Contrary to the status quo view that mammoths/mastondons were docile creatures of the steppe landscape, Dr. Daniel Fisher of the University of Michigan proproses a more dramatic scenario.
He is using computer simulation models to test his ideas.

Do you think mammoths/mastondonts could wield those giant tusx in a skillful and potentially deadly manner?

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2003-10/uom-bmi101603.php
16-Oct-2003
Bull mastodons in deadly combat; sound and fury from silent bones

Well, why not? According to the pictures showing the possible shapes of Mastodons in some books, they have big and very curvy tusks. Well, yes, they seem to look like 'gigantic insect mandibles', so there goes another question.....