Fighter of the Year

 

This award is for the Fighter who has embodied the ‘never say die’ spirit of Mixed Martial Arts and has shown composure in the face of adversity during the last 12 months. The Fighters of the Year award is not necessarily for the fighter who went undefeated throughout the year but the fighter who has put it all on the line in every outing

 

MMA has been built on the performance of two fighters locked in combat, both determined to emerge the victor. We’ve enjoyed such a legacy of great fights over the years and you can recognise and reward those responsible by nominating in the Fight of the Year Category

 

A clean knockout can be a thing of beauty and highlight reels the World over are full of slow motion punches, kicks, knees and elbows that find their mark putting their recipient into a sound slumber. Some are the result of a meticulous set up whilst others seemingly come out of nowhere. Nominate your favourite KO to secure it in the sport’s history books

 

Submissions will always be potent weapons for any fighter to have, and when employed well can stop a fight as decisively as a well timed strike. Chokes, arm bars, leg locks – all of their variations and more have entertained fans over the years and submissions continue to develop with new and more innovative set ups emerging year on year. Nominate your favourite submission to recognise the grappling skills of today’s fighters

 

This award is to be presented to the promotion that has delivered throughout the year not only well matched fight cards, but high quality production values and available programming (i.e. it’s easy for you to view it whether it be through PPV or online streaming media). Which promotion has consistently delivered for you over the year? Nominate today

 

Taking it’s name from the feature in Fighters Only magazine, this award is for the industry professional who has worked within MMA to build the sport. Industry figures who help break down barriers with the mainstream press and the established, mainstream sporting world as well as push the sport into popular culture – not to mention working with State Athletic Commissions and the like to ensure the safety of participants in the sport. This award goes to the figure that you think has had the largest positive impact on the sport in the last twelve months who is not a fighter themselves...

 

With the growing success of European talent across the world it’s only fitting that we allow fans to nominate their favourite European Fighter. Nominations can be for any fighter from a European country regardless of where they train or have fought throughout the year

 

Watch the under card of any big show and you’ll be guaranteed to see fighters who may lack finesse but make up for it with their hunger to impress and succeed. This award acknowledges the up and coming talent in the world’s toughest sport – the Champions of the future. The Breakthrough Fighter of the Year is the award for fighters who you think have really made their mark on the sport in the last 12 months

 

There was a time when women’s MMA was a niche within a niche but those days are well and behind us. Female MMA is now more accessible than ever before and the standard has never been higher with some legitimate stars coming through the ranks. Nominate your favourite female fighter and give them the recognition that they deserve

 

Behind every fighter is an individual whose job it is to make sure that when the bell rings for the opening round, they are well prepared and ready to win that fight. Getting a fighter in shape, physically and mentally, and working to create a game plan with them to ensure success is a challenge in itself. Nominate the coach that you think has done the best job with the fighters under their charge for Coach of the Year

 

Ever watched a ring girl parade around between rounds and afterwards ask your friends ‘what number was she carrying?’ This award goes to the Ring Girl whose work you’ve enjoyed the most in the last 12 months

 

Whilst MMA isn’t a team sport the old adage ‘as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another’ is certainly true when it comes to fighting. A good team and gym will challenge, support and develop fighters helping them reach their full potential. Nominate the gym that you think has done the best job with their fighters this year for this award.

 

There’s no doubting that the MMA Industry is becoming a very real phenomenon and some brands – whether they’re promotions, clothing companies or training kit manufacturers – just encompass the ethos of Mixed Martial Arts. Vote for the brand that you think represents the sport best, whether it’s a promotion, manufacturer or media source

 

Like skateboarding before it MMA has evolved into much more than a sport – it represents a lifestyle, and nowhere else is this more apparent than in the MMA clothing market. New manufacturers are starting up at an incredible rate and this award allows you to recognise and award your favourite. From quality of clothing, to originality of design, to value for money – voice your opinion in this category

 

Regardless of whether you look for aesthetically pleasing designs or just want something functional a good pair of MMA shorts should be tough enough to sustain the wear and tear of the world’s toughest sport. Recent years has seen shorts evolve in design allowing wearers more flexibility and a better fit than ever before. Vote for your favourite shorts manufacturer in this category

 

There are very few pieces of equipment in MMA more important than a good pair of gloves. The introduction of gloves was one of the pivotal steps in the evolution of MMA, protecting fighters’ hands and reducing the number of fight stopping cuts, allowing the development of the striking aspect of the sport. A good glove needs to allow the user the freedom to grapple as well as strike and be durable too. Nominate your favourite Glove Manufacturer in this category

 

MMA is everywhere you look nowadays but when you want your fix of news, interviews and features – basically everything that happens outside of the fighting – where do you get it from and who gives you it the best? This Award is open to websites, TV shows, magazines and newspapers and should reflect accuracy, timeliness and insight

 

MMA has enjoyed an unprecedented amount of serious media coverage in the last 12 months as it has made the mainstream transition from ‘feature story’ to ‘sports coverage’. Whilst the amount of MMA coverage has never been so great the quality has never been so high either. Whether it’s the exclusives they provide, the technical insight they give, or anything else that keeps you reading, watching or listening time and again nominate your favourite journalist in this category