Issue 137
January 2016
The shortlists for the VIII Annual World MMA Awards go live on New Year’s Day – when immortality gets handed over to you
It’s time. History needs you. January represents your opportunity to leave your mark on mixed martial arts’ past, present and future. The shortlists for the VIII Annual Fighters Only World MMA Awards will be going live on New Year’s Day – and then it’s up to you, MMA’s global fan base, to register your votes and honor the very best performers of 2015.
We’ve seen epic wars, unbelievable knockouts, scintillating submissions, front flips, back slams, leaping elbows and ferocious flying knees, along with a cavalcade of new stars and revitalized former champions, begging the question: was 2015 the coolest year in the history of mixed martial arts?
If the shortlists for this year’s Fighters Only World MMA Awards are anything to go by, the last 12 months may yet be remembered as the year MMA stepped up to a whole new level on an international scale.
We assembled Fighters Only’s crack team of international editors, leading writers, most-trusted former fighters – including two former Awards shows hosts in Chael Sonnen and Brian Stann, along with UFC analyst Dan Hardy.
Plus, we also discussed each category at length with a wide array of global industry insiders to ensure the shortlists for the VIII Annual World MMA Awards categories were more encompassing than ever. And this year’s process of elimination was perhaps the most painstaking in history.
Standout performances and breathtaking displays seemingly punctuated every month on the calendar. But the last 12 months truly reached a magical crescendo in November and December, with some of the biggest moments and most unexpected results of the entire year.
None more so than Holly Holm’s second round KO destruction of Ronda Rousey in Melbourne, Australia. The high kick heard around the world catapulted Team Holm into the running for potentially an unprecedented six World MMA Awards categories.
‘Fighter of the Year,’ ‘Female Fighter of the Year,’ ‘Knockout of the Year,’ ‘Upset of the Year,’ ‘Breakthrough Fighter of the Year’ and even ‘Coach of the Year’ are all areas in which that one kick may leave a lasting impression.
But, of course, the shortlists aren’t confirmed until midnight on New Year’s Eve so there’s still a handful of events to play out before the voting finally goes live and you get to have your say.
By registering to vote you also have the opportunity to win VIP tickets for the entire Awards weekend (see facing page) where you and your guest could find yourself up close and personal with MMA’s biggest stars for a night you’ll never forget.
Visit worldmmaawards.com today for more information on each category, along with how to register your votes and ensure you leave a lasting impression on the history of mixed martial arts.
