The thing about "sloppy" fights, particularly at the elite level (of any combat sport) is that they tend to come about because two very highly skilled fighters wind up being relatively evenly matched in the skill department. But they are highly competitive individuals and they want to win so instead of choosing a close, evenly matched technical fight, they engage in a "battle of will" and test their opponents will against their own.
These fights tend to be grueling and physical, which test the fighters' cardio and conditioning, a skill of its own, and they have to "dig deep" to summon the will to throw big shots, or explode to change positions while grappling, even when they are extremely fatigued. That is a test of mental fortitude.
So I understand the critique, but personally I am unabashed in my love for these kind of fights and I choose to appreciate the attributes needed to succeed in the grueling war of attrition and admire the fighters that have the skill to win "pretty" but also have "the dog in them" to win the sloppy sloberknocker type of fights when needed.
Just my $0.02
Great fight choices. I look forward to checking out any I missed and probably rewatching a few tomorrow.
