Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images There are many interconnected ways to measure a fighter’s success in MMA. Entertainment value, promotional savvy, a loyal fan base, and even earning power. They are prize fighters, after all.
The most broadly understood characteristic of excellence in a fighter’s career, however, is also the most simple: their record. A series of integers on separate sides of an en dash, often used sans context to represent the totality of a fighter’s ability. Some fighters are fortunate enough, on the biggest stages, to receive the benefit of closer examination. Maybe Douglas Andrade isn’t the best bantamweight in the world, despite his 25–3 record. It would be difficult…
