Honestly way more effective than trying to use head movement 'properly.' When I try to use head movement like the game wants you to, either punches follow my head and I get hit anyway or I guess wrong and sway right into a KO punch.
I just block and fire back, Gaethje style. Doesn't always work, but at least it's consistent and makes sense, which is more than I can say for the head movement system in this game.