage.

The grizzly's standing fighting stance — rearing up on hind legs and swiping down — is particularly effective against the tiger's pounce-and-bite approach. A single grizzly paw swipe has enough force to shatter a tiger's skull.