We’ve counted down the best fights, best fighters, best events, best promotions, best tweets, best concessions and best action figures of 2012. Time for 2013.
Plenty to look forward to this year in MMA, as always. It is a form of entertainment, after all. But let us now venture off the beaten path of pay-per-views and Ronda Rousey. Let us now identify the top 25 prospects of 2013.
A few ground rules: no UFC fighters included. Bellator et al used only sparingly. I’m trying to find true prospects with a real chance to break into the big time. For simplicity’s sake and because I know next to nothing about women’s MMA, this list includes men only. Full fight videos included for each fighter.
Now, to be clear, I’m not MMA Mel Kiper. Don’t want to be. I don’t travel the world scouring the Lutefisk Fighting League and Ultimate Cambodia for the young man with the left knee like the mighty thunderbolt.
But you know what I do do? I watch a lot of fights. I also have Internet access. I’m also a sucker for the next big thing. I once selected Tatum Bell with my second-round fantasy football pick.
That didn’t pan out the way I’d hoped. Hopefully this will be better. Oh, and one more thing: I’m holding myself accountable on these. I’ll monitor their progress and gauge my accuracy. Pulitzer committee: I’ll await your call.