In any given eight month period, there are likely to be a number of memorable MMA fights, moments and achievements. As we now sit halfway through August, we can look back and confidently say that the first three quarters of 2012 are no exception.
Already, 2012 has seen Hector Lombard make his long awaited UFC debut, the Octagon return to the Land of the Rising Sun and one of the sport’s biggest rivalries come to a conclusion with Anderson Silva dispatching his arch nemesis for a second time.
The list goes on.
Here, however, we will concern ourselves with the “who,” rather than the “what” by looking back on the past eight-and-a-half months and determining which fighters, above all others, have made a splash.
A brief note on the criteria: It is more difficult for fighters already at the top of the sport to make a splash, so the list takes into account those who have most greatly furthered their careers or had a surprising impact on the sport.
There were a number of considerations that just missed the cut—feel free to mention any fighter you believe to be a grievous omission from the list.
The list is ordered alphabetically.