Bellator MMA’s 2023 Year-End Awards, Pt. 1

The Bellator MMA that we used to know is no more. After Professional Fighters League (PFL) bought out the promotion earlier this year, some details as to what would happen to the organization were revealed. While it seems Bellator as a brand will still go on to some extent, until the new year comes in and PFL starts booking events, we just can’t tell.

Until then, let’s look book at the year that was 2023 for Bellator MMA which features several big fights, upsets, knockouts, submissions and all-around great performances from many of the promotion’s biggest names. In the first of two parts of our year-end awards, we take a look back at some of the best moments in 2023.

Let’s dive in!

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Male Fighter Of The Year: Patchy Mix

Mix truly had the best year of his mixed martial arts (MMA) career. After ending 2022 with a bang by punching his ticket to the Bantamweight Grand Prix finale by submitting Magomed Magomedov, his championship fight took place four months later. And he wasted no time in proving why he is one of the best 135-pound fighters in the game, stunning the then-interim champion, Raufeon Stots, with a standing knee knockout in the very first round. In doing so, Mix not only won the interim title but he won the tournament, as well as the $1 million check that comes with it. Furthermore, he earned a title unification bout against Sergio Pettis, which went down at Bellator 301 seven months later. Mix went on to submit Pettis in the second round via rear-naked choke to become undisputed champion, extending his win streak to six straight. Now, Mix will sit back to see just what PFL has in store for him in 2024 since the promotion currently doesn’t have a champion at 135 pounds.

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Photo by Hans Gutknecht/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images

Fight Of The Year: Brennan Ward vs. Sabah Homasi at Bellator 290

Two of the hardest-hitters on the Bellator roster went toe-to-toe at Bellator 290, and they did not disappoint. Indeed, Ward and Homasi were fired up long before the opening bell sounded. And once the referee gave the go-ahead, the two men went at it in an all-out slug-fest. Both men found success on their feet, landing one brutal shot after another. Both men started showing signs of the near six and a half minute war before Ward eventually put an end to the fight in round number two thanks to the setup of a high kick. Once Homasi hit the canvas, Ward piled on the punishment via ground-and-pound to earn him the win. It truly was fun while it lasted.

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Submission of the Year: Usman Nurmagomedov taps Ben Henderson at Bellator 292

Coming into Bellator 292, Ben Henderson already had retirement on his mind. Of course, he was set to give it his all as he entered the Lightweight Grand Prix. However, in the opening matchup he was paired up against the division’s boogeyman and title holder, Usman Nurmagomedov. From the jump it was clear that Nurmagomedov was the more aggressive and talented fighter. But that’s not taking anything away from Henderson because he was already on his way out, while Nurmagomedov is in the prime of his career. Nurmagomedov eventually went on to submit “Smooth” with a perfectly-executed rear-naked choke to retaining his title and advance to the next round.

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Upset of The Year: Chihiro Suziki knocks out Patricio Pitbull at Bellator X RIZIN 2

A lot of people stateside may not know Chihiro Suzuki. But those that know him are very well aware of just how big of a striker he is given his kickboxing history. And that is one of the reasons why Pitbull, who was in Japan to corner his brother Patricky, agreed to step in on super-short notice when RIZIN and Bellator officials offered him the fight. According to Pitbull, there was no other reason to accept the fight than for the sheer challenge of it. Unfortunately for the Featherweight champion of the world, it didn’t work out in his favor, suffering a devastating first-round knockout loss at the hands of Suziki in a catchweight fight of 154 pounds. It was the first time Pitbull had been knocked out, and his second straight loss, losing to Sergio Pettis in a Bantamweight title fight prior.

In the second installment, we will take a look at the female fighter, event, knockout and moment of the year.

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