In “Deadliest Warrior: Crazy Horse vs. Pancho Villa,” two men the show repeatedly described as “freedom fighters” were matched against one another. From a certain point of view the characterization is accurate, but incomplete. Both guerrilla fighters met with defeat and then death under sordid circumstances, for example. In any event, the purpose is the matchup, not necessarily getting every historical t crossed and i dotted.
In the weapons comparison, Crazy Horse’s Henry repeating rifle was edged out by Pancho Villa’s Winchester, which was a generation more advanced. The ease of operation put the Winchester over the edge. Villa’s bolo knife was also judged a better close-quarters weapon than Crazy Horse’s war club.
On the other hand, Crazy Horse wielded a better pistol, which was more accurate and inflicted more damage, than the weapon carried by Villa.
In the matchup on tactics, the advantage went to Crazy Horse, who used classic hit-and-run tactics. Villa would surround enemy positions at night and wear them down with fire until they collapsed. This is a classic, setpiece-style battle tactic that the analysts judged would be vulnerable to the guerrilla tactics employed by Crazy Horse.
An interesting “x factor” involving heath was discussed. Crazy Horse, though malnourished, was a healthy human being, having avoided both small pox and tuberculosis. Villa, on the other hand, suffered from severe rheumatoid arthritis, a decided disadvantage.
However, the final match went in the typical “Deadliest Warrior” style, with the supporting players being bumped off one by one until Crazy Horse and Pancho Villa went at it mano a mano. In the end, the Mexican guerrilla chieftain prevailed over the Sioux warrior. The reasons given, besides advantages in weaponry, were interesting.
Villa’s health problems were offset by the fact that his army had a medical staff readily available to handle wounds and sickness. Furthermore, Villa was always well-supplied, mainly by sympathizers in Mexico, the United States and, for a time, Germany. Crazy Horse had neither of these advantages, with no way to treat wounds or sickness and being obligated to scavenge off the dead of the enemy, “looting dead soldiers to create more dead soldiers.” That is the reason why Crazy Horse was obliged to surrender within a year of Little Big Horn and Villa was able to retire for a time.
Source: Deadliest Warrior: Crazy Horse vs Pancho Villa, TV.Rage