Issue 080

October 2011

The 2011 FO World Mixed Martial Arts Awards go down November 30th in Las Vegas. Here’s your voting primer for the sport’s most lavish evening

The fourth annual Fighters Only World Mixed Martial Arts Awards will close another sensational 12 months of fantastic combat sports action on November 30th, when once again the Palms Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas will roll out the red carpet for the biggest stars in MMA.

The sport’s only major awards ceremony has quickly become an industry highlight as all the MMA action from around the world will be celebrated once again during a live red-carpet event. After yet another tumultuous 12 months inside one of the world’s toughest sports we too are stepping up our game to present the most extravagant awards night to date.

The good, the bad and the damn near ugly from the expanse of Planet MMA will once again reluctantly trade their rash guards and fight shorts for tuxedos and neck-ties to attend the star-studded ceremony.

Sponsored for a third year in succession by BodyBuilding.com, the 2011 World MMA Awards promises to take things to a whole new level with extravagant pre and post-ceremony parties, world-class live entertainment, a veritable who’s who line-up of star-studded guests and a sprinkling of featured celebrity and MMA Hall of Fame presenters. 

And, the best part is, it’s up to you ­– the fans – who walks away with each silver statuette. That’s right, once again, all but one award presented on the evening will be the result of a public vote by you the Fighters Only readership. By simply visiting www.worldmmaawards.com your can have your say on MMA history.

Voting opens on September 1st, so make sure you log on to ensure your vote counts after what has been another highlight-reel year for MMA. Honoring the athleticism, craft, skill, beauty, determination and business acumen that make this sport great, it’s now down to you to vote on the very best of the past 12 months in mixed martial arts. Which fight was your favorite? Which ring card girl takes your breath away? And what brand have you got on your back right now? This is your chance to be heard. After all, your vote matters.

Last year we recorded in excess of 387,000 votes, smashing all previous records, and they came in from every corner of the globe. But this year we are hoping for even more. And, just in case you’re sitting there scratching your head thinking, ‘Who was it who landed the Peruvian neck tie submission which had me screaming at the TV again?’ we’ve pulled together a whole host of MMA insiders and experts to draw up shortlists for each of the 17 public vote awards.

Has José Aldo done enough to retain his ‘Fighter of the Year’ statue? Or will Jon Jones move from ‘Breakthrough Fighter’ in 2010 to take away the top gong? Perhaps you believe Anderson Silva finally lived up to his ‘Greatest of All Time’ moniker this past year, or is Georges St Pierre destined to win back the gong he picked up so graciously in 2009? The choice is ultimately yours… But in the meantime go online and check out the shortlists put together by our team of MMA insiders.

Our line-up of veteran champions, Octagon heroes, MMA deal-brokers and media mainstays have chosen their favorite moments and stars of the past 12 months, providing you with a mouth-watering list of potential trophy winners in all but one of the categories.

 Simply visit www.worldmmaawards.com and make your selection.

2011: SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS SO FAR

2011 World MMA Awards – who are you voting for?

This year’s Fighters Only World MMA Awards are shaping up to be as hotly contested as ever, making your vote more critical than ever to ensure the right person heads home with the much-sought-after silver statuette. 

As is tradition two more categories will also be added to this year’s ceremony, taking the pile of winners’ envelopes to 18, one of which we can reveal as being a ‘Comeback of the Year’ award. For a look at all the categories, and their respective shortlists log in online at: www.worldmmaawards.com. 

It’s been a truly thrilling 12 months in mixed martial arts, yet just in case you are sitting there scratching your head trying to remember who knocked out that champion, on that bill, on that night, here is a taste of some of the stand-out highlights to get your voting juices flowing…

Undoubtedly one of the most fiercely contested awards this year is destined to be the ‘Knockout of the Year’ prize. Won last year by ‘Shogun’ Rua for his incredible finish of Lyoto Machida, even that dramatic KO would struggle to stand up next to the catalogue of finishes that MMA has born witness to over the past 12 months; emphatically some of the most sensational knockouts in the sport’s illustrious history.

After a whole host of mouth-dropping public executions, this year’s KO vote could well go right to the wire… Remember Anderson Silva’s front kick against Vitor Belfort? Lyoto Machida’s crane kick finish of Randy Couture? Seemingly defeated Chieck Kongo’s right cross reversal against Pat Barry? Carlos Condit’s left hook winner over Dan Hardy? John Makdessi’s spinning back-fist showreel finish against Kyle Watson? And that’s just from inside the UFC Octagon.

Then there is ‘Submission of the Year.’ How are you guys going to vote for one winner of that award after witnessing the likes of Phil Davis’ one-armed kimura against Tim Boetsch, Valentijn Overeem’s cracking neck crank which bombed Ray Sefo out of the reserve round of the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix, Tito Ortiz’s UFC career-saving guillotine against Ryan Bader, and lest we forget, Pablo Garza’s insane flying triangle or ‘The Korean Zombie’ Jung Chan Sung’s twister against Leonard Garcia? All breathtaking stuff.

Another hot zone is perhaps the category of ‘Female Fighter of the Year.’ Out of the usual line-up of champions and fanboy favorites, stars like Christiane Santo and, Gina Carano have all failed to enter the cage inside the last year, opening the door to allow a new collection of female fighters to breakthrough into the spotlight. After capturing the Strikeforce welterweight title and then defending it in a likely ‘Fight of the Year’ contender, Marloes Coenen put herself in contention, alongside the likes of Bellator champion Zoila Gurgel, 3-0 in the last calendar year, and resurgent US submission specialist Tara LaRosa.

We hope those moments have gone some way into stoking fierce debate at your gym or workplace. Just remember to not only argue for your favorite but to visit online too and make your vote count.