Issue 110
January 2014
Are you ready to have your say on who wins the much sought-after silver statuettes at the Sixth Fighters Only Mixed Martial Arts Awards?
Arguably the best year in MMA history, 2013, has wound to a close with some of the biggest fights ever putting an exclamation mark on another collection of inside-the-cage and outside-the-cage heroics.
For their actions, all those fighters and industry professionals have the chance to wave off their 2013 with one title that matters in every ring and boardroom worldwide: a Fighters Only World MMA Award.
But your favorite fighters, brands and personalities need your votes to make sure they’re the owner of the in-demand silverware at the Las Vegas ceremony in February. This time, the eligibility period runs for a 15 months, from October 1st 2012 to December 31st 2013, so your choices will have even stronger competition than ever.
To wet your interest ahead of the official, final shortlist of candidates being posted online at worldmmaawards.com on January 1st 2014, we’ve broken down each award category and suggested some of the most likely front-runners for top honors. But who will you vote for?
Charles ‘Mask’ Lewis fighter of the year
Every one of the five occasions the prestigious ‘Charles ‘Mask’ Lewis Fighter of the Year’ has been awarded, it has gone to a reigning champion.
But, this time, might a resurgent Vitor Belfort take the centerpiece silver to Brazil? He’s notched his current three-fight streak of stunning head-kick KOs inside the eligibility period (Michael Bisping, Luke Rockhold, Dan Henderson), and earned a UFC middleweight title shot in the process.
However, he can’t sleep on UFC 205lb gold-owner Jon Jones, who, with two extra title fight wins, surpassed Tito Ortiz’s consecutive light heavyweight belt defenses – not to mention picked up a Gatorade endorsement and space on the cover of the UFC’s forthcoming video game.
Female fighter of the year
There wasn’t a single area of the sport that had a better year than women’s mixed martial arts. As a result of the UFC debuting its female bantamweight division, with a blockbuster bout between Ronda Rousey and Liz Carmouche in February, the rest of MMA’s women warriors enjoyed greater respect and attention.
And no female fighter had more eyes trained on her in 2013 than Rousey. From breaking ground for the ladies in the UFC, to coaching opposite arch rival Miesha Tate on the first co-ed series of The Ultimate Fighter, and of course the pair’s end-of-year clash.
Will Ronda keep the ‘Female Fighter of the Year’ trophy she took last time out, or does Tate get your vote? But let’s not forgot the 3-0 year from the UFC’s Alexis Davis, and all the Invicta FC talent that has made 2013 their own.
Breakthrough fighter of the year
Will you vote for a young up-and-comer, or a newly resurgent veteran? Either can take ‘Breakthrough Fight of the Year,’ and men such as a surging Brandon Thatch or a long-toothed Glover Teixeira just might.
Then again, which UFC newcomer has made a bigger splash than Ireland’s Conor McGregor? Inside the 15-month eligibility period he earned the second of double Cage Warriors titles, and notched two impressive Octagon wins.
And he’s not the only European to have turned heads. Over in Invicta FC, Joanne Calderwood has kicked up a storm at 115lb.
Fight of the year
Everyone thought the five-round September thriller that was UFC 165’s Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson, contesting the light heavyweight strap, was a lock for ‘Fight of the Year’ at the Sixth Fighters Only World MMA Awards. And it was – for 28 days.
In October, at UFC 166, lightweight veterans Gilbert Melendez and Diego Sanchez engaged in a war that had MMA fans around the world on their feet yelling in excitement and encouragement. All of a sudden, the race for ‘Fight of the Year’ was blown wide open. And, those aren’t the only stellar scraps of 2013 either.
From Bellator 106’s Michael Chandler vs. Eddie Alvarez II, to Wanderlei Silva and Brian Stann’s less-than-two-round war in Japan, this year has been full of fireworks.
International fighter of the year
Will a 1-1 year for Michael Bisping have hurt his chances of keeping the ‘International Fighter of the Year’ award he scored in early 2013?
To retain he’ll have to fight off a strong challenge from Swedish striker Alexander Gustafsson, whose stock rallied strongly following his close unanimous decision loss when challenging for Jon Jones’ UFC light heavyweight strap – giving the American more fight than anyone predicted.
Knockout of the year
Possibly the 2014 ceremony’s most competitive bracket, and certainly its most explosive.
Chris Weidman’s jaw-dropping second-round knockout of pound-for-pound great Anderson Silva in July was the undoubted front-runner for this particular statuette for much of 2013. But how could anyone forget Cung Le’s head-spinning KO of future Hall of Famer Rich Franklin in Macau from the start of the eligibility period?
And there’s a chance ‘Bigfoot’ Silva’s shock KO of K-1 champ Alistair Overeem could steal some votes. And that’s without mentioning Junior Dos Santos’ hook-kick on Mark Hunt, or any of the small-show stoppages that must be seen to be believed.
Submission of the year
Fans will need to have kept a close eye on MMA’s minor leagues to have seen some of the better tapouts of the past 15 months.
Most memorable was, perhaps, Josh Burkman’s guillotine on Jon Fitch, which forced the ex-UFC standout into unconsciousness at World Series of Fighting 3 early in 2013. While 115lb female striker Rose Namajunas broke from the script at Invicta 5 for an eye-popping 12-second flying armbar. And Frenchman Olivier Fontaine got one of those too at Lyon Fighting Championships in 1:16 in February.
But could Kenny Robertson’s painful-looking UFC 157 kneebar from back mount pip them all to glory?
Leading man of the year
For every one of this event’s five years, no one but UFC president Dana White has earned the distinction of being the Fighters Only Awards ‘Leading Man of the Year.’ But perhaps a big 2013 for Bellator means CEO Bjorn Rebney gets a look-in. Or should White’s colleague Lorenzo Fertitta get the bragging rights? It really is your choice.
Comeback of the year
This one, which covers careers as well as single bouts, might be about the old guard rather than the young guns.
Within the 15-month eligibility period, second-stint UFC welterweight Robbie Lawler has regained his form, once again adding his name to list of the UFC’s most fearsome strikers.
While at the same time, 32-year-old TUF 7 veteran Matt Brown has topped up a run of wins with several bonus-scoring stoppages. Perhaps one will cap off 2013 with some silverware.
Best promotion
Have one guess which company has utterly dominated this from day one. The ‘Best Promotion’ trophy has never known another home aside from the UFC’s Zuffa offices in Las Vegas.
A big-money 15 months and massive brand extension for the game’s three-lettered behemoth could mean it shuts the opposition out for the sixth year in succession.
Personality of the year
For the two years this young award has run, UFC color commentator Joe Rogan has been its only recipient.
He fought off opposition from ring legend Bas Rutten, UFC announcer Bruce Buffer, and commentary peers Jon Anik and Mauro Ranallo last time. Will he do the same this year?
Gym of the year
No gym has ever won this statuette twice. There’s a good chance Duane Ludwig’s keen coaching of the Team Alpha Male clan could earn the West Coast crew the nod this year.
But between Cain Velasquez, Daniel Cormier, Josh Thomson and more, American Kickboxing Academy has had perhaps its strongest year yet. Although you can’t count out Tristar’s habit of producing top-notch fighters, and its status as the best gym in Canada.
Referee of the year
There’s no tougher job than referee. And no doubt having respected names like Marc Goddard, Herb Dean and John McCarthy to chose from, it’s going to be tough for you to pick who gets your vote.
Ringcard girl of the year
Last year ex-WEC ring girl Brittney Palmer pried this from Arianny Celeste, a three-time winner. However, there’s a chance neither of them could take home the silverware this year with more Octagon Girls than ever on the UFC’s books, not to mention outside opposition.
Best lifestyle clothing brand
Strong lines from the likes of Dethrone, Bad Boy, Torque and others could make this one of the most hard-fought outside-the-cage categories at this year’s Awards.
Best technical clothing brand
Clinch Gear, the athletic brand from Dan Henderson, won ‘Best Technical Clothing Brand’ for 2012. But as well as previous owners Bad Boy, is the UFC’s own range of gym wear worth considering too?
Best technical equipment
Century, Hayabusa and others have released some remarkable products in the 15-month eligibility period. Which business does it best? The Awards’ thousands of voting testers are going to tell us.
Media source of the year
Long-reigning champion MMAjunkie lost out on ‘Media Source of the Year’ for the first time ever in 2013. Will incumbent king Sherdog retain the silver, or is there yet another outlet you’ve been cheating on FO with?
Journalist of the year
Two of the industry’s biggest typing and best talking titans, John Morgan and Ariel Helwani respectively, have been the only winners of the ‘Journalist of the Year’ gong. Perhaps one of them has your vote again.
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