After quite some time I'm actually enjoying watching MMA, and more specifically the UFC again. All the stuff surrounding the fights is almost as interesting as the fights themselves. Looking at the post fight interviews, you've got a couple of choices if you lose- lace racer back homecoming garments of chiffon in short length
Elevate yourself by lavishing the opponent with praise, because if he's not 'just that good', then you have to be just that bad.
If you use the phrase 'he was the better man on the night' you maintain your magnanim ... ity without actually admitting he was better generally, just by limiting the admission of superiority to a short period of time. Or-
Diminish the opponent by diminishing yourself. "Now I would never take anything away from him by making excuses, but bear with me for half an hour while I list all the reasons why I wasn't as good as I really am...."

I'm just impossible to please.