In 1972, a Bruce Lee vs. Chuck Norris fight scene was filmed in The Way of the Dragon, becoming one of the most iconic martial arts showdowns of all time. Lee had complete creative control over the film and wanted to shoot the final fight in the Colosseum in Rome. However, filming inside the Colosseum was illegal, so Lee and the crew had to bribe Roman officials and pretend to be tourists to sneak in cameras. They were only able to stay for a few hours, so they had to blend the footage shot in the Colosseum with the rest of the fight scene filmed back on set.

The rumored real-life fight between Norris and Lee has never been confirmed or denied by Norris.

However, they were friends in real life and trained together, which likely contributed to the authenticity of their onscreen fight. The illegal filming in the Colosseum added to the grandeur and excitement of the fight, making it one of the best in martial arts film history.

Chuck Norris became an internet punchline due to his role in the TV show "Walker, Texas Ranger." The show depicted Norris as an unstoppable action hero who accomplished absurd feats of masculinity. Conan O'Brien's Late Night show further popularized Norris with the "Walker, Texas Ranger lever" segment. In 2005, a Chuck Norris Fact Generator was created, leading to exaggerated and humorous "facts" about Norris.

This phenomenon solidified Norris as a legendary action star and introduced him to younger generations through memes.

Lee and Norris both commented on the fight scene. Norris spoke highly of the success of The Way of the Dragon and his enjoyment of working with Lee. He praised the fight scene as the classic martial arts fight of all time. While the scene was illegal to film, Norris emphasized the importance of the actual fight itself. He also shared a humorous anecdote about a fan asking if Lee really pulled hair from Norris' chest during the fight.

Overall, the Bruce Lee vs. Chuck Norris fight scene in The Way of the Dragon remains a legendary moment in martial arts film history, despite its illegal filming and Norris becoming an internet punchline.