Lost my MMA debut

Man. Just got home from the fight.

I feel like shit. I feel like I just need to vent.

My background: about a year of boxing – never competed, half a year of grappling and 5 months of pure mma. My opponent only trained for 6 months overall. So I felt confident.

I felt like relying on my boxing, but then I saw the guy and he was way taller than me and a southpaw. His jab was really good and even though it was all he had, he battered me with it. Had no idea how to go against a southpaw. So I decided to change strategy and take him down. Tried to take him down in the first, second and third, did not manage to do a single takedown against the fence, he did not attempt to go on the ground once, but his defence was solid and I was gassed af. Managed to hit him a couple of times, but thats about it. He just tilted his head back a bit and was out of my range and countered. Maybe I was not supposed to push that much, he relied on me pushing and punishing me for missing.

But man. It sucks. I dedicated quite some time into this and I knew I know more than the guy but he was the better fighter. I feel like a loser now. I mean technically I am, but still. All this training and nothing to show for it.

Any tips how to get my head straight?