FightMetric and BloodyElbow Announce November Insanity: Tournament Pick 'Em Bracket

Why wait for March to get your tournament madness?

May I be so honored to present to you November Insanity: Tournament Pick 'Em Bracket. This is a FightMetric fantasy game presented by BloodyElbow.

With so many MMA events packed so closely together in one month, the good folks at FightMetric decided there was some fun to be had. The name of this game, like the regular March Madness tourney, is bracket predictions. Now, obviously this isn't one gigantic tourney where we pick one fighter to go all the way through several rounds. Instead, this game asks you to make predictions at each round where you collect points for correct picks. After the events that comprise the rounds are over, you'll tally up points and head to the next round. Again, you aren't trying to pick one fighter to win it all. You just want to be the one who gets the most points by the time Ortiz vs. Griffin 2 - the equivalent of the national championship - has been decided.

Confused? Don't be. The scoring goes like this:

1 point for first round matches
2 points for second round matches
4 points for third round matches
8 points for fourth round matches
16 points for the final match

In this way, all the rounds are worth a possible total of 16 points, for a grand total of 80 points. It’s easy to calculate. There’s no repercussions to getting earlier matches wrong.

The advanced scoring works on the principle of full vs. half point matches. In the first round, all matches are worth 1 point. In the second round, matches are worth either 1 or 2 points, depending on how you did in the previous round. Every second round match branches off of two first round matches. If you got both of those first round matches right, the corresponding second round match is worth 2 points. If you got one or neither of those first round matches correct, the second round match is worth only one point. In the next rounds, a match is worth full points if you got at least one full point match correct from the preceding two matches. For example, if you have two second round matches that are only worth half points, by definition, their corresponding third round match can only be worth half points (2 points), even if you picked both second round matches correctly. At least one of those correct guesses must have been in a full-point match to make the corresponding third round match eligible for full points (4 points). The total possible score for this game is 80 as well, but there are a lot more scoring possibilities based on variations in winner predictions in different places in the bracket.

Here's how to play:

You can use the calculator at any time, but you'll need to print a bracket out. Fill in your scores and send your picks to becontest@gmail.com. The top winner will receive a prize, although we haven't decided what that will be just yet.

To begin the process, CLICK HERE. You have until one minute before the first fight on the bracket to get your entry in, so time is of the essence.

May the best fan win and enjoy the insanity.