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This relates in part to Gus being hated on by some for running away, but also to other things like fans who bash on grapplers for grappling or some moron saying that Tate was a "terrible, terrible fighter" in spite of her accomplishments no doubt because she "looked bad" to him.
In fighting the goal is to win, not to "look good" during the fight. Tactics that increase the fighter's chances to win by helping them play to their strengths (such as Gus running to get back in position to fight at range or Maia focusing on taking the fight to the ground) are ideal tactics to use regardless of whether or not they please the eyes of a particular fan. It's far smarter and should be more admired to use "unaesthetic" but effective tactics than to abandon whole parts of one's game which might be viewed as less aesthetic eg. Diego choosing to brawl all the time even though his grappling was one of his biggest strengths or any other grappler who fell victim to a similar mentality. By the same token the resume of a fighter is a much better thing to judge their ability by than the "eye test" because the eye test of most fans measures how aesthetic a fighter is in their eyes moreso than it measures "skill".
Effective fighting>aesthetic fighting. Real MMA fans should be able to appreciate a variety of styles some of which might involve tactics that might not be as eye pleasing, and not act like those tactics are somehow less valid as long as they are effective.
Effective fighting is REAL fighting.
In fighting the goal is to win, not to "look good" during the fight. Tactics that increase the fighter's chances to win by helping them play to their strengths (such as Gus running to get back in position to fight at range or Maia focusing on taking the fight to the ground) are ideal tactics to use regardless of whether or not they please the eyes of a particular fan. It's far smarter and should be more admired to use "unaesthetic" but effective tactics than to abandon whole parts of one's game which might be viewed as less aesthetic eg. Diego choosing to brawl all the time even though his grappling was one of his biggest strengths or any other grappler who fell victim to a similar mentality. By the same token the resume of a fighter is a much better thing to judge their ability by than the "eye test" because the eye test of most fans measures how aesthetic a fighter is in their eyes moreso than it measures "skill".
Effective fighting>aesthetic fighting. Real MMA fans should be able to appreciate a variety of styles some of which might involve tactics that might not be as eye pleasing, and not act like those tactics are somehow less valid as long as they are effective.
Effective fighting is REAL fighting.