Apex Arena - Battle C1: Luke Hobbs vs. El Mariachi

[Culwych1]

Introduction

In 1950, physicist Enrico Fermi famously asked, "Where the f&&k is everyone?" That question led to what is now known as the Fermi Paradox, pondering why humanity has never encountered intelligent life despite the vastness of the universe. But when first contact finally happened, humanity wished the answer had been "nowhere."

The aliens arrived with technology and powers beyond comprehension, annihilating Earth’s defences. Yet, despite their godlike abilities, humanity's defiance intrigued them. Instead of total destruction, the aliens devised a twisted experiment to understand humanity’s unique will to survive.

They chose Earth's 32 fiercest warriors from across time and space, placing them in The Apex Arena—a constantly shifting battleground where only the strongest survive. The prize? The salvation of Earth and a place of honour in the alien archives. 4 groups, 8 fighters in each. Who would stand, and who would fall?

Each warrior stands alone, unaware of their competition, fighting not just for glory, but for the very future of humanity. The Apex Arena has opened its gates. The battle for survival begins now.

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Battle 1: Group C – Luke Hobbs vs. El Mariachi

The Apex Arena shimmered as the alien overlords unleashed their latest test—a new landscape, unique in its chaos, perfectly designed to challenge the warriors pulled into its deadly game.

Luke Hobbs materialized first, his massive frame dominating the scene as his boots hit the ground with a dull thud. Around him, the environment became clear: a sprawling urban junkyard, filled with mountains of crushed cars, rusted machinery, and twisted metal piled high like makeshift walls. The smell of oil and gasoline filled the air, thick and suffocating, but Hobbs had been through worse. His eyes scanned the scene with cold efficiency, already mapping out escape routes, obstacles, and—most importantly—potential weapons scattered amidst the debris.

Opposite him, El Mariachi appeared at the other end of the junkyard, a man who had survived countless battles through wit, skill, and the vengeance burning within him. His guitar case, once a symbol of his musical past, was absent this time—replaced only by his empty hands and the cunning instincts that had kept him alive all these years. His keen eyes flicked across the terrain, searching for any sign of danger or opportunity. The urban battlefield didn’t faze him. He thrived in chaos.

The junkyard felt like a graveyard of metal and steel, with towering stacks of rusted cars looming overhead, casting long shadows in the setting sun. Above them, a huge crane, weathered and rusted, still had power coursing through it—its hook swaying lazily in the wind like the pendulum of some morbid countdown. In the distance, a generator hummed to life, its buzzing rhythm sending vibrations through the wreckage, lighting the occasional flickering bulb scattered across the landscape.

Hobbs’ focus was laser-sharp as he moved forward, his muscles rippling under the strain of his own tension. This wasn’t some street fight—it was a war. He didn’t need a gun or a blade to win. His sheer strength was enough, and he knew how to use his surroundings to his advantage. The crane’s swinging hook above? That could crush an opponent if timed right. The stacked cars, ready to collapse with the right push? They were just another tool in his arsenal.

El Mariachi crouched low as he slipped between the wrecked vehicles, his breath steady despite the looming battle. His hands brushed against a discarded wrench, old and rusted but still deadly in the right hands. This wasn’t about brute force—he knew he couldn’t match Hobbs in that. His advantage was speed, improvisation, and using the junkyard’s clutter to turn the fight to his favor. Every twisted pile of scrap, every fallen bumper, was a potential shield or weapon.

A sudden gust of wind howled through the junkyard, rattling loose debris and sending a tin can skittering across the ground like a warning shot. Overhead, the crane let out a low groan, its aged mechanism grinding as the hook swung faster, as if it too sensed the impending violence.

The ground was uneven, slick with oil spills and loose gravel. It wouldn’t take much to lose footing, and both men knew it. Hobbs, eyeing a nearby stack of tires, knew it could be both an advantage and a deathtrap. El Mariachi, his gaze now fixed on the glint of a broken machete sticking out from a pile of crumpled metal, measured the distance.

Then, the lights flickered, plunging the junkyard into brief darkness before the generator roared back to life. A momentary pause before the chaos.

Fifty seconds.

Hobbs flexed his fingers, ready to turn the twisted wreckage into his personal battleground. He could see a path through the maze of metal, a direct line to his opponent. But brute force wouldn’t be enough—he needed strategy.

El Mariachi, on the other hand, moved silently, weaving between the shadows of the towering wrecks. His mind raced through the possible outcomes, every object in this junkyard was a potential tool for survival. His steps were light, his senses sharp.

Twenty seconds.

The crane’s hook swayed more erratically now, its chains clinking together in time with the building tension. Hobbs eyed it carefully, waiting for the right moment to act. El Mariachi crouched behind a stack of crushed cars, his hand tightening around the handle of the rusty machete.

The wind had picked up again, the noise of clanging metal and shifting wreckage growing louder. The crane above groaned ominously, as if it too anticipated the violence that was about to unfold.

El Mariachi’s heart raced, but his hands were steady. Hobbs stood firm, like a mountain ready to crush anything in his path.

Three. Two. One.

The battle was joined as the two launched themselves into action.

 

[Callisto]

Learn More About
Luke Hobbs
Read more about Luke Hobbs at Wikipedia
Official Site: Universal Studios Links: Wikipedia Luke Hobbs - Fast and Furious Wikia Fast Five - Fast and Furious Wikia

El Mariachi
Read more about El Mariachi at Wikipedia
Official Site: Columbia TriStar/Sony Links: Wikipedia Entry IMDB Link Robert Rodriguez Site

[JohnnyChany]

El Mariachi did many impressive things, Desperado and Once Upon a Time in Mexico are great, but I never saw him misdirect a torpedo with his bare hands or flex out of a cast. Going with Hobbs!

[leroypowell3]

I've never seen a single Fast and Furious movie. Just wanted to tell everybody that.

[Pizza Guy]

On 9/25/2024 at 8:36 PM, leroypowell3 said:

I've never seen a single Fast and Furious movie. Just wanted to tell everybody that.

Then here’s a quick summary: Vin Diesel drives his car fast, says a generic quote about family, a cgi car does a stunt that you know would not work irl, random bad guy get’s axed off. Rinse and repeat for a dozen or so movies.

[RiotGear]

17 hours ago, Pizza Guy said:

Then here’s a quick summary: Vin Diesel drives his car fast, says a generic quote about family, a cgi car does a stunt that you know would not work irl, random bad guy get’s axed off. Rinse and repeat for a dozen or so movies.

 

To be fair a lot of the stunts are done at least partially with practical effects and stunt work. Even more so in the first few movies.

[RiotGear]

Hobbs may be stronger, but that is probably the only thing he has going for him.

El is fast, accurate, and clever. Both of them are stupid durable.

As for strength El is surprisingly strong himself able to snap necks, sending people flying with kicks, and accurately shoot giant guns one handed.

[DSkillz]

Another good set-up, Culwych. It's keeping up with the dystopian feel of the arc well. 

On 9/25/2024 at 8:36 PM, leroypowell3 said:

I've never seen a single Fast and Furious movie. Just wanted to tell everybody that.

Same here. 😅 

I have seen the whole El Marichi film series, though, and in this match, Mariachi seems to be without his main weapon: guns. Don't know much about Hobbs, but given Mariachi doesn't have guns here, this appears to be a tough fight either way. 

[RiotGear]

1 hour ago, DSkillz said:

Another good set-up, Culwych. It's keeping up with the dystopian feel of the arc well. 

Same here. 😅 

I have seen the whole El Marichi film series, though, and in this match, Mariachi seems to be without his main weapon: guns. Don't know much about Hobbs, but given Mariachi doesn't have guns here, this appears to be a tough fight either way. 

Guns may be The Mariachi's go to, but we've seen him snap a man's neck with his bare hands and knock a dude out with a guitar.

[JohnnyChany]

On 9/27/2024 at 3:12 AM, Pizza Guy said:

Then here’s a quick summary: Vin Diesel drives his car fast, says a generic quote about family, a cgi car does a stunt that you know would not work irl, random bad guy get’s axed off. Rinse and repeat for a dozen or so movies.

Don't forget that everyone is impervious to serious injury and even if they die, they can always come back.

[Callisto]

Match Final Results

Member Ratings:
5.00 - Boratz
4.40 - DSkillz
4.00 - Pizza Guy
5.00 - JohnnyChany

FPA Calculation:
4 Total Votes cast
18.40 Total Combined Score
18.40 / 4 = 4.60 Final Rating on the match

MATCH SCORE
Luke Hobbs: 3
El Mariachi: 2