A.I. Unleashed: Results of A.I. Predictions for UFC 291.

Like many MMA fans, I sat around on Saturday night, July 29th, watching the spectacle that was UFC 291, and like many fans in 2023, I had placed a few bets on the outcome of various fights. Unlike many fans though, I had no say in my picks because I had let an A.I. language model make those for me.

How Did It Do?

The results of A.I. making picks for fights can be considered mixed, depending on how you bet. The A.I. would have done fine with just picking money line bets and going (4-1), but In what may be the first-ever case of overconfidence by an A.I. language model, it picked not only the winner but also the method of victory as well, which turned out to be its undoing, and ended up going a paltry (1-4).

Prediction vs. Results

Gabriel Bonfim vs. Trevin Giles

Prediction: Gabriel Bonfim by submission

Result: Gabriel Bonfim wins by guillotine choke

Kevin Holland vs. Michael Chiesa

Prediction: Kevin Holland by decision

Result: Kevin Holland wins by Darce choke

Bobby Green vs. Tony Ferguson

Prediction: Bobby Green by decision

Result: Bobby Green by Arm Triangle

Jan Blachowicz vs. Alex Pereira

Prediction: Alex Pereira by KO/TKO

Result: Alex Pereira by decision

Dustin Poirier vs. Justin Gaethje

Prediction: Dustin Poirier by decision

Result: Justin Gaethje by KO/TKO

Conclusion

After a strong start in the A.I.'s first pick, things quickly fell apart. Picking who will win in hand-to-hand combat is never easy, and even the people who do it for a living occasionally miss. We will adjust the criteria to money-line picks for the next fight night and see if we can't improve A.I.'s record.