system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
[MCU] Why did Iron man fair so much better than The Hulk 1v1 against Thanos?

Apologies, as I am probably not the first person to ask this. IIRC, Thanos had all but two gems when he fought Iron Man, and only one gem when he fought The Hulk, but he seems to mop the floor with The Hulk, and Iron Man manages to actually cut him. What gives?
gpt
Hulk is not really used to fighting above his paygrade. He's lazy, used to just being able to punch his foes into submission. He wasn't prepared for Thanos being someone he couldn't punch. Had he known, had he been prepared, it's possible that Hulk would have actually put effort into it beyond brawling, but nope. Hulk Smash wasn't enough.

  
Tony was already briefed that Thanos was a BIG DEAL and is used to having to be smart to fight above his paygrade. He had the benefit of knowing who he was fighting and that he couldn't do anything less than 100&#37; effort.