Why do title challengers go on losing skids after?

[120wrestling]

It seems like almost every time a fighter fights for the title, they go from having been on solid win streaks to either losing streaks or very inconsistent performances

Examples
- Lamas after losing to Aldo
- Sanchez after Penn
- Thiago Alves after GSP
- Hardy after GSP
- Fitch after GSP (Fucking GSP ruining shit)
- Rampage after Jones
- Shogun after Jones
- McCall after Johnson
- Pettis after RDA
- Stevenson after Penn

I could list about 100 more off the top of my head

 

[MrMightyMouse]

Loss of motivation? Fighting, for a title has a huge amount of pressure on both fighters. A loss, can mentally change everything, for a fighter....

 

[sirmorbach]

There's not an unique factor playing into this. There are several explanations that can vary depending on the fighter we're talking about. It can be age (Rampage and Shogun), a terrible moment (Pettis) or sometimes the fighter just isn't that great (Diego and Hardy - don't get me wrong, I like both of them).

Is normal.

 

[Viking Power]

I think it's pretty obvious. You work your ass off towards that one ultimate goal and then come up short. Hard to move forward with the same drive.

 

[lifelessheap]

edit: I'm dumb

 

[Minnja]

Adding to the things already mentioned, I think it's also because after you fight for the belt you tend to fight guys that are near the top more often and guys who are on the cusp of title shots. A lot of guys who get title shots might have only had to fight 2 or 3 top 10 guys (in the past sometimes only 1 top 10 win) but afterwards you might end up fighting a top 10 guy for the next couple of fights

 

[ironball]

Threads already summed up quite well. Notable exceptions to coming back strong are Cain Velasquez, Dan Henderson, Donald Cerrone

 

[Money509]

Also Gus after jones

 

[FlyingKimurabar]

A big part is title challengers often get easy roads to the title. Usually they'll go on a streak of beating a bunch of guys outside the top 10, then face fringe top 10 guy and then a maybe top 5 guy. Then they get a title shot, lose, Then after that they usually fight the rest of the top 5.

So basically their competition gets harder once they fight for the title. When before hand most of their streak was guys outside the top 10 then 1-2 fights in the top 10. Then they start facing guys ranked in the top 5.

 

[AC1D1K]

they were never good to begin with obvs

 

[Elysianwing]

Momentum is a real thing.

Fighters on win streaks are riding a delicate bubble of confidence, and a loss can pop it at any time.

 

[FlyingKimurabar]

Also Gus after jones

See this is a perfect example. Before his fight with Jones the only top 10 ranked guy Gus faced was a broken down Shogun who wasn't really good anymore. After Jones he faced Cormier and Anthony Johnson.

 

[DatWall]

They realized they're not the best, and that they weren't even that good to begin with.

 

[Headkicktoleg]

They realized they're not the best, and that they weren't even that good to begin with.

Sherdog always knew

 

[OldBoy91]

Probably hard to keep the same amount of drive and motivation after getting so close and coming up short. This mental strength to keep getting back up after major setbacks is rare even amongst fighters. This is what sets guys like Bisping, Condit, Faber etc apart from the pack imo.

 

[MrMightyMouse]

A loss, can send a fighter, many steps backwards. Especially, a title fight.

 

[Mulder&Scully]

Motivation and confidence. When you're full of confidence about being on a winning streak and then you get a title shot and fall short, that initial euphoria evaporates. It can be difficult getting that mojo back.

 

[Headkicktoleg]

Tim Sylvia had skids DURING his run

http://data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAkGBxMTEhUTExISFRUVFRUVFRUSFRUVFRUVFRUWFhUVFRUYHSggGBolGxUVITEhJSkrLi4uFx8zODMtNygtLisBCgoKDg0OGhAQGy0dHR0rLS0tLS0tLS0tLS0tLS0tLS0rKy0tLS0tLS0tLS0rKy0tLSstLSstLS0tLS0tLSs3Lv/AABEIANkA6AMBIgACEQEDEQH/xAAbAAABBQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAFAAIDBAYBB//EAD0QAAEDAgQDBQYEBQMFAQAAAAEAAgMRIQQFEjEGQVETIlJhcRQygZGh0RVCscEHI1Ni8BYz4XKCkqLxJP/EABkBAAMBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgQDBf/EACgRAAICAgIBBAEEAwAAAAAAAAABAhEDIRIxQQQTUbEyImGB0UKR4f/aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8A8XOKf4voPsl7W/xfQfZQkJAJCJvan+L6D7Je1P8AF9Al2XMhQJJ2BP7W/wAX0H2S9rf4voPsoEkwJ/a3+L6D7Je1v8X0H2UCSAJ/a3+L6D7LrcU/xfQfZVyutQASimJV5rBRDoiibBZZMkmvJ1giMgJABOc1INUc5fJ14oYQtDkWXRSYXEvewF7G1Yamxp5GiAEI9wzmTImyNlaXRyNo4N3qOaam/kiUdFH2Vn4fLNp/mCSjXXsO7am3MrLjFP8AF9B9lqeIc3g9n7DDse1rnan6vhYX8gs2cKy1JoyTyo+3lcLVBujiyP2l/i+g+yXtL/F9B9lAkrET+0v8X0H2S9pf4voPsoEkAT+0v8X0H2S9pf4voPsoUkATe0v8X0H2S9pf4voPsoUkATe0v8X0H2S9pf4voPsoUkATe0v8X0H2SUJSQBKcK/omFhG4Wme1tLK/Jwu18HatfQgV0nyWf3kmV7bZmnPBZXohZVzCuvpOx/VV5IyDcFdY6ZBEknELioLHNZVNIormAaCTXooMQ25SvdAQldCRSTAuxGyMxCw9EFh2RrDnuhZM52x9jHBJOemrgd2xrlPhR3T6FQOVjB7H0KtdENWB8eLfFUSUZ9jdKRG0VcTsiMvCYbMIHSEPABcbbnkAtMJKjhJbMxDCXWaCSVbdlcjRUtK0uT4WPDyuZIDqBNOVehRCbGB4dqhdQW8vJKWYuOKzz17aJtUQzZjdRLQQD1Q+i6xdqzlJUxJJJpKoQ5JcBXUAIrlV0lNQA4JLjd0kAem4LIGPjAHv0qf/AIibsI9kGhgGoihBHryQ7LM8jcQKFr+devqrGaZmWRFwdRwuLryJOfKj0Vw4mBZlT2uJINj+6vYvCh7fd73VDp83kcSdRvv5qM5i/qV6KUq2YJ0noc7Jn8qpn4NJ0S/FJOp+aRzOTqfmrTZJcwWVuab1XH5QSa0VRuZSc3H5p34o7xFFBY9+SO5VXBkT/P5Jrc2f4iuHNnn8x+adsZZiyd4HNEsPl8lKBpcQK2CDNzSTxH5o1wtxI6GWspOhzSDS/ouGaL4trsuD2SnJpySOyeSKcuq6zIpyf9twBNAaW2ui2O46DmMc15DxI0yWpVorurGK45a8Ssa5xBZSKjfzm1PkVhvNX4mjRWy7KYL6+8RzNgPJE+yhaLNZTorHCfB80zO0n7gPutNnHztyR93AzC67qgcrocpI0xgqMU3MIMO90wYGvDCIyPETSqdh+FZsU1s5e/Vpa+WQi5c7kOi1+L/h9h3D3f8A2KuYWduAh0SEloNBSpqOQK6wypKjjPDu0eZcTMLtJqdTRcmxNFThzRzmAOLhTe9jTqtNxVH7Ya6BGG108j8SN1ivwnENfooQCaatxTqui4y7I2noZmOHE0wbHu6gAClbwlJpe5xc0MrqJGy0uW5AyJzZK1kaLO+HJQcRZ2WxyQ1d3mj0c6tTVJ5pKSjDomWPyzONyBv9X6J3+nY+crvkhYx7q7qQZm/xFbYt+TKuwkOHYv6rvkF3/TsP9V3yCGnNH+IpozJ3iKACf+n4R+d59E4ZFB4pPohf4m7xFI5q/qUwCrskgAJBfWh39F1BnZk42qbpIAKiahTcyzFzmaSPjzVYPTJTULj7auzpYNrVconloCaupyZyikZA435KNytNf/LA51QxrZwYBx2onjLXc6BRRYhzVK7MHdEA1QwQ0aa7qCKMlWXk6VLDZqTdDSK7GUKvYIDoFRc+6vYArlPqyodk5YK1oPktN/DvLGyYoEgEMGsgi1Vmnlbz+GGHoXv8RAHyCzTk1E0wjbPUoz0UrDRQxbJPltVZDcl4FiJgEAzGLtKg/W6ITzVQrF4gg2TKoyOMYWOLTuFFHMCjmOy4zkvaaOH1WRxWuKUseKGvLb4K0cpRL081AslxPiQ63OyKY/NGgUosrmk+p5K04Ibsy5p0qKNF0JLi3GI7RKiVUgUgYgF0hJJAI4AkuhJAWXNSfVQtKlqkMgkj5itFACib5AGHqhtEIQ0lTAdwHzUJCdq80wOBdaFxvonBAD3eqsfk6Ks4KxGwuFvkpkikVnK/gTdUpGkG6tYQ3CmfQLsuyr1fhOMRsjAAHdBd+lV5SBceoXpuW4mkgH9oWLJ0b8MbZsn4u26hdibUqhvan1Ttazm3i+yw+RUsRfmuvkUDjzJTJZHlmKb20jKioAT+JMpZM01F6UBG68zxuavGOe9hNKgG/Rej5fmbZIwQd6W/VdZx400c4y5aPKswwbonOa6tRWlUAlJrde0ZnlEeIaRQVOzui8x4gyCXDudqFWA2eBYrT6fInox+oxvwA1xdd61XFrMXQkgnaU26AOlcqnAVXHMogpCakkEkConZ+6lJVdpvRTsFbX+Ch0hq2Nm2UbmUAP0Us7SLEU6LsnuD1QmS7RWckxtSAuJNdTbdUIL+ytEf9yGFneRGN5LBXoqJdQlQrs6voY4URHLzbdD3OqrGABvcD1TfRKYsaKldwYuP0ATsQw1oO842FOZRF8rcM3SKOmPvO5MqNh5qHdUasGDnc5Oorv8ApfuWRgw01kdo2IAu4/ZaDK8X20rQ17hW2obinksUMWXGpJJ5ndaDgqJ3tDDyvuf2WacH5NuP1cYusUdfPk3Lcmbu50hPXU79ApW5K0e5LKzqQ4ur80ajjFPNPiw1d1maZofq8nz9AEwYluxZKOhGlx9CE32xsvc70b9ix4oR6eJaNxa2wVDMsEyZt9x7rx7zSjZUc0Mmsmv3R49mmFMU72usdVfUIhluadmbk0O6u8U4GjgZQXFooXtG46lPwnC8TodYxR1AE6SPotOpR2ZcuF4p/QeyvMmEDS4U/wA3RHFBk0bmO2cKdaV5ryVmYvhcdDjQE786I/lfGAJDXgg13CXsyW0Z3ljewFxBw7Jh3usS2tjT9UE0r2Lto5ozrAc2lTfkszLwIfZJcWH0DSXNb/YtOPLemZsuOK2jF4Zqjn3RCXCuZctseqpFgN67LopWZyOI3XZDVd7ErjoiqsaZGEkhukmBeyXT7QzW0OaXUIPmvUMPl8TbtY0eoXlLgBtyNl6TkeP7WJrgb073r6LPn2rNHp6ctgP+IMYBiIABvsPJZqaMCL1K0nHlf5Z8/wBislJOS2ieLcUTnSsiXKJLoXUzlnDT8jsoJTcnqV1sTuTTTqmP3umV4OVSa9cV3D5dI64jLm9QExpFzJWaWvm/pju18RCLcOZMJKyzDVW4B6nyXfwdxhMbe5V2p1TSopYIlkr9LdDrUG3n5LPKWmb8qqGOHhq/5ZbGGjaLNYKf2q5wzg2vxTTp90VJFreaqnBl1RXfqr/BGEdDi6SOs9mkVvetaLInyeymuK0azGzFjqRt+lU3CzTONxT4LROlAFqKSHEei0KKODkwO6G3ukn0Q/F4Z1LArTvxHogmeZ4ImdT4Q0E1Q0hWzAZk1z5S29GNuOvkm4hrS2rRQU+qlhxTi1z3ij3kmnOnKqC47GBlR6FcGt6PRi+Xp9/4v7AucYVoqRTqgAj1E0RjFzF9UOjbQla8TpbPNy43+RPleKcw3JLARUVND5LbZrxmJmwRAgRMIdKwCmrTs0nosC82oAuRc6q3FdnCXR6BjHh0GIxE4FXRlkDTSgPKnmvPMOrMssjwGEnSNhWw+CiERbumqRFCJ81LHHXmqz3qeNx01HJKhoZKwJKIkk3SVFUcduVoeDMdok0HZ361QAhWMrdSaI1oNTQT8USjaoIunZsON4yYWu6O/ZYZzea9n4zyVpwT9Iu0agTvbdeNvDVxwuk0Xl2RBlU4wEbghTYVtXhGMcO5SnJdHKjnGAIhzBzRpIBCglk1GvXknENqon2Nla2DEFpMFnTI2BgWaak3dFAbnB49sooK2bW29lTxWfRuc3cFpQGDMHtoRQU8lcx2DEwM0O1Kvj/M08yB0XJxV76N6bz4lx/KP1/w2TJA9oc0itBYKV+LdpD2DvsNQD1CyuUY50YDie7tTYrU4SRkneaVjnDi7Q4StU+wplnHRlq18YY8HrSvNNk/iLCwlrmSVB3ABHwNVluJcsI/msJBAoaLJVJJqb86rTjqRnyWno9Rd/EuN1GxxSEncuoKfVQz5uZHG1evkFi+HMHWrz6BaGWcRijalx3XPM/CLwRbOYvFFzw3lzPks3mc5e9xG1aD0CuZvmOhpZq/mOHeIvpHhqgeImcwgA2LQ75p48b7NmaccMVi/l/0WoTa4VHEuuaKVkzn7DdSOwHdrWpXRfpezhmzxnCoooxqSUppbpKmhYHnyXS/Jh30LCvG6nlhLwHF1P7VWli0q5DMHNvaih62i1FeQVKyhKJ4Jg035rkGB7TU4mg5KAu0OodgFXKyeFOyPFxaT6pK07ExvFwagGiSasTYNLiuf58k5xToiA4E3AIJXQmqPWcLnzn5c58oAIGih/NVoFV5XOwN6o9mOcmYBoq1o/LYLO4uSrlnhH9TLk9D8AKyADmimPje1pNLAboLh5SxwcNwjE2ch0em997BXOPlExZXweWdo3UTSuypYrD6HUJr6I3hXNLKXttyQrM6arJRk+R0aXEptU5jGmqgYnulNF1OAcwzGhgBYLj3iosEeyeXA6abjkVFDjqsoQVWxGIPn8VxabdGiORw3ENzYmGQd46HdW3afUdVayiF8feEjXtoKaDv8OSyJ9VueCoJGsdRgc6Wg1OHda0AGt1OSCjE1R9VHI0skd/K0HYpmlneLa8w4rOZ7kTHOD4nNBJ7zQa26rUUjbu1pPM2VXF5/FC06Q0G9aNassZNPRpa9NW7/wBoB9yFobqDaC96uJ8gg2Pzs3EQp1c73j9lQzXHdrK53In0VdsfT9Frhj8yMk/WUnHDHj9jXOJNTW+6v9hriDqE6e5X42qqYC0XCrmua+E3L6lrfMDevJdjFJuXYPw8DgBQX5qxJLSn6IlXSdr8xvdVMXA0XO26iUbKjKgazCtc4l1aKNoAJDbKxJjGhtGhQ9gX7WU8X0VaZHiX16JmHc1ov8k7G4fTat1Uay99lSVEt7DeHlborWlOS7hnjUXlocDahULRGQKDbdRiUCwJouVbOvO1RHjwCSQ3T6LqjxEtf0SXaPRxk9lA/wCfNPomuCTVdkkr5VXddSTR0UQKVCZ1ODk2iRCYkXGT2qDsmRwvkrRpPojHC3DZxWp2vQxtv+oqznEww2lkY0kb/wByh6ei0zOPw727scFC5HWZrRpLwHOPI8kHxBq4mlKnYKkyWdhkoopDUqzgoSdRpUNFSlinMNNDadSgC5w9jo4n1kY14O2q60p4oaWkNAaOjVhHBWNPdCicFIuMqDuYZ+NmVrzWexGILzWpSdGlBh3E0CcYRiKUmy7ksDXHvX9Vss4yakILQKGlKb7LHYfDmJx1d4EcjdFJOJ5A0NaKNFqG5Q9jjoBP6UpSoRXh/M24eXU9pI2tvdDJHajU8zVTYeGrSU0J9hd2Zh2uUM0guPdHIIXisf2goKgJ0opFTrsqYbcDqaKhUWMFDUk8m3V/D3sOVyop+40RN96nePqrjYtER8ZBrRA6AuLfVxUC64/NNqgGOiKM5JhO0qOnVBWBEcJiXR1pzC5yRN0PzQAO0i4B3CSrk1BPWv6LqES5FBcqkQuBWUXg5v522p/lFHhstkmr2LNQbQOPm6zQq8pJIaASdgADf0C0GSZ07BMc2SB4c94eC9pb7ooBQ73ulLko3Hsa72Djw/ibjQKg6SNTa16AJmLyeSJzWzAMB3IIJHO45I3FxJM58UjcO9zYyXOpHXWa7k+SFZvK7EyvlihmqSTJRpdRx5W2HkueOWVv9SVDko+DbxSRQwNZCahrQ7WPzEi+yweZYl2IkdI4G23wU2QZn2btEho2twRsRuD0R3FMjkbqjLAKGtDSvwVO0EQBDlpc3VX4KvNhiw7VKlxE72Oo02T8JMXG5ulsehmHzEsjkj7MEyA97woY4HmtLLlzns1NpqFqBBJoy2tRcLoiSoiMWHkc2rWP8zSoVbBRF8jWdXAL1+NgY0BoAFL2+ajLPidMUOR5A8EGh3Ukc1aN29FpONYWNLHtaA41BpzWfxMBoH03AqiM7iROHGRyeWlht1UMdz9/+FEjfBwacQA4Cmk0rdNiVsHuoPP4EUUkD6NcfNepvy+J7e9Gwi/ILBcR4RsLiGtADr+noucMtujvPDSsBySV3UmCp2jdXKqpl91NA64WhvRxCjGd7U7c9VaxuJaGWNyKIdJNQXNUPbIpTGdeLlMXXPUZcqJJoH381ZfMQLigKHxyEEFF2TsewV3USCrIDMKfArqrTNANkkkTwInFJoXCUqqxmg4DxjocwhezDuneNWmJtKlxBAN9qbr0HjzGQOiwsWYPLpmyTvezDFsj2gsIYCegdT5LzrhbPPYMYzEdmJNDXDRXTXUKbq87izDxytnwuAbHJ/M7QyyOka7tARtyuaqqGbrgbGsxGDwuBgxboZ/5xLRGXami9HOIoPRE+ApxGyPCtniEzMdOJmmz5QCbi1+qwvDH8Q24aGIOwWuSB0vZShxa2souHdU7Jf4jxxgOmwQkezESTxvY/TR0u7XDmLqaJM/x+wNzXFgAAds6wsORQaQojj8W7HYybEadJleXkC+kGlB9FO7Iybh/d51QykAwFI002RT8DdWz2kead+AP8TVIwayZ42cR6EhRyuJ3380ZbkLx+ZtfRckyOTyKZJHwlh64ph5AFy9Ie6yyXCGWls7i7k3ktBm8+hh+NFjzO3RswqkYzirFB0oaL6R9UK7V1KclcmwzydZG5S9lcNwfJaYRSSOE3bBZhKv5ESyZp62UvY9QUgwggitjVdGtEo9ShfUD4rO5tlDcTIGOl7O25FfqiuUz642kcwh2f4LtDStF5yVTN8neMEM4EY5zv/2MABsaC4os7muUiB1GyazW9rIy6FjahoNudVQliLiSV6Udo8/yCA3qmSMRR2HUT8OihAzSlpVx8Cj7JFDKxXNlYdEmaEAMDiV1ObGa05pIoQ0tXWNqQOVU1xupI4SfIJAzRzcNktrqO1tuizE8DmGjgR680bw2Z4iKmpxcPO4RLLM0bPKGvja6p30iyrsTH5nmTPwqKESxvLnBzmGmuKjqhrQBz5lY/DwOkdRor6L0o5bH/TZ/4hSxYBjfda34BOmCMXhMPPE3uxmvorIxk4s6Oy2TMP5KTsR4UcBmMbmTzZ0W21k4Zwfe7OhHK62BhHh+iRwzejfkjgBkG500GtKV3rWykbmsZ7tRf1WsGXsP5GH4BNdlMR3ib8AjgBlJ81cwCTDyC1ng7HopMrzp07qzFoa2wHVZ7OXtMj9NgHHbay12T8PxOiYXNNSATT0XLgmylkaLuGZG43e3RyFRurLcPH+Z9SPcAAuqx4Ww521D4lRHhNlQWyPH/c5dfbFyLr4WadVAX9KKvM2EAULCSRq2t1UEvC0m7Jng+bjSiGTcFzVJ7Rp63IRwaFYTxudNwmlkbQ8OFRQ7GuyGtzOaeVjJYi1jjQ77eqHZlkM2HAkcagGooa05odPjJZHir3lxIpegBOwXF4t2dfcdUbp2XRkkBlC2xoeiYcqjNw19Bus2cuxo/K8/93/KY6PHNFNM9Ogv+6tWjmzRPyeOtdbg302URyVhJq9wHKo3QD27FAUPagcwWp343PapNuoomIKOyOte/Sm1Ruq/+m5CwutUHqBVRN4lkJBNO7y6q23isuI1NbQVta9UDBcuSygV0VHkQqzsskFzG6iPjiGNzgdJa2lKAc+qnZmMLie/RvQoAB5dARFISxweA7vFjnDTSxsLJLW5RmbWOl/mVZJE+OlbXFRb1CSBGdHBD9zJb0VmLgo7duf/AB/ROdsmt3CdAy0ODmk96R7vQURnAZPHF7jfmgBSeqQGqbDdSdksgE5UBr9CkESxicnYGyGHTXYdZALqLA1wjIQ/PMw0tbFGNUsp0hotpB3cUBch0n+/H6/suc+hrstZnwI6NoPbajW4pyO4Wuw0NGgV2AHyCy2N2+P7qGNRjsrIl4Nr2ZT2grGpLSmQjaBxSLarFFcCGwNFxBgzLC5jbnl60XmuJwU0RHaRObQh1SLWNrrTn91Tz3b4BcZdlxo0+TZ5HOGtDu/T3edRvRF9LhyK8vyj/datJJsVOyTVOd5fRQYjDMduwfILKBJy6IA9LkkJ3YPkFVk4cg6H4boSkUAXZOFoeTnhV38Ls5Pd8lA5NSaQhYjhvSNQeaCpPwBSTH+6fQ/oklQH/9k=

 

[Deleted member 460645]

Some come back from the loss and become even better (GSP).

 

[The Schmoop]

Whatever happened to Joe Stevenson?