Watch Will Ferrell And Chad Smith Drum Off On ‘The Tonight Show’

In a lead-up to that could rival that of the historic 1974 Rumble in the Jungle between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, comedian Will Ferrell and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith finally did battle on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, settling once and for all who the superior drumming talent is.

After a surreal interview involving a double act between Smith and Ferrell in identical outfits, the pair hit the kits presided over by Fallon as referee. Both combatants adhered to “traditional drum-off rules.” Mr Ferrell landed the first strike — “Take notes, Chadwick” — but was quickly bested by the Red Hot Chili Peppers sticks-man, whose masterful display put the notoriously boastful Ferrell in his place.

Things were getting heated when Ferrell switched to southpaw and unveiled his cowbell. It became a free-for-all as the two warriors were joined by Smith’s brothers in RHCP, with the five of them performing a rendition of Blue Oyster Cult‘s Don’t Fear the Reaper, on which Ferrell played cowbell.

Though Smith showed great skill and was initially confident, telling Rolling Stone, “I think it’ll be evident right off the bat who the real Chad Smith is. I’m ready to take him down,” referee Fallon ultimately announced that Ferrell was the winner of the first ever televised charity drum-off.

Before the beat down, Smith and Ferrell spat barbs at each other over social media, with Smith repeating his threat that he would take Ferrell “down town like Julie Brown Chinatown”. Check it below.

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http://youtu.be/RklIxSYDG8M

East Coast! Tune in to @FallonTonight NOW to watch the Will Ferrell vs. Chad Smith #drumoff! pic.twitter.com/QIcTqSh2X0

— Funny Or Die (@funnyordie) May 23, 2014