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Promotion of the Year:
And the winner is: The UFC. The Las Vegas based MMA juggernaut continued to go from strength to strength in 2009. It was a busy year: Aside from holding UFC 100, their most successful show to date, the UFC expanded into mainland Europe and announced deals that will see them hit Australia and Abu Dhabi. 2010 should be a breakout year.
Runner up: Strikeforce. If there were a category for most improved promotion, Strikeforce would take it. They went from a successful regional show to landing MMA’s greatest heavyweight and a network TV deal in the space of a year.
Event of the Year:
And the winner is: UFC 100. No other western MMA event to date has come close to the pomp and pageantry surrounding UFC 100. From record-breaking PPV sales, a huge gate, the first ever UFC fan expo and an evening of unforgettable action - UFC 100 had something for everyone.
Runner up: UFC 95. Really? UFC 95? Think about it for a second - nine bouts broadcast, six first round stoppages and the only decision got ‘Fight of the Night’. Oh, and it was free – if that’s not value for money, we don’t know what is.
Fighter of the Year:
And the winner is: Jose Aldo. The WEC’s Aldo as enjoyed a meteoric rise in 2009, from a relative unknown on the Brazilian circuit to a legitimate world champion in one of MMA’s hottest promotions. Aldo stopped five WEC opponents with strikes en route to capturing the gold, and has set up potential superfights with Urijah Faber and BJ Penn down the road.
Runner up: Georges St. Pierre. A tough call, as GSP has only fought twice in 2009 – but we can think of no other fighter who has so thoroughly dominated top level opponents this year.
Breakout Star of the Year:
And the winner is: Dan Hardy. Call us biased on this one, but we fully believe that Dan Hardy has been 2009’s fastest rising star. Three straight Octagon victories this year have seen ‘The Outlaw’ go from undercard filler to the first British fighter to contend for a UFC title. Everyone at MMABay wishes Hardy all the best with his title shot in 2010.
Runner up: Jon Jones. Despite his recent DQ loss to Matt Hammil, we can’t think of another fighter who has shown as much promise as Jonny ‘Bones’ Jones. One of the most exciting and explosive fighters to watch in the UFC’s stacked light heavyweight division, we expect big things from the 22-year-old next year.
Female Fighter of the Year:
And the winner is: Cris Cyborg. She may have only fought twice in 2009, but Cris Santos, A.K.A. Cyborg, was on the winning end of the highest-profile women’s MMA bout in history. Her battle with Gina Carano was also the first ever female fight to headline a major card on US soil. Her performance on the night guaranteed that it won’t be the last.
Runner up: Sarah Kaufman. Little known Sarah Kaufman is a dynamo at 135 pounds, picking up three straight victories in 2009, including a unanimous decision over Shayna Baszler. Now signed to Strikeforce, a move up to 145 pounds to face Cyborg could be on the cards for 2010.
Fight of the Year:
And the winner is: Sanchez vs. Guida. One of the most brain-shatteringly exciting first rounds in MMA history gave way to a fierce battle of attrition as Clay Guida proved that he can take a lickin’ and keep on tickin’. Sanchez eventually parlayed his hard-fought decision win into a lightweight title shot and Guida ensured that he’ll have a job for life with Zuffa after yet another ‘Fight of the Night’ performance.
Runner up: Nogueira vs. Couture. Back in the days of UFC vs Pride, this was one of the dream matches that everyone talked about. Would the grinding Greco/Dirty Boxing combination of Couture’s trademark offence smother Nogueira and his deadly Jiu-Jitsu/Pugilism skill set? What would have the bigger impact, Couture’s age or Nogueira’s battle damage? All these questions and more were answered when the two ageless warriors put on a modern classic at UFC 102.
Knockout of the Year:
And the winner is: Dan Henderson at UFC 100 over Michael Bisping. There was very little contest here; in a year that has seen some mind-bending KO’s, UFC 100’s constantly replayed highlight scooped the KO of the year award by a heavy margin. It was a great relief to all involved that Bisping wasn’t seriously hurt after eating one of the most brutal punches ever landed in the Octagon.
Runner up: Jose Aldo at WEC 41 over Cub Swanson. Ever hear the phrase “Blink and you’ll miss it”? There’s no better way of describing Jose Aldo’s 8-second double flying knee on Cub Swanson. It simply has to be seen to be believed.
Submission of the Year:
And the winner is: Toby Imada’s inverted triangle on Jorge Masvidal. Proving that Viral Marketing really does work, Bellator were quick to flood YouTube with this video of Toby Imada’s sick inverted triangle choke – the first ever recorded in MMA competition.
Runner up: Masakatsu Imanari’s Omoplata crossface neckcrank.Yes, you read that right, there is such a thing as an Omoplata crossface neckcrank, although the term may have been first used to describe this insane move pulled out of Imanari’s bag of tricks just over a week ago. The submission starts at 5:29 of the video. Prepare to be amazed.
Incredible Comeback of the Year:
And the winner is: Scott Smith vs Cung Le. Strikeforce knew exactly what they were getting when they lined up Smith for Cung Le’s comeback fight – an all out brawler who would stand in front of the San Shou fighter allowing for a showcase of spinning kicks that would have Chuck Norris beaming with pride. What they didn’t expect was Smith to score yet another ‘come from behind’ KO, adding Le’s name to the list of miracle comebacks including Benji Radach and Pete Sell.
Runner Up: Sakuraba vs Zelg Galesic. Some of Sakuraba’s greatest moments have come when snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. Recently he hasn’t been to hot on the ‘snatching victory’ part, but DREAM 12’s October card was vintage Saku. Fighting in the cage for the first time since capturing the UFC Japan title, Saku endured an extended barrage of clubbing blows to the cranium that would have seen many referee’s call a halt to proceedings. Fortunately for Sakuraba, he was given time to work and pulled out a textbook kneebar like it was 1999.
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