'Luck' is becoming too big a factor in Top level MMA

[Dessyboy]

Yes i know if someone throws a punch with intention which lands, then it's not really luck

But the fact is for the heavier weight classes anyway (say from welter upwards), when fighter reach a certain standard, with the 4 ounce it just takes one punch to land to end a fight. There is no standing 8 count, so there is less opportunity to recover as your opponent just jumps all over you.

This 'luck' factor is leading to way too many upsets and is masking physical deteroriation. That is why we are seeing fighters in their late 30s and early 40s still competitive.

There aren't too many other sports where a 37 year old becomes world champ for the first time at that age when they have never been champ before. No one wins their first Tennis grand slam at 37, on one gets into the NBA for the first time at age 37

I promise you no one will win an olympic gold medal in any track and field event at 37 years or older unless it's someone who has already won one in the past.

No way Hendo is as good as he was 5 to 7 years ago, but the one punch luck factor enables him to still compete

Rockhold could just as easily beat Bisping the next time they fight, Bisping could just as easier win the fight after that

The skill differential just isn't high enough in the higher weight classes because of this one punch factor.

The only thing this is good for is betting. I won a few dollars on Bisping last nite

 

[McGangsta]

MMA is essentially always a 50-50 game. Small glove is the equalizer, you can be outmatched, out athleticism, out skilled, but if you land one punch in 25 mins of fight. then you can be champ

 

[Summoning]

 

[Gabe]

You sound salty. It's a fist fight, landing a punch is the furthest thing from luck.

 

[Jesus Freak]

Yes i know if someone throws a punch with intention which lands, then it's not really luck

But the fact is for the heavier weight classes anyway (say from welter upwards), when fighter reach a certain standard, with the 4 ounce it just takes one punch to land to end a fight. There is no standing 8 count, so there is less opportunity to recover as your opponent just jumps all over you.

This 'luck' factor is leading to way too many upsets and is masking physical deteroriation. That is why we are seeing fighters in their late 30s and early 40s still competitive.

There aren't too many other sports where a 37 year old becomes world champ for the first time at that age when they have never been champ before. No one wins their first Tennis grand slam at 37, on one gets into the NBA for the first time at age 37

I promise you no one will win an olympic gold medal in any track and field event at 37 years or older unless it's someone who has already won one in the past.

No way Hendo is as good as he was 5 to 7 years ago, but the one punch luck factor enables him to still compete

Rockhold could just as easily beat Bisping the next time they fight, Bisping could just as easier win the fight after that

The skill differential just isn't high enough in the higher weight classes because of this one punch factor.

The only thing this is good for is betting. I won a few dollars on Bisping last nite

Quit thinking like a @Dessyboy and start thinking like a DessyMAN.

 

[Sgt Smith]

Underdogs winning is nothing new in MMA. Even though the recent string of upsets may make it seem that way.

 

[VulcanNervPinch]

Congratulations for noticing that the winner is not automatically the superior fighter.


Now, when you say "becoming too big a factor" - for what, exactly?
And what do you propose to do about it?

As far as I can tell, luck (or "variability" if you prefer) will be as big a factor as it wants to.

 

[Blanqa Blanqua]

Lol

Loser is given every opportunity to avoid those punches homie.

Don't hate, congratulate.

 

[Arm Barbarian]

Brings to mind the age old saying:

"THE HARDER I TRAIN, THE LUCKIER I GET."

 

[Queen B]

Brings to mind the age old saying:

"THE HARDER I TRAIN, THE LUCKIER I GET."

Yeah you increase your luck by 0.5%

 

[relentless23]

Bisping didn't win because of luck. He won because Luck's defense was poor because he didn't respect his power.

 

[chunglii]

Welcome to MMA, where crazy shit happens more often than you expect.

 

[BobbyTKD]

Weird post. Luck has nothing to do with the punch Bisping used to KO Luke. It was the same punch he rocked Silva with and Bisping knew if he could come outside on Rockhold it was there. Rockhold's always lowers his right hand after an exchange, he likes to keep his chin up in the air and he has been rocked and KO'd before. Bisping knew all this and so he planned for it... Lucky my ass.

Plus the fact that one punch can change or even end the fight is what makes MMA exciting in the first place. It's also what should make one always respect his opponent... At all times. Which Unlucky Luke didn't.

 

[B0ZZ]

 

[Exemplar]

TS:

(Full disclosure, I'm a bit tongue in cheek here, but it's homorous) Maybe every fighter should use Cruz's strategies/techniques to not get hit. Think about how our dear sport would end up if every fighter focused solely on mitigating the chances of that "one shot". All the fighters would be running around, limited engaging, limited strike count, more grappling, clock management, etc. Please dear Lord no!!!!

 

[INoHespectChael]

You sound salty. It's a fist fight, landing a punch is the furthest thing from luck.

How many times does Serra KO GSP if they fight 10x?

Also JDS. Saying the better fighter wins every time and lucky KOs never happen is purely false.

Rockhold's loss however was due to him giving no respect to Bisping.

 

[bungyo]

I can't stand Bisping but luck had nothing to do with it. Bisping gave it his best shot and Luke wen't in there and stood right in front of him with his chin out and hands down, as if he expected to walk through Bisping with his eyes closed. Bisping walloped his ass, end of story.

 

[Gabe]

How many times does Serra KO GSP if they fight 10x?

No one knows because MMA is so unpredictable.

 

[TheShockmaster]

You need to accept that some fight outcomes that you don't like happened because they deserved to happen. Stop looking for excuses when your guys lose.

 

[RhinoRush]

There aren't too many other sports where a 37 year old becomes world champ for the first time at that age when they have never been champ before. No one wins their first Tennis grand slam at 37, on one gets into the NBA for the first time at age 37

A ha ha ha noobie noobie noob. Look up how old Couture was when he won his first title. Ths is MMA, this isn't Tennis.

There's a VERY good reason older fighters have more success in MMA than, say, in kickboxing or boxing. Because simply being smarter and more mature/experienced than your opponent is a massive advantage in MMA.

Bisping didn't beat Rockhold because of luck, he beat him because of intelligence. He treated it like a title fight and went in with focus, determination and courage. Rockhold treated it like a day at the beach because he's not as mature a fighter as Bisping is. Bisping has lost fights before because of lack of focus and determination. He's learned from his experience in the octagon. Rockhold has just beasted over guys half his size his entire career. The two times Rockhold has run into an experienced journeyman with something to prove, he's had his head knocked off.