The British capital, London, is home to an estimated population of between 18 and 20 million rodents, according to surveys carried out by pest control companies and public health experts based on calls and outbreaks of infestation until September 3, 2026. This projection indicates that the city has around two rats for each of its approximately 9 million inhabitants.
Recently, two of these London residents had a confrontation that resembled MMA fights. Observed on a platform at the Oxford Circus subway station, the rodents exchanged blows using their hind legs, a spectacle that both amused and surprised the passengers present.
The intense clash, which took place without the animals showing any fear about the proximity of humans, quickly gained great attention on social media. Sonia Mansfield was responsible for recording the moment on video and sharing it on Instagram.
Witness Sonia Mansfield expressed her amusement at the unexpected encounter:
“It was exciting to see them playing or fighting. My friend Aaron and I couldn’t contain our laughter”, he reported.
There is still no clear information about the reason for the rodents’ fight, which could be a dispute over territory, a search for food, or perhaps an existing rivalry between them.
The London Underground’s ancient sewage system and extensive network of tunnels provide ideal refuge and safe routes away from predators for these animals. A single pair of brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) is capable of indirectly generating up to 1,250 offspring in a period of twelve months.
