Forget boxing, wrestling and mixed martial arts. In the Philippines, there’s a rather unusual spectator sport involving spiders!
Yes, actual spider fighting!
Known locally as spider wrestling, the tradition involves placing two female spiders at opposite ends of a stick and encouraging them to fight.
The spiders attack using their legs, fangs and silk, with matches sometimes ending when one spider falls off or becomes completely wrapped up! It’s been a popular childhood pastime for generations, particularly in rural communities.
But recent viral videos have sparked controversy, with animal welfare concerns and comparisons to cockfighting.
And while spider wrestling itself isn’t generally illegal, gambling on the results can land participants in serious trouble.
Personally, I reckon watching eight-legged creatures battle each other sounds absolutely terrifying.
And imagine being the poor bloke responsible for separating them!