Issue 123

December 2014

After yet another incredible year of action, it’s time once again for you to choose which of MMA’s finest fighters deserve to go home from the annual Fighters Only World MMA Awards with a much-coveted silver statuette

From fantastic fighters through to cutting-edge coaching, the Fighters Only World MMA Awards has celebrated the very best of mixed martial arts for seven years now. In January; the most glamorous red-carpet event in the industry will return to Las Vegas, Nevada, for a star-studded event hosted in partnership with Bodybuilding.com and RDX.

Every year MMA’s original and best awards extravaganza has grown bigger and better, so rest assured the Seventh Annual Fighters Only World MMA Awards are going to be no exception as the leading names in the sport again come together under one roof to discover who the fans have voted as their standout performers from 2014.

With a couple of weeks still to run, this year has already witnessed more than its fair share of jaw-dropping knockouts, spectacular submissions and incredible battles of will and skill – making it one of the most memorable periods in the sport’s relatively short but illustrious history.

The campaign to see who is crowned the ‘Charles ‘Mask’ Lewis Fighter of the Year’ might be the tightest it’s ever been, with a plethora of candidates throwing their name into the hat by taking out any-and-all competition before them in decisive fashion.

One name on everyone’s lips is that of 155lb contender Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone, who has been on an incredible roll in 2014, winning each of his four fights. Cerrone’s victories 

included three brutal stoppages, which led him back into contention for the lightweight title once more. 

He could also follow in the footsteps of two other former ‘Breakthrough Fighter of the Year’ award winners should he go on to lift the prestigious prize in the new year, but he faces plenty of stiff competition from a host of title-holders who have themselves created waves and cracked jaws in 2014.

Team Alpha Male’s TJ Dillashaw had a standout year. He shocked the world with one of the biggest upsets in the history of the sport when he dethroned pound-for-pound king Renan Barao to become the new UFC bantamweight champion. Bellator light heavyweight king Emanuel Newton might also earn himself a spot on the list after he took the belt from Attila Vegh, then made a couple of dramatic defenses. 

Of course, UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey leads the nominees for ‘Female Fighter of the Year.’ She showed why she is regarded as the greatest female fighter of them all by adding two vicious knockout wins to her unblemished record. However, she is likely to face competition this year from a growing list of competitors, including the yet to be discovered TUF 20 winner. 

And if you think the race to be named best fighter of 2014 was tight, then the battle for who wins ‘Submission of the Year’ could come down to the wire. Athletes have stepped their grappling game up significantly this year, with a super selection of slick submissions dumbfounding fans and making them collectively scratch their heads in awe.

What about TUF: Nations finalist Olivier Aubin-Mercier’s scintillating inverted triangle shoulder lock at UFC Fight Night 54? And did anybody even imagine the reverse bulldog choke Yancy Medeiros used to put his opponent to sleep within a matter of seconds at UFC 177? 

As for the fighters who came out of nowhere to make an impact on the sport this year, even compiling a shortlist of five candidates will be more difficult than ever before. There are some red-hot contenders across the industry. Inside the Octagon Myles Jury, Yoel Romero and surely the first-ever women’s strawweight champion all have an argument to be in the running. 

Bellator too have produced a trio of potential contenders for the ‘Breakthrough Fighter’ gong. Undefeated light heavyweight contender Liam McGeary, 185lb champ Brandon Halsey and interim lightweight champion Will Brooks have all surged through these past 12 months and earned plenty of plaudits for their performances alongside titles and title shots.

Likewise, WSOF champions Justin Gaethje and Marlon Moraes could also be considered contenders for silverware as the next big thing.

As always, the ‘Knockout of the Year’ category remains a fan favorite and this year the list is filled with enough high-flying, technically brilliant striking to make fans go back and forth with their preferred highlight reel moments.

UFC bantamweight Chris Beal launched himself into the air to land one of the most devastating flying-knee knockouts of all time at UFC 172. While even veteran striker Melvin Manhoef may return to stake a claim after smashing Doug Marshall in the first round with a equilibrium-shaking overhand right that sent ‘The Rhino’ face-first onto the canvas at Bellator 125.

With the likes of Danny Castillo, Mark Hunt, Daniel Straus and Andrey Koreshkov also contributing their own examples of concussive power, this year’s winner will be more than worthy of a spot alongside previous masters of the KO.

And, of course, the award for ‘Fight of the Year’ is one that everyone wants, because it rewards two fighters who put on the type of memorable performance that could live with fans forever. The first 170lb title match between Johny Hendricks and Robbie Lawler set the bar high back in March, but Chris Weidman’s battle with Lyoto Machida in July was just as engrossing.

While just last month José Aldo and Chad Mendes’ rematch in Rio had the entire Planet MMA tweeting with pleasure.

With even more categories to choose from, including ‘Gym of the Year’ and ‘Comeback of the Year’, the Seventh Annual Fighters Only World MMA Awards promises to showcase the best fighters, moments and brands of the calendar year on Planet MMA.

WHAT ELSE IS UP FOR GRABS?

GYM OF THE YEAR

Sacramento-based Team Alpha Male have had another standout year with TJ Dillashaw’s capture of the 135lb strap from Renan Barao and Chad Mendes’ challenge for the featherweight title in 2014. However, Ireland’s Straight Blast Gym have come into their own with the likes of 145lb contender Conor McGregor, welterweight Gunnar Nelson and TUF products Cathal Pendred and Aisling Daly starring.

SHAWN TOMPKINS COACH OF THE YEAR

ATT co-founders Ricardo Liborio and Marcus ‘Conan’ Silvieira have all had a hand in the development of the UFC’s 170lb weight class, helping Tyron Woodley, Hector Lombard and Robbie Lawler to get within touching distance of the UFC belt. However, Blackzilians’ striking coach Henri Hooft and Glendale Fight Club’s Edmond Tarverdyan have also had a key role in helping the likes of Vitor Belfort and Ronda Rousey sharpen their skills.

BEST LIFESTYLE CLOTHING BRAND

Can Bad Boy make it three years in a row and win the award again this year or will the likes of Hayabusa, Torque, MMA Elite or even the UFC get the nod in January for their stellar clothing lines?

MEDIA SOURCE OF THE YEAR

With huge stories breaking on a daily basis, it’s going to be difficult for last year’s winner, MMA Fighting, to hold onto their title with the likes Sherdog, Bloody Elbow and MMA Junkie all snapping at their heels.