Will this be the year a mixed martial artist finally breaks through for the ESPYs’ Best Fighter award?
ESPN has lumped boxers and MMA fighters in the single category of Best Fighter since 2007. In that time, the fan-voted award has always gone in a boxer’s favor.
This time out, UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones have earned nominations in the “Best Fighter” category.
Additionally, Rousey earned a nomination for Best Female Athlete; while Chris Weidman’s knockout of Anderson Silva at UFC 162 earned an Upset of the Year nomination.
Rousey went 2-0 in 2013, defeating Liz Carmouche in the first-ever women’s UFC fight at UFC 157, then won a heated rematch over rival Miesha Tate at UFC 168.
Jones, who defeated Chael Sonnen and Alexander Gustafsson to retain his title in 2013, was nominated for fighter of the year for the third consecutive year.
Weidman, meanwhile, will go up against UConn men’s basketball’s run to an NCAA championship as a ninth seed, and Mercer stunning NCAA upset of Duke, in the Best Upset category.
Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr., the biggest star in combat sports, won the Best Fighter ESPY in 2013, the fourth time he’s won the award since MMA fighters were included in the mix.