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We as a community tend to be maybe a little too hard on fighters who lose regardless of who they lost to or how. For example many seemed to be down on Pettis after a loss to the current champ followed by a close decision loss to Alvarez, said JDS is done after a single loss to a K-1 champ who can KO anybody, strongly criticized Anderson for dropping a close decision to Bisping who he almost finished while being over 40, said McMann was never any good after losing to the current champ and the hardest hitter in the division, dismissed Glover after losing by decision to JON JONES and then Phil Davis, etc. That said which fighters' reputations are damaged the LEAST by losses, and seemingly shrug them off with ease?
My first candidate would be Gus, he tends to acquit himself well in defeat other than against Rumble, and also the LHW division is so insanely shallow, most continue to assume he has to be a clear top 4 based on his close losses despite not having much in the way of good wins. I do this to some extent too since it's hard to imagine him not being better than the likes of Bader or current Rashad, although I think Glover has a good shot at beating Gus and OSP has a decent one.
Second candidate is Barboza, he loses a lot often getting finished and to people less solidly established as the very top of the division than those who beat Gus, yet because of his style always remains seen as a beast with huge potential and never a guy who might be losing relevance.
Third candidate is Rory, even after losing to Lawler he was actually favored over Lawler in the rematch, and even now many seem to feel he might be the true best guy at WW despite 2 losses to Robbie and 1 to Condit. Even if he loses to Wonderboy I doubt his stock goes down much despite a 2 loss streak.
Who else takes losses like a champ?
My first candidate would be Gus, he tends to acquit himself well in defeat other than against Rumble, and also the LHW division is so insanely shallow, most continue to assume he has to be a clear top 4 based on his close losses despite not having much in the way of good wins. I do this to some extent too since it's hard to imagine him not being better than the likes of Bader or current Rashad, although I think Glover has a good shot at beating Gus and OSP has a decent one.
Second candidate is Barboza, he loses a lot often getting finished and to people less solidly established as the very top of the division than those who beat Gus, yet because of his style always remains seen as a beast with huge potential and never a guy who might be losing relevance.
Third candidate is Rory, even after losing to Lawler he was actually favored over Lawler in the rematch, and even now many seem to feel he might be the true best guy at WW despite 2 losses to Robbie and 1 to Condit. Even if he loses to Wonderboy I doubt his stock goes down much despite a 2 loss streak.
Who else takes losses like a champ?
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