Compiling a list of candidates for Fighter of the Year is trickier than it seems. It isn’t simply a black-and-white picture.
Instead, one needs to abide by certain laws and guidelines to make sure the right names make the cut.
For instance, putting guys like Mark Hunt and Wanderlei Silva into this group seems justifiable. But just because these knockout specialists produced devastatingly memorable finishes doesn’t mean they pass other standouts for 2013 honors.
Knockouts are awesome and propel certain names into the discussion, but victory, whether pretty or not, is what a fighter strives for in order to reach championship status.
So even though some knockouts lead to title opportunities, if they don’t, what’s the point?
With that said, assuming most of these names compete again in 2013, here’s how the Fighter of the Year picture breaks down leading into May.