Best examples of "Retrospective Determinism" in MMA?(Big wins that werent inevitable)

[ethanfranklin]

See if you can get your heads around this one -

Retrospective determinism is the informal fallacy that because something happened, it was therefore bound to happen;

In MMA this is when a guy wins emphatically, and this informs opinion that he therefore won inevitably.

Proven Example - Cain v JDS 1.

Example 1- Id have Anderson v Vitor as a good example of a possible case as the fight finished emphatically, but could easily have gone the other way.

 

[chs140]

An even match up could go any number of ways, before the first cain jds fight the popular idea was that cain could win a decision or jds would clip him early. A better example of what your talking about is something like cain vs Bigfoot the first fight didn't leave much doubt who was better, thre wasn't a whole lot else Bigfoot could do with his skill set.

 

[ethanfranklin]

An even match up could go any number of ways, before the first cain jds fight the popular idea was that cain could win a decision or jds would clip him early. A better example of what your talking about is something like cain vs Bigfoot the first fight didn't leave much doubt who was better, thre wasn't a whole lot else Bigfoot could do with his skill set.

If you have two great KO artists and they are both swinging for the fences and both have glass jaws, then the winner will be afforded a ton of retrospective determinism, because of the emphatic nature of the victory.

This is a clear example.

However this idea, that an emphatic victory was also an inevitable victory really pervades the sport.

From a handicapping/betting stand point, its one of the biggest and most widespread myths in MMA.

 

[sangreporsangre]

How about, Strikeforce going into business with M1 meant that they were gonna go under and be purchased by Zuffa

 

[DarthChen731]

Ok, but Anderson is better than Vitor.

 

[ethanfranklin]

How about, Strikeforce going into business with M1 meant that they were gonna go under and be purchased by Zuffa

Im more interested in specific fights, but sure, its your thread. If you want to make points about the game itself, go ahead.

 

[GloutonSang]

I'm one of those jackasses who thinks Nog beats Mir 8/10 times.

 

[DarthChen731]

I'm one of those jackasses who thinks Nog beats Mir 8/10 times.

Same lol

 

[ethanfranklin]

Ok, but Anderson is better than Vitor.

Still could have just as easily lost there.