Luck and sudden KO's in MMA fights

[Mr. Miyagi]

Many fighters have gotten lots of credit for quick KO's over opponents like Vitor vs Silva, Kondo vs Saulo, Frank vs Zinoviev, and I wonder about these because the nature of a KO strike is to a certain degree luck. A person has to be hit hard while moving the right way in the right place and there are quite a few variables to that. Unfortunately it seems like these fighters take a long time to live down a KO and get dismissed. Personally, I would rank Silva higher than Vitor right now despite that quick KO from a couple years back. Fights like Kondo vs Saulo and Frank vs Zinoviev could really have unfolded quite differently if something tiny had gone differently. I don't quite know what my point is but I don't believe in giving someone too much credit for a quick KO unless they can do it often and noone can do it often against very skilled opponents.

[YeLLa-TiGeR]

Those "lucky" KOs, often result because of an opening where a very skilled person can often exploit. I think the more skills you have, the more you can exploit on the little holes in your opponents defence. The variables are very nitpicky and often it does take a bit o f"luck" to find and USE the openings offered.

You snooze you lose.....

My 2 cents.

I wouldn't dismiss those "quick KO's".

They are caused by a mental lapse on the part of the KO'd fighter. In a real fight, this would mean death, not just embarrassment.

Seen in this light, Vitor "killed" Silva. Kondo killed Saulo. Frank killed Zinoviev, and certainly ended his NHB career.

Silva, Saulo, and Zinoviev are all walking dead-men. Therefore, you have to give credit to fighters who have never been KO'd or Submitted. They are still alive.

[Bau13]

For a moment I thought Zinoviev WAS dead!!..

I do think that KO was lucky for Frank though..

Lucky?

Frank trained for that move, and slammed Igor on his head when Igor telegraphed the right cross.

There was nothing lucky about it.

Now, the knee-bar he got on Horn was a bit lucky...

[Mr. Miyagi]

I've seen a guy attempt a guillotine and get slammed numerous times. Frank got lucky on that one for sure. I would say that Igor Z and Frank are equal fighters in many ways despite what happened that fight.
Unlikely things happen all the time. What if Pat Smith had actually managed to catch Royce Gracie or Ken Shamrock and KO them? It's not likely but it is possible. It wouldn't be a testimony to Smith's greatness at all.

[Bau13]

yeah Miyagi san...that s right...so many guys have been slammed like that...Franks lucky that Igor twisted in the air like that...

Where is Igor now???

[duchman]

Igor works as a bouncer in new york i believe.

[Bau13]

I pity the fools that get into trouble in that club!!

[The Colonie Crusher]

You hear that alot in boxing, "That was a lucky punch that knocked him out!". Bullshit. There is no such thing as a lucky punch in any fighting arena. That is just an excuse for a fighter to say because he got his clock cleaned. These guys just prove that ANYONE no matter how tough or what style can be knocked out. This is why I think a good heavyweight boxer would have the potential to do some serious damage in NHB. Serious damage.

I will however say that it is not luck, but rather good timing and precision when a KO takes place. Like hitting someone right in the temple or the jaw.

[Bau13]

skill ..sometimes
luck..sometimes

Like in any sport...luck counts

[Dozen Long]

I think that calling knockouts lucky is kind of an attempt to justify the loser's ability to fight. Certainly anyone can be knocked out, but we shouldn't excuse them because we happen to think they are great. A knockout is no different than any other loss.

NHB fighting is not a sport where the best of the best always win--it seems to be becoming more like football, where pretty much any team has a shot of winning on Sunday. Just like football teams, many NHB fighters are of such a high caliber that little things count BIG time. Little things are what open someone up to a knockout as well.