Make your opinion matter and vote now in our 2021 MixedMartialArts.com year-end MMA awards.
In this year’s edition of our yearly awards, we kept it short and simple when it comes to the categories, and received help from our The Underground forums in making these final selections. But now, we need your help in deciding what fighters will win fighter of the year, breakout fighter of the year, the fight of the year, and what was the worst moment in 2021 MMA.
You can find the nominees and links to the voting booths below.
2021 MMA awards
Fighter of the year
This year several fighters can say that 2021 was their year. UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman defended his thrown successfully three times. Lightweight king Charles Oliveira added two more wins and division gold onto his current 10-fight win streak. Ciryl Gane became the interim heavyweight champion by winning three fights and barely losing a round. Brazilian MMA legend Glover Teixeira became the old UFC light heavyweight champion at 42, and women’s flyweight queen Valentina Shevchenko delivered two more destructive and dominant title defenses. Make your choice now!
Vote for the 2021 fighter of the year HERE!
Breakout fighter of the year
In 2021, several fighters stepped out of the shadows and revealed themselves as either title contenders in 2022, a name to watch in the new year, or a competitor that reclaimed relevancy after a tough run in the Octagon. Islam Makhachev made a major statement this year in becoming a top-five lightweight. Adrian Yanez became a must-watch action fighter with three entertaining victories. And Julianna Pena shocked the world in handing women’s MMA GOAT Amanda Nunes her first defeat since 2014.
Not to be outdone, Daniel Rodriguez scored major wins over established talent in Mike Perry and Kevin Lee. Ciryl Gane became the next big thing at heavyweight and an interim champion. Giga Chikadze finished UFC stalwarts Cub Swanson and Edson Barboza. And Gerald Meerschaert bounced back from a rough 2020 and scored three straight submission wins in 2021. Who is your breakout fighter of 2021?
Vote for the 2021 breakout fighter of the year HERE!
Fight of the year
This past year, just like every other before it, was filled with absolute banger clashes. Be it Max Holloway and Yair Rodriguez going to war in the UFC APEX, Petr Yan and Cory Sandhagen showcasing elite technique and tactics in Abu Dhabi, or Justin Gaethje and Michael Chandler taking years off their lives inside Madison Square Garden, we were spoiled once again. Here are our nominees for MMA fight of the year in 2021.
Vote for the 2021 fight of the year HERE!
Worst MMA moment in 2021
This year we had a cornucopia of highs, however, there were several low points in the sport as well. Legendary tough guy Nick Diaz having a “no mas” moment stunned us. Conor McGregor and Chris Weidman breaking their legs in the Octagon were hard to watch. And pound-for-pound superstar Jon Jones getting arrested once again made us roll our eyes. Here are the nominees for the worst moment in 2021 MMA.
Conor McGregor breaks his leg then trash talks from the mat
Nick Diaz’s “no mas” TKO loss in return fight
Jon Jones getting arrested…again…and only gets a slap on the wrist…again
Petr Yan loses UFC bantamweight title from bonehead decision
Chris Weidman fractures leg against Uriah Hall
Herb Dean’s questionable referee decisions
Vote for the worst in 2021 MMA HERE!
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