Issue 068
October 2010
After an unforgettable inaugural ceremony in 2009, it’s time – to cast your votes for MMA’s only major awards show
It’s already a landmark event – the one time MMA’s elite come together for an evening of celebration. Honoring the sport’s greatest figures and most unforgettable moments, the Fighters Only World MMA awards is back for 2010. And you, the fans, are on the judging panel once again.
The first-ever World MMA Awards ceremony, in 2009, was a runaway success. News of the nomination process, announced the previous August, set the Internet ablaze. You voted in spectacular numbers on www.worldmmaawards.com. As the ballots were counted, the greatest names in mixed martial arts swapped their fight shorts for tuxedos to grace our glittering Las Vegas ceremony. Superstars such as 2009 Fighter of the Year Georges St Pierre, Leading Man of the Year Dana White, Ring Girl of the Year Arianny Celeste and Best Coach Greg Jackson took to the stage to receive their uniquely designed trophies, spoils of victory that will inspire future generations to attain the same dizzy heights. And this year, on December 1st at the Pearl at the Palms Resort and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, combat sports and glamor join forces once again for another breathtaking evening. Honoring skill, athleticism, heroics, beauty, leadership and even business acumen, the World MMA Awards is an unmissable event sponsored this year by Bodybuilding.com. Plus, your participation isn’t just limited to watching the TV broadcast. The fans are intrinsic to our sport, and you’ll play a major part in the awards ceremony itself by nominating and then deciding the winners from the shortlists you build up. On the night we promise memories, laughter, prom dresses and that staple of awards ceremonies, a ‘tired and emotional’ acceptance speech.
Perhaps tearful acknowledgements are understandable. A Fighters Only World MMA Award seals the winner’s place in mixed martial arts history. Make your own mark on the sport now by deciding your nominations, based on performances from September 2009 to August 2010. Should Georges St Pierre retain his Fighter of the Year? Or does Brock Lesnar demand recognition for his dismantling of Frank Mir and spectacular comeback, after life-threatening illness, against Shane Carwin? And what was the year’s most thrilling bout? Did you admire the duel between gutsy Carlos Condit and prodigiously talented Rory MacDonald at UFC 115, or tremble at the sight of ‘The Korean Zombie’ Chan Sung Jung’s bloody clash with Leonard Garcia at WEC 48?
Nominations site www.worldmmaawards.com is up and ready. The choice is yours. You can vote for Fighter of the Year, Best Submission, Best Knockout, one of the World MMA Awards’ exciting new trophies for Best Referee and Most Memorable Entrance, or any of the categories bar Outstanding Contribution to MMA, decided by a panel of insiders. You can honor the wider MMA industry too, with the decorations for Best Lifestyle Apparel, Best Gym and Best Technical Equipment, among others.
First we want your nominations, and then we’ll announce the five front-runners that make up the shortlist in every category (detailed below) in early October for your evaluation too. The nominations can include absolutely anyone of relevance, and we’d encourage you to be personal with your selections. The time period to consider runs from September 2009 to August 2010 – to take your mind back, that’s from around the time Vitor Belfort TKO’d Rich Franklin in round one at UFC 103, and ‘King Mo’ made his Strikeforce debut, up until the dust’s settled from the frantic month of August.
The Fighters Only World MMA Awards is a unique occasion in the MMA calendar – and the one time everybody’s content to leave it in the hands of the judges.
Keep picking up Fighters Only for regular updates on the World MMA Awards 2010. That website address again: worldmmaawards.com
TO THE VICTOR THE SPOILS
Inspiration for your nominations on worldmmaawards.com
FIGHTER OF THE YEAR
Georges St Pierre
The incumbent raised eyebrows with his stifling, though dominant, decision victory over Dan Hardy at UFC 111 in March. But the mark he’s made on MMA isn’t to be overlooked – or the talk of a superfight against Anderson Silva.
Brock Lesnar
The ‘Next Big Thing’ side-stepped dangerous illness, post-fight behavioral issues and his pro wrestling career baggage to reign supreme as the world’s number one heavyweight after dismantling arch nemesis Frank Mir and submitting Shane Carwin.
Jose Aldo
Don’t just consider his tactical dismantling of Uriah Faber at WEC 48. Take a look at the spectacular highlight reels out there to see why there’s talk of the WEC featherweight champ moving up to the ultra-competitive UFC lightweight division.
FIGHT OF THE YEAR
Carlos Condit vs Rory MacDonald, UFC 115
A classic MMA matchup saw the 21-year-old MacDonald exhibit his prodigious striking skills until Condit, told in no uncertain terms that he was losing by trainer Greg Jackson, rose like a phoenix to grind out a formidable TKO. Stirring stuff.
Chan Sung Jung vs Leonard Garcia, WEC 48
It might not have made a fitting tribute to the late Helio Gracie skills-wise, but this lunatic slugfest left an indelible impression on viewers and the MMA landscape in a year when securing the ‘W’ sometimes took precedence over aggression.
Henderson vs Cerrone, WEC 43
The WEC lightweight division might play ginger stepbrother to its UFC counterpart, but it lacks neither talent nor courage. This magnificent back-and-forth barnstormer was testament to that, and sealed World Extreme Cagefighting’s status as a fan favorite.
BREAKTHROUGH FIGHTER OF THE YEAR
Muhammed Lawal
With his claims to be fighting at “moneyweight,” purists dismissed King Mo as a consummate showman – until he ground out 2009’s European Fighter of the Year Gegard Mousasi to take the Strikeforce light heavyweight belt.
Chris Leben
‘Breaking through’ doesn’t have to involve a young hotshot straight out of the collegiate wrestling circuit. ‘The Crippler’ surged from crowd-pleaser to legitimate contender with two valiant victories in the space of a fortnight – a Zuffa-era first.
Phil Davis
‘Mr Wonderful’ is indicative of a new breed of super-dynamic competitors whose highlight reels are easily confused with movie trailers. Plus pink tighties for the win, always.
FO note: These suggestions are intended as food for thought – we encourage your nominations to be particular to you.
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