Mixed martial arts continues to grow and expand into the mainstream as evidenced by the recent release of ESPN’s 2011 ESPY Award nominees, which include three MMA fighters: Georges St-Pierre, Jon Jones and Fabricio Werdum.
St-Pierre and Jones, both UFC champions, have been nominated for the award of “Best Fighter.” Their competition will include top-level boxers Manny Pacquiao, Sergio Martinez and Bernard Hopkins.
This relatively new ESPY award, which replaced the “Best Boxer” award in 2007, has never been won by a mixed martial artist.
St-Pierre has been nominated for the award twice before in both 2008 and 2010, but boxer Floyd Mayweather walked away with the award on both occasions.
However, given boxing’s struggles in 2011 and MMA’s ever-growing market, there is a better chance than ever that one of these two UFC studs could be representing their sport with by actually winning the ESPY this time.
Fabricio Werdum joins St-Pierre and Jones as a nominee, but will be up for the “Biggest Upset” ESPY award after his stunning victory last summer over former No. 1 heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko.
Fan voting has already begun, and the results will be announced when the award show airs on ESPN on July 13.
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