There is nothing more sour than the taste of defeat, and when you haven’t lost in some time, that initial sensation straight after the verdict is read aloud hits you with 10x force, reminding you — hard — of just what an awful feeling it is to lose.
But after the disappointment starts to pass and heartbreak gives way to less emotional reflection, there are often positives that can be mined and takeaways that dull the pain, turning something that felt crushing in the moment into a chance to make some changes and improve.
“It’s not too bad; give it a little time, and it’s not too bad,” Mario Bautista said with a smile, a couple of months after having his extended winning streak snapped by Umar Nurmagomedov and a handful of days ahead of his return to action against Vinicius Oliveira this weekend at Meta APEX in Las Vegas.