Oh, the blockbuster year that was 2011 in MMA.
When it began, George Sotiropoulos was only a win or two away from the Frankie Edgar/Gray Maynard saga, Donald Cerrone was just starting off in the UFC, Eddie Alvarez was still Bellator Lightweight Champion, Georges St-Pierre was preparing for arguably his biggest UFC Welterweight title defense to date (on paper) against Jake Shields, Jon Jones was still respected by all except those who felt he was getting pushed too fast, too soon and Brock Lesnar had just lost the UFC Heavyweight title to Cain Velasquez.
Now, Velasquez owns a loss to new UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior Dos Santos, who wants his rematch with Alistair Overeem in June, while Jones is now the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and seen as consensus No. 2 Pound-for-Pound best fighter in the world, Georges St-Pierre awaits the winner of Nick Diaz’s UFC 143 bout with Carlos Condit (but of course, GSP would prefer it be Diaz). Among other things, Michael Chandler, better known as “Alvarez 2.0” by some, is the upgraded version of his predecessor, only with less fights and better wrestling.
So, for better or for worse, who all got exposed in one way or another?
You’re about to find out.