ebinsugewa

Apologies in advance for overexplaining some things, but I know there are beginners here. If you need any clarification about anything in this answer, just ask.

The linked video isn't a particularly illustrative spot because against Balrog (the boxer character) the opponent's only way to get close to Daigo and deal damage is to use the rush punches or turn around punches (where you hear a number out loud) to move him forward. After throwing the fireball it's a standard spot to buffer (do the motion but don't hit a button, in anticipation of an attack) DP or just do it raw. Light punch DP recovers (the move finishes and allows you to block) so quickly in Super Turbo (the game in question) that it's a really low risk/high reward situation, even if the DP doesn't connect. Balrog doesn't have his super combo (a damaging attack that would do about 60% of Daigo's life, it must be charged by doing special moves or hitting the opponent) yet to punish a missed DP and has up until this point in the match been very impatient. There's nothing that would make Daigo think Balrog would just wait and rush punch to punish the missed DP. That's not to say it's not impressive. Particularly the rest of the match - the Balrog player is Afrolegends, one of the two best players in the US of this game, and it's a great comeback.

I think a more illustrative example is here, against Gamerbee (warning, it gets very loud). The first sequence is a good reaction. The second is an antiair because of good positioning. The third and fourth are pure Umeshoryu. Daigo doesn't have 2 EX bars (the blue blocks) that would let him cancel out a DP if it got blocked, so if they don't work he's going to get punished, probably with an ultra combo for 30-40% of his life. andreicmello brings up another good point I forgot to mention - these DPs are using heavy punch. Daigo is committing to the DP with the most damage, but also the longest recovery and the biggest chance of him getting punished for missing, because he's so sure they're going to land. He couldn't even cancel out of them even if he had 2 EX meters. He's totally committed to the read.

Hi Doc, I finally got a chance to meet you at T20 a few months back. Thanks for everything that you do.

When is that Darius going to get put on the floor!? :D