Game theory applies to a lot of things.

It definitely applies to sports, combat sports, and, with what happened over the weekend, it absolutely applies to MMA.

Song Yadong knocked out Umar Nurmagomedov in Shanghai, reminding fans that no matter what your last name, gym affiliation, or martial arts discipline is, you're still human.

You can still lose the same way other people lose.

Game of Two

It made me think of a great line from a book I read recently. Ron Hansen's "The Kid."

It's historical fiction based on the life of Billy the Kid. In it, The Kid is approached by an inebriated patron who recognizes him. He goes up to The Kid and tells him he knows who he is, what he's done, and he's going to kill him.

The Kid tries to lighten the mood and offers to buy the guy a drink so as not to cause a scene and ruin his and all the other patrons' night. But the guy is hellbent on shooting The Kid. Once The Kid realizes this is going down, he doesn't hesitate when he sees the man go for his gun, and he shoots him three times, killing him.

His friend, Charlie Bowdre, who was outside the saloon, rushes in and sees the man on the floor in the aftermath and asks what happened.

The Kid replies, "It was a game of two, and I was first."

Song Yadong was first

Every combat sports contest is a game of two.

In Shanghai, Yadong and Nurmagomedov played theirs, and even with the odds stacked against him, Yadong seemed to be upspirited and jovial when that second round began.

Nurmagomedov shot his takedown.

Yadong fired off his punch.

One man won, the other lost.

It's how it goes in MMA. Even with all our analyzing, notes, and what we've seen fighters do. It only takes one shot to change the tide of a fight. We've seen it a million times, but it's still jaw-dropping when it happens.

Song Yadong was first and will climb the rankings this week, and he'll play the game again.

How far do you think he'll go?

PS: If you're a fan of fiction, the Western genre, or reading in general. I highly recommend Hansen's book.

Grab a copy here.

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