Wrestling for MMA: Yoel Romero

Coverage of mixed martial arts has become largely about narratives. Questions of motivation, career momentum, and sweeping generalizations about styles dominate the conversation.

Basic narratives and factoids are easily digestible and can carry across a fighter’s career. When you have hundreds of fighters to learn about, It’s just an easier way to operate than digging up specifics or developing deeper insight. You didn’t expect Mike Goldberg to think of new things to say about Anderson Silva each fight, did you? Most experienced commentators, and even analysts at times, can fall into these comfortable patterns.

It’s up to motivated individuals to combat misleading or shallow narratives, one…