He was, because Tayuya used genjutsu and when he was about to win, she turned to curse mark lv 2 or w/e.
And that wasn't about if he was loosing or winning, just if he could control other person puppets.
And he could! He was rapping Tayuya ass until she used genjutsu so, as Kankuro doesn't use genjutsu, Shikamaru all the way!