Nickal/Martin last night

[Franklin_Restores_TheTradition]

In the dual meet last year, they were scoreless after the first and Bo was trailing 2-1 after the second. The final was 11-5, but that was a competitive bout. Bo is better than Martin, but Martin is a very worthy competitor. Why do we have to pretend otherwise?

You left out the part about how the match ended with Martin flat on his back! Martin lost last year's PSU-daO$U Dual Meet match 11-5 and was flat on his back "done -stick a fork in him" at the end of the match. Laughable to claim he wasn't dominated in that match - nearly as laughable as claiming that getting beat 8-2 is a razor-thin, ultra-competitive, low-scoring affair. Bo dominated the scoring and match in Friday night's dual - the only party who was "low-scoring" in Friday night's match was the losing wrestler, Martin.

BTW, I don't know why you Martin-huggers persistently act like Bo didn't dominate Martin, the scoring and the match unless he pins him. Bo wrestle's every match the "correct way" under wrestling's fundamental rules - IOW, always looking to improve his position and work for the Fall. Just because he didn't get the fall in every single match against Martin doesn't mean that he hasn't dominated the scoring and match. Bo dominated the match Friday night and winning 8-2 is not winning a tight, low-scoring affair LMFAO!

 

[kingslayer_85]

Go watch practice...They are back and forth and Bo gets the upper hand the majority of the time now !!!! HE WILL BE YOUR NATIONAL CHAMPION AT 184......WORK ETHIC IS INSANE AND HE IS ALSO VERY STRONG THIS YEAR....

He may very well win it all and hope he does but hard work alone isn't going to get it done. The other guy mr. Dean isn't exactly sitting around drinking beers and scratching his ass.

 

[Franklin_Restores_TheTradition]

He may very well win it all and hope he does but hard work alone isn't going to get it done. The other guy mr. Dean isn't exactly sitting around drinking beers and scratching his ass.

No doubt, Dean is a 2x NCAA Champion and 3x AA...and Bo is going up a weight. Impossible to predict how this will play out until they actually meet, but they sure do appear to be on a collision course at this point and the clear favorites to make it through the #1 and #2 side of the Championship Bracket. The most concerning thing about Dean in this match-up is that he is almost never out of position and his defense is very difficult to score on (just look at his matches against Ruth) - this tends to negate Bo's greatest strength, his "attacking style". I think the advantage in a lower-scoring affair goes to Dean (a la the Taylor-Dake match-up), but you never know until they step on the mat - that's wrestling!

I do know that MyMar isn't even remotely close to being in Dean's or Bo's league though and only has an outside shot of making it to the Blood Round, let alone one of semis.

 

[LemonPie]

No doubt, Dean is a 2x NCAA Champion and 3x AA...and Bo is going up a weight. Impossible to predict how this will play out until they actually meet, but they sure do appear to be on a collision course at this point and the clear favorites to make it through the #1 and #2 side of the Championship Bracket. The most concerning thing about Dean in this match-up is that he is almost never out of position and his defense is very difficult to score on (just look at his matches against Ruth) - this tends to negate Bo's greatest strength, his "attacking style". I think the advantage in a lower-scoring affair goes to Dean (a la the Taylor-Dake match-up), but you never know until they step on the mat - that's wrestling!

I do know that MyMar isn't even remotely close to being in Dean's or Bo's league though and only has an outside shot of making it to the Blood Round, let alone one of semis.

Oh yeah. Now I remember. You jinxed the hell out of that one last year. I invite anyone to follow these steps:

1: click the magnifying glass in the top right corner
2: type "Martin" into the search bar
3: Type "Franklin" in "posted by" section and click on Franklin_Restores_TheTradition
4: Click "Search"
5: become horrified

 

[Chickenman Testa]

He may very well win it all and hope he does but hard work alone isn't going to get it done. The other guy mr. Dean isn't exactly sitting around drinking beers and scratching his ass.

That guy's no fool. He leaves that to the professionals - us!

 

[El-Jefe]

He may very well win it all and hope he does but hard work alone isn't going to get it done. The other guy mr. PD3 is exactly sitting around drinking beers and scratching his ass, and will pin Dean in the round of 16.

Couldn't resist ...

 

[slushhead]

You left out the part about how the match ended with Martin flat on his back! Martin lost last year's PSU-daO$U Dual Meet match 11-5 and was flat on his back "done -stick a fork in him" at the end of the match. Laughable to claim he wasn't dominated in that match - nearly as laughable as claiming that getting beat 8-2 is a razor-thin, ultra-competitive, low-scoring affair. Bo dominated the scoring and match in Friday night's dual - the only party who was "low-scoring" in Friday night's match was the losing wrestler, Martin.

BTW, I don't know why you Martin-huggers persistently act like Bo didn't dominate Martin, the scoring and the match unless he pins him. Bo wrestle's every match the "correct way" under wrestling's fundamental rules - IOW, always looking to improve his position and work for the Fall. Just because he didn't get the fall in every single match against Martin doesn't mean that he hasn't dominated the scoring and match. Bo dominated the match Friday night and winning 8-2 is not winning a tight, low-scoring affair LMFAO!

You keep leaving out the part about Nickal being 0-1 against Martin in matches that matter.

As a fan base, we should pretty much shut up about how much Nickal owns Martin. The victories are enjoyable, but we shouldn't be crowing . . . not before March 18, 2017, at least.

 

[Cowbell Man]

MyMar is 1-4 vs Bo.

Again. Over and over. He only needed to beat Bo once and he did.

I have to agree with Jefe. Martin came out firing and was in deep and perhaps a bit low on Bos ankles a couple of times early.

It was Bo who again produced eye popping counters and initiated the bizarre combined with attacks. Very exciting. And eventually MyMar resigned to finishing.

So now it's 1-4 and still Martin has the hardware. Which victory do you guys want on YOUR wall. The 4?


Or the 1?

Ask David Taylor.

 

[matter7172]

You keep leaving out the part about Nickal being 0-1 against Martin in matches that matter.

Have to disagree here.

NLO - Ok, didn't really matter
tOSU dual - Bo's victory helped cement win
Big 10 - Bo's win helps lock up title
NCAA - Title already in the bag when Bo lost. PSU still champs. Bo getting to finals was pivotal to title.
tOSU dual - Bo's victory ices win.

If Cael and DT ushered in a new way of looking at wrestling (admittedly lots of old-time thinking still exists), along with the emphasis on scoring is the key point of looking at the sport as a true team sport. Do you think if you went to DT or Bo and say "you can have another individual title, but you'll have to give up the team title" that either would say "yes" to the deal? I'd say they wouldn't because they have bought in.

 

[nitlion6]

I suppose it is OK to point out Martin's single victory was in the most significant of the 5 matches they have met.
However, I do believe we might be a little dishonest in using that match as an indication that Martin can outwrestle Bo.
The turning and defining point of that singular match was a move hit by Bo and a mistake on the finish by Bo. Not anything executed by Martin.

 

[NittanyChris]

Of course the finals victory is the most important.

The problem comes when people point to this win as evidence that Martin is the better wrestler, or even Bo's equal. He is not.

If someone beats you 80% of the time at anything...chess, Checkers, fencing or wrestling, then you are not their equal. That person is clearly superior.

 

[Brian LB-U]

Of course the finals victory is the most important.

The problem comes when people point to this win as evidence that Martin is the better wrestler, or even Bo's equal. He is not.

If someone beats you 80% of the time at anything...chess, Checkers, fencing or wrestling, then you are not their equal. That person is clearly superior.

C'mon, nobody is saying that. At least not here on the PSU forum.

 

[slushhead]

Have to disagree here.

NLO - Ok, didn't really matter
tOSU dual - Bo's victory helped cement win
Big 10 - Bo's win helps lock up title
NCAA - Title already in the bag when Bo lost. PSU still champs. Bo getting to finals was pivotal to title.
tOSU dual - Bo's victory ices win.

If Cael and DT ushered in a new way of looking at wrestling (admittedly lots of old-time thinking still exists), along with the emphasis on scoring is the key point of looking at the sport as a true team sport. Do you think if you went to DT or Bo and say "you can have another individual title, but you'll have to give up the team title" that either would say "yes" to the deal? I'd say they wouldn't because they have bought in.

See Cowbell's post. That's a lot of what I was implying. Take your pick:

(A) Team National Champs and Nickal with dual and B1G wins over Martin

(B) Team National Champs and Nickal a National Champ

Doesn't matter one bit to me what Martin's skill level is relative to Nickal. Martin won when it counted, and it makes us look foolish to make excuses and keep crowing about how Nickal is so much better. Just wait another 6 weeks, and I'm betting we can talk all the smack we want.

 

[Franklin_Restores_TheTradition]

I suppose it is OK to point out Martin's single victory was in the most significant of the 5 matches they have met.
However, I do believe we might be a little dishonest in using that match as an indication that Martin can outwrestle Bo.
The turning and defining point of that singular match was a move hit by Bo and a mistake on the finish by Bo. Not anything executed by Martin.

Ding, ding, ding......winner, winner, winner Chicken dinner!!! Bo has thoroughly dominated this series - especially the scoring off YOUR OWN ATTACKS from every position and did so again on Friday night (including outscoring Martin 4-1 in the 3rd period after going into the period in total control of the match 4-1!!!). People attempting to characterize Bo's 8-2 victory Friday evening @daO$U as a "tight, low-scoring match" rather than a match Bo dominated whistle-to-whistle is a joke born of either complete ignorance regarding a fundamental understanding of wrestling or just plain intellectual dishonesty! In regards to the only match that Bo lost in the series, he lost it off HIS OWN EXTREMELY MINOR mistake, not any offense that Martin created - Bo likely pins Martin (or finishes that match with Martin on his back again) but for the two very minor mistakes:

• Bo very slightly over-rotated the finish on the throw and got past center, and...
• he failed to spread-eagle his legs on landing to create a more secure base and make it almost impossible to elevate and turn him.

Martin was extremely fortunate in this regard as Bo finishes that attack for a pin 9 out of 10 times at least (maybe even more like 99 out of 100).

 

[Franklin_Restores_TheTradition]

See Cowbell's post. That's a lot of what I was implying. Take your pick:

(A) Team National Champs and Nickal with dual and B1G wins over Martin

(B) Team National Champs and Nickal a National Champ

Doesn't matter one bit to me what Martin's skill level is relative to Nickal. Martin won when it counted, and it makes us look foolish to make excuses and keep crowing about how Nickal is so much better. Just wait another 6 weeks, and I'm betting we can talk all the smack we want.

This has nothing to do with the issue that sparked this thread - the claim that Friday's match which ended with a dominating 8-2 win by Bo was a "tight, ultra-competitive, low-scoring affair" which is a joke of a characterization as anyone who knows anything about wrestling (or has ever actually wrestled) knows! Bo went into the 3rd period with a dominating 4-1 lead and outscored Martin 4-1 in the 3rd period generating all 4 points off his own attacks (2 from bottom via a reversal - effectively a Farmers Roll after Martin put a leg in - and 2 on a TD generated off his own single-leg attack initiated at about 6:30 of the match). Bo dominated Martin on Friday and Martin absolutely wrestled the 3rd period like he was more concerned with preventing Bo from bonusing than any attempt to actually win the match (again, as anybody who knows and understands wrestling knows).

 

[lobo lion]

He may very well win it all and hope he does but hard work alone isn't going to get it done. The other guy mr. Dean isn't exactly sitting around drinking beers and scratching his ass.

Absolutely right. He's a crotch scratcher.

 

[slushhead]

This has nothing to do with the issue that sparked this thread - the claim that Friday's match which ended with a dominating 8-2 win by Bo was a "tight, ultra-competitive, low-scoring affair" which is a joke of a characterization as anyone who knows anything about wrestling (or has ever actually wrestled) knows! Bo went into the 3rd period with a dominating 4-1 lead and outscored Martin 4-1 in the 3rd period generating all 4 points off his own attacks (2 from bottom via a reversal - effectively a Farmers Roll after Martin put a leg in - and 2 on a TD generated off his own single-leg attack initiated at about 6:30 of the match). Bo dominated Martin on Friday and Martin absolutely wrestled the 3rd period like he was more concerned with preventing Bo from bonusing than any attempt to actually win the match (again, as anybody who knows and understands wrestling knows).

Hey, I never said it was a "tight, ultra-competitive, low-scoring affair". You can take that up with the poster who said it.

Of course, you have the small matter of no one actually having said it, so . . .

Might just be best to move on.

 

[Franklin_Restores_TheTradition]

Hey, I never said it was a "tight, ultra-competitive, low-scoring affair". You can take that up with the poster who said it.

Of course, you have the small matter of no one actually having said it, so . . .

Might just be best to move on.

Really, someone within the first couple responses said it was a low scoring affair (said that even though it was not a high scoring affair it was very competitive and entertaining featuring lots of great defense by both wrestlers....). Scoring 8 points on a returning National Champion (3 TDs and a reversal) is low scoring??? The only party in that match which was not very high scoring was Martin (2 escapes). Don't give me all this BS about not selling Martin's effort short - these posters should stop selling Bo's effort short, because he thoroughly dominated Martin in Friday night's match in winning 8-2 and the outcome was never remotely in doubt.....and characterizing that match as a highly entertaining, suspense-filled, low-scoring, defensive struggle is ridiculous and does a disservice to how dominant Bo was in controlling the match from start to finish.

 

[slushhead]

Really, someone within the first couple responses said it was a low scoring affair (said that even though it was not a high scoring affair it was very competitive and entertaining featuring lots of great defense by both wrestlers....). Scoring 8 points on a returning National Champion (3 TDs and a reversal) is low scoring??? The only party in that match which was not very high scoring was Martin (2 escapes). Don't give me all this BS about not selling Martin's effort short - these posters should stop selling Bo's effort short, because he thoroughly dominated Martin in Friday night's match in winning 8-2 and the outcome was never remotely in doubt.....and characterizing that match as a highly entertaining, suspense-filled, low-scoring, defensive struggle is ridiculous and does a disservice to how dominant Bo was in controlling the match from start to finish.

You should try quoting the post you are talking about, because you are royally botching the interpretation. The only posts in this thread using "low-scoring affair", "ultra-competitive", "tight", "very competitve", "low scoring", etc. are yours. You are misrepresenting what others have said to perpetuate a silly argument. No one here is upset that Bo handed Martin his ass last night. Move on.

 

[pawrestlersintn]

Really, someone within the first couple responses said it was a low scoring affair (said that even though it was not a high scoring affair it was very competitive and entertaining featuring lots of great defense by both wrestlers....). Scoring 8 points on a returning National Champion (3 TDs and a reversal) is low scoring??? The only party in that match which was not very high scoring was Martin (2 escapes). Don't give me all this BS about not selling Martin's effort short - these posters should stop selling Bo's effort short, because he thoroughly dominated Martin in Friday night's match in winning 8-2 and the outcome was never remotely in doubt.....and characterizing that match as a highly entertaining, suspense-filled, low-scoring, defensive struggle is ridiculous and does a disservice to how dominant Bo was in controlling the match from start to finish.

You'd better go back and review the eighth message in this thread. It is yours, with RandyL quoted.

RandyL stated in his message, "it was not a REAL HIGH SCORING AFFAIR." You then started accusing him of saying it was "low scoring," which he did not say. You even put words in his mouth, by putting quotes around "low scoring" as if that is what he said. Now, let's see if you can go back and find a quote by anyone that says, "highly entertaining, suspense-filled, low-scoring, defensive struggle." When you find it, please reply back and tell us which message it was in.

 

[slushhead]

Absolutely right. He's a crotch scratcher.

Which is a lot better than what Brunson was on January 23, 2016.

 

[El-Jefe]

Absolutely right. He's a crotch scratcher.

Whatever it takes.

 

[Franklin_Restores_TheTradition]

You'd better go back and review the eighth message in this thread. It is yours, with RandyL quoted.

RandyL stated in his message, "it was not a REAL HIGH SCORING AFFAIR." You then started accusing him of saying it was "low scoring," which he did not say. You even put words in his mouth, by putting quotes around "low scoring" as if that is what he said. Now, let's see if you can go back and find a quote by anyone that says, "highly entertaining, suspense-filled, low-scoring, defensive struggle." When you find it, please reply back and tell us which message it was in.

You're the one word-smithing - scoring 8 points on a returning National Champion (3 TDs and a reversal), and outscoring said returning National Champion by 4-1 in the 3rd period after going into the period with a dominating 4-1 lead is high-scoring such that you produce 4 times more points then the other wrestler, when the two opponents are supposedly elite-level wrestlers is most definitely "high scoring" on the part of Nickal (he was within a TD of a "Major Decision" on a returning National Champion for Pete's sake!!!). Bo DOMINATED the scoring, the match and Martin on Friday night and to claim otherwise is absurd and demonstrates a complete lack of knowledge regarding wrestling especially if the two parties are considered elite-level wrestlers on the national scene (i.e., it's all relative, but one elite wrestler putting up 8 points and an 8-2 DEC on another elite wrestler is most definitely a lot of point scoring by the one elite wrestler, a large margin of victory and a dominating victory). BTW, rather amusing that you believe using the terms - not high scoring - is not a synonym for low scoring in the English language......low scoring and not high scoring mean the exact same thing in the English language there Merriam-Webster. Again, the only wrestler that was not putting a lot of points on the board in that match relative to both being supposedly elite-status was Martin, but putting 3 TDs and a Reversal on a returning National Champion is putting quite a few points on the board champ!!!

 

[lionlover]

Whatever it takes.

 

[pawrestlersintn]

You're the one word-smithing - scoring 8 points on a returning National Champion (3 TDs and a reversal), and outscoring said returning National Champion by 4-1 in the 3rd period after going into the period with a dominating 4-1 lead is high-scoring such that you produce 4 times more points then the other wrestler, when the two opponents are supposedly elite-level wrestlers is most definitely "high scoring" on the part of Nickal (he was within a TD of a "Major Decision" on a returning National Champion for Pete's sake!!!). Bo DOMINATED the scoring, the match and Martin on Friday night and to claim otherwise is absurd and demonstrates a complete lack of knowledge regarding wrestling especially if the two parties are considered elite-level wrestlers on the national scene (i.e., it's all relative, but one elite wrestler putting up 8 points and an 8-2 DEC on another elite wrestler is most definitely a lot of point scoring by the one elite wrestler, a large margin of victory and a dominating victory). BTW, rather amusing that you believe using the terms - not high scoring - is not a synonym for low scoring in the English language......low scoring and not high scoring mean the exact same thing in the English language there Merriam-Webster. Again, the only wrestler that was not putting a lot of points on the board in that match relative to both being supposedly elite-status was Martin, but putting 3 TDs and a Reversal on a returning National Champion is putting quite a few points on the board champ!!!

I repeated your words, and compared them to someone elses words, and I'm wordsmithing. Rigggghhht, got it.

Secondly, I see how you completely avoided the second portion of my post, asking you to identify the post in which someone stated "highly entertaining, suspense-filled..." I suppose that's because you can't, but I'd love to be proven wrong. That there is serious wordsmithing, because no one even came close.

BTW, there aren't only two extremes here. Low-scoring and high-scoring are two ends of a spectrum. Personally, I think the truth falls somewhere in between, particularly in this match, where you have two guys that moved up a weight, one of whom, despite being the national champion, is struggling, and one guy who is handling the weight much better. Was is a low-scoring match? No. Was it a high-scoring match, considering that Bo is undefeated, with 11 falls and one guy is 20-5, despite his NC? I don't think so.

 

[Franklin_Restores_TheTradition]

I repeated your words, and compared them to someone elses words, and I'm wordsmithing. Rigggghhht, got it.

Secondly, I see how you completely avoided the second portion of my post, asking you to identify the post in which someone stated "highly entertaining, suspense-filled..." I suppose that's because you can't, but I'd love to be proven wrong. That there is serious wordsmithing, because no one even came close.

BTW, there aren't only two extremes here. Low-scoring and high-scoring are two ends of a spectrum. Personally, I think the truth falls somewhere in between, particularly in this match, where you have two guys that moved up a weight, one of whom, despite being the national champion, is struggling, and one guy who is handling the weight much better. Was is a low-scoring match? No. Was it a high-scoring match, considering that Bo is undefeated, with 11 falls and one guy is 20-5, despite his NC? I don't think so.

Could you tell me how many of those 11 Falls by Bo were recorded against returning National Champions? Again, Bo absolutely dominated the match, scoring and Martin Friday night....and anyone who doesn't recognize that knows little about wrestling and isn't giving Bo Nickel the credit he deserves.

 

[pawrestlersintn]

Could you tell me how many of those 11 Falls by Bo were recorded against returning National Champions? Again, Bo absolutely dominated the match, scoring and Martin Friday night....and anyone who doesn't recognize that knows little about wrestling and isn't giving Bo Nickel the credit he deserves.

Now it's about dominating the match? Why didn't you say so. Yes, he dominated the match.
And, spelling his name correctly would also give him some credit.

 

[Franklin_Restores_TheTradition]

Now it's about dominating the match? Why didn't you say so. Yes, he dominated the match.
And, spelling his name correctly would also give him some credit.

I did spell it correctly but my phone auto correct changed it....I will type it correctly again - Nickel...gee, look at that it changed the "a" to an "e" yet again.

Correcting spelling done by my phone, it doesn't get any lamer than that...

 

[pawrestlersintn]

I did spell it correctly but my phone auto correct changed it....I will type it correctly again - Nickel...gee, look at that it changed the "a" to an "e" yet again.

Correcting spelling done by my phone, it doesn't get any lamer than that...

Not knowing that you can actually add words to your phone's dictionary is one step lamer.

Nickal, see?

 

[Franklin_Restores_TheTradition]

Not knowing that you can actually add words to your phone's dictionary is one step lamer.

Nickal, see?

Wow, I failed to hit the check-mark when I typed Nickal utterly shameful on my part....yawn.

 

[RoarLions1]

This thread is going nowhere. Bo wrestled one heckuva match, didn't he?

 

[a_mshaffer]

who wins the prize for perceiving to win this 'argument'? Hurry up and award so one can feel good about oneself... or keep arguing and save the world

 

[greenmanRD]

Martin found lightning in a bottle when he won the title. Bo was ambitious and Martin had a great counter. He earned his win on the night. Bo made sure to not grant Martin a huge opportunity on Friday, and Martin was basically resigned to getting into scrambles that he lost. It's going to be tough for Martin to beat Bo if that's how Bo is going to wrestle him now.

 

[jrd23psu]

No doubt, Dean is a 2x NCAA Champion and 3x AA...and Bo is going up a weight. Impossible to predict how this will play out until they actually meet, but they sure do appear to be on a collision course at this point and the clear favorites to make it through the #1 and #2 side of the Championship Bracket. The most concerning thing about Dean in this match-up is that he is almost never out of position and his defense is very difficult to score on (just look at his matches against Ruth) - this tends to negate Bo's greatest strength, his "attacking style". I think the advantage in a lower-scoring affair goes to Dean (a la the Taylor-Dake match-up), but you never know until they step on the mat - that's wrestling!

I do know that MyMar isn't even remotely close to being in Dean's or Bo's league though and only has an outside shot of making it to the Blood Round, let alone one of semis.

I would say that Bo's greatest strength is his scrambling ability. He just doesn't lose those instances. Not only is Bo very active offensively and has a variety of attacks but he is equally as effective countering attacks from his opponents. I don't think Bo has been taken down this year. You can get to his leg, but he's just as likely to pin you as he is to score a TD off of it. He is insanely comfortable being in strange positions and is always able to work his way out of them with relative ease.

 

[SRATH]

Msybe it was luck, probably not, but Bo showed great awareness when he scored late in the periods.

 

[nitlion6]

Msybe it was luck, probably not, but Bo showed great awareness when he scored late in the periods.

Pretty sure luck wasn't involved, unless you are talking about preparation meet opportunity, then it was luck.

 

[Franklin_Restores_TheTradition]

So far this year, Martin has lost:

• By 9 to Dean 13-4
• By 2 to Zavatsky 6-4
• By 3 to Dechow 7-4
• By 2 to Brooks 5-3
• By 6 to Bo 8-2

IOW, Martin's loss on Friday was more similar to his season-opening Exhibition Match NWCA All-Star Classic loss to Dean than it was to his in-season tournament and Dual losses to Zavatsky, Dechow and Brooks.

​

 

[LemonPie]

Martin is coming around. Looks like a top 5 wrestler

 

[Dogwelder]

As a fan base, we should pretty much shut up about how much Nickal owns Martin. The victories are enjoyable, but we shouldn't be crowing . . . not before March 18, 2017, at least.

But Jammenz says regular-season and dual-meet achievements are more impressive than national championships. I'm so confused.

 

[Franklin_Restores_TheTradition]

So far this year, Martin has lost:

• By 9 to Dean 13-4
• By 2 to Zavatsky 6-4
• By 3 to Dechow 7-4
• By 2 to Brooks 5-3
• By 6 to Bo 8-2

IOW, Martin's loss on Friday was more similar to his season-opening Exhibition Match NWCA All-Star Classic loss to Dean than it was to his in-season tournament and Dual losses to Zavatsky, Dechow and Brooks.

​

By-the-by, given that Martin is 0-5 against Top 10 ranked opponents (these are the only current Top 10 foes he's faced to date), I would say that the probability of Martin being knocked out of the Championship Bracket by quarters is exceedingly high and the probability of not making it through the Blood Round is also pretty high.