“I am a victim of the situation!” — Curly, 1936.
Despite his efforts, Jeremy Stephens came out short of last night's wanted game against Yair Rodriguez in ESPN 6 at UFC. The results of "Lil Heathen" were incredibly disappointing. Except for the prominent "No Contest" just a few weeks ago, Stephens was essentially defeated in three consecutive fights, completely removing him from the title competition.
The short summary of this fight is simple. Rodriguez was a better man. He undoubtedly deserved victory. Rodriguez won the first round with a dazzling fast kick, and a brutal liver kick knocked Stevens down to his second headache. He won a big victory over "Pantera". It helped to prove that he was truly a competitor.
Digging deeper makes it more complicated. From a broader perspective, this bout is actually a great example of how one luck and external environment affects the bout results. Luck is a complex topic in combat sports, and is often the first excuse for fans when the taste of their favorite fighter is defeated. Do you still think you're not lucky in a fist fight? nonsense.
No one controlled the transition from the fifth round to the third round of this fight, but it turned out to have a big impact on the outcome. The unexpected gaze interrupted the initial planning of the 25-minute contest, and it was up to the UFC at exactly what time to reschedule the game. The probability of the game remaining as the main event has dropped significantly.
As a result, Jeremy Stephens really needed the last 10 minutes. Of course, it's impossible to say that Rodriguez didn't fight with that time in mind, but even before the bout, a short bout seemed to favor “Pantera”. Rodriguez has an energy intensive style. It is much harder to maintain over time. On the other hand, Stevens' meat and potatoes are reliable late by mixing takedown and hard punch.
The fight itself supported the concept. Stevens rallyed in three rounds and easily won over top control.
None of this knocks Rodriguez. However, it is an example of external factors that have a big impact on the outcome of the bout. In this case, it obviously had a negative impact on Stephens as the likelihood of winning behind the potential was reduced. Rodriguez surely fought for victory, and Stevens was the victim of the situation. Both statements can be true without contradicting the other.
A bit unrelated, but I'd like to conclude with this article. The idea that Jeremy Stevens was “finding the way” in his first fight against Yair Rodriguez has always been silly, but this bout is the way to play. Such a nonsense person will feel shame.
To view the complete UFC: "Weidman vs. Reyes" results and replay stars in ESPN 6: Wolf!