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Say what you will about the point deduction, I personally think it was dumb. Say what you will about the scorecards, I personally think they're indefensible.
However, a lot of people seem to be criticizing the fighters. "Zapata sucks, he couldn't stop a takedown for 3 rounds!" "Stephens sucks, he couldn't do anything with Zapata's back for 3 rounds!" "These guys couldn't do anything, they suck!"
These types of comments and this type of reasoning is an example of what I call the "results fallacy." This fallacy is the idea that you can judge the quality of someone's performance solely by measuring the results he obtains.
The problem with this reasoning is that it fails to take into account that it's very difficult to look good against an equally skilled opponent. I posit that both Stephens and Zapata are very good fighters. I posit that Stephens is an excellent wrestler, with excellent ground skills. However, I believe that Zapata showcased excellent defense on the ground. The fight was a very evenly matched battle that could have gone either way.
To criticize the performance of the fighters is to commit a famous Dana White-ism, where he commented on the sport of soccer:
http://www.calgarysun.com/2012/03/21/q--a-with-ufc-prez-dana-white
It is self evident to anyone who knows anything about soccer that Dana made a fool of himself with his comment. And why is the comment so foolish? Because Dana is committing the results fallacy: He's concluding that the soccer players suck because they are producing low output, while failing to account that they are playing against other great soccer players.
That's what Zapata/Stephens was. It was two great fighters negating each other. Sometimes those fights turn out to be wars, and sometimes they turn out to be battles of inches like this one was. But to criticize either's performance because they weren't able to "do anything" is to commit the results fallacy.
Lastly, I'd just like to point out that many great fighters have been unable to finish the RNC with extended periods of time on the back. Maia against Fitch. Couture against Sylvia. Dunham against Griffin. And perhaps most infamously in the history of MMA -- Marcelo Garcia against Dae Won Kim. Stephens is in very good company. If Marcelo Garcia couldn't finish a guy for a whole round, nobody should be criticized for not being able to finish the position.
However, a lot of people seem to be criticizing the fighters. "Zapata sucks, he couldn't stop a takedown for 3 rounds!" "Stephens sucks, he couldn't do anything with Zapata's back for 3 rounds!" "These guys couldn't do anything, they suck!"
These types of comments and this type of reasoning is an example of what I call the "results fallacy." This fallacy is the idea that you can judge the quality of someone's performance solely by measuring the results he obtains.
The problem with this reasoning is that it fails to take into account that it's very difficult to look good against an equally skilled opponent. I posit that both Stephens and Zapata are very good fighters. I posit that Stephens is an excellent wrestler, with excellent ground skills. However, I believe that Zapata showcased excellent defense on the ground. The fight was a very evenly matched battle that could have gone either way.
To criticize the performance of the fighters is to commit a famous Dana White-ism, where he commented on the sport of soccer:
http://www.calgarysun.com/2012/03/21/q--a-with-ufc-prez-dana-white
Soccer? That’s a whole other ball. Can’t stand soccer. It’s the least-talented sport on Earth. There’s a reason three-year-olds can play soccer. When you’re playing a game when the net is that big and the score is 3-1 (and that’s a blowout) are you kidding me? You know how untalented you have to be to score three times when the net is that big
It is self evident to anyone who knows anything about soccer that Dana made a fool of himself with his comment. And why is the comment so foolish? Because Dana is committing the results fallacy: He's concluding that the soccer players suck because they are producing low output, while failing to account that they are playing against other great soccer players.
That's what Zapata/Stephens was. It was two great fighters negating each other. Sometimes those fights turn out to be wars, and sometimes they turn out to be battles of inches like this one was. But to criticize either's performance because they weren't able to "do anything" is to commit the results fallacy.
Lastly, I'd just like to point out that many great fighters have been unable to finish the RNC with extended periods of time on the back. Maia against Fitch. Couture against Sylvia. Dunham against Griffin. And perhaps most infamously in the history of MMA -- Marcelo Garcia against Dae Won Kim. Stephens is in very good company. If Marcelo Garcia couldn't finish a guy for a whole round, nobody should be criticized for not being able to finish the position.
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