Tag: Awards

Fighter of the Year – LowKick MMA 2022 Awards

Alex PereiraAmongst a slew of title changes and memorable performances from veterans and prospects alike over the course of 2022, one fighter – making a successful transition to professional mixed martial arts following a gold-laden kickboxing career, appears to have stood out firmly from a championship crowd. In that breath, Brazilian bruiser, Alex Pereira is firmly […]

Alex Pereira

Amongst a slew of title changes and memorable performances from veterans and prospects alike over the course of 2022, one fighter – making a successful transition to professional mixed martial arts following a gold-laden kickboxing career, appears to have stood out firmly from a championship crowd. In that breath, Brazilian bruiser, Alex Pereira is firmly your LowKickMMA Fighter of the Year.

Fighter of the Year – Alex Pereira – UFC – 3-0-0 (7 votes)

Embarking on a three-fight undefeated run since a UFC debut back in November of last year, within a year, Sao Paulo knockout ace, Alex Pereira had turned the middleweight world on its proverbial head – with typical, blistering fashion.

Kicking off his year of activity with a unanimous decision win over compatriot, Bruno Silva at UFC Vegas 50 in March, former GLORY Kickboxing duel-weight champion, Pereira would carve his path to a title tilt in the summer of this annum.

Snapping the seven-fight undefeated run of recent UFC Vegas 66 headliner, Sean Strickland, Pereira recorded a destructive first round knockout win – beneath an event headlined by arch-rival, Israel Adesanya.

Headlining at Madison Square Garden in November a year removed from his Octagon bow in New York City, within just four UFC walks, Pereira minted himself as an undisputed middleweight titleholder – rallying to finish kickboxing foe, Adesanya with a fifth round standing TKO triumph. 

Honorable Mentions

Alexander Volkanovski – UFC – 2-0-0 (4 votes)

Twice defending his undisputed featherweight championship this year, New South Wales native and promotional pound-for-pound number one, Alexander Volkanovski preps himself for a massive outing next year. 

However, in 2022, the defending featherweight titleholder turned in consecutive successful defense number three against Chan Sung Jung in April, and then four against three-time foe, Max Holloway, respectively – bloodying the Hawaiian back in July during International Fight Week.

On February 12. next year, Volkanovski travels home – competing for undisputed lightweight spoils against recently minted champion, Islam Makhachev, attempting to become a two-weight champion held simultaneously. 

Aljamain Sterling – UFC – 2-0-0 – (1 vote)

Receiving just a singular vote in a year which seems to have gone under the radar for Uniondale native and undisputed bantamweight champion, Aljamain Sterling firmly cemented his status as the best 135lb fighter to compete under the UFC’s banner.

Rematching rival, Petr Yan in April of this year in Jacksonville, Florida – Sterling put prior title-winning disqualification wins behind him, landing a split decision victory. In October on ‘Fight Island’, Sterling stopped former two-time bantamweight best, T.J. Dillashaw in dominant ground strikes stoppage fashion. 

Sterling has yet to book his next Octagon walk, however, rumblings suggest the Serra-Longo staple and Xtreme Couture trainee is set to welcome the retired, Henry Cejudo back to the Octagon as soon as March next. 

Full List Of 2022 Fighter of the Year Votes:

Frank Bonada: Alex Pereira

Ross Markey: Alex Pereira

Murdo Todd: Alex Pereira

Patrick Post: Alex Pereira

Ian Shutts: Alex Pereira

Brady Ordway Briggs: Alex Pereira

Marc Ray: Alex Pereira

Ollie Brockett: Alexander Volkanovski

Keelin McNamara: Alexander Volkanovski

Tim Wheaton: Alexander Volkanovski

Arshan Dhillon: Alexander Volkanovski

Alex Lough: Aljamain Sterling

Submission of the Year – LowKick MMA 2022 Awards

Submission of the YearFrom all the awards hosted by LowKickMMA this annum, the accolade for Submission of the Year saw the most separate nominations – with a stunning eight separate fight-ending stoppages receiving votes. However, its former UFC strawweight champion, Jessica Andrade who scoops the award for her most recent victory.  Submission of the Year – Jessica Andrade […]

Submission of the Year

From all the awards hosted by LowKickMMA this annum, the accolade for Submission of the Year saw the most separate nominations – with a stunning eight separate fight-ending stoppages receiving votes.

However, its former UFC strawweight champion, Jessica Andrade who scoops the award for her most recent victory. 

Submission of the Year – Jessica Andrade vs. Amanda Lemos – Standing arm-triangle (3 votes)

Headlining UFC Vegas 52 back in April against compatriot, Amanda Lemos in a return to her former strawweight stomping grounds, Jessica Andrade turned in her second straight victory, stopping her fellow Brazil native with an innovative finish.

Locking up at the Octagon fence in the opening frame, Andrade out-muscled and maneuvered Lemos at the fence, securing a standing arm-triangle submission win. With the victory, Andrade has positioned herself in the running for title challengers at both flyweight and strawweight in the near future.

Honorable Mentions

Stevie Ray vs. Anthony Pettis – Scottish Twister (1 vote)

Turning in both a contender for Submission of the Year as well as arguably the most high-profile win of his professional career, UFC alum, Stevie Ray secured a spectacular, and rare Twister submission win over former WEC and UFC champion, Anthony Pettis.

Twice defeating the Roufusport staple this alum under the banner of the PFL (Professional Fighters League), Ray notched his ninth career submission win with his Twister effort over Pettis in Atlanta. 

Ilia Topuria vs. Bryce Mitchell – Arm-triangle (1 vote) 

Handing featherweight grappler his first professional loss on the main card of UFC 282 earlier this month, German-born division contender, Ilia Topuria maintained his undefeated record, with a blistering arm-triangle submission win over the TUF alum. Following the brutal, one-sided defeat, Mitchell admitted he was weighing up his future in mixed martial arts entirely.

Paul Craig vs. Nikita Krylov – Triangle (2 votes)

Enjoyed a mixed bag of success throughout the year in his attempt to climb the light heavyweight rankings, Scottish grappler, Paul Craig submitted former FNG champion, Nikita Krylov with a first-round triangle win at UFC London in March. The victory landed Craig a post-fight Performance of the Night bonus. 

Angela Lee vs. Stamp Fairtex – Rear-naked choke (1 vote)

Successfully defending her ONE Championship atomweight championship back in March before eventually dropping a strawweight title challenge loss to Xiong Jing Nan, Angela Lee handed a second-round rear-naked choke to kickboxing talent, Stamp Fairtex. A supreme grappler, Vancouver grappler, Lee matched with striking ace, Fairtex – successfully defending her throne with a rear-naked choke stoppage.  

Charles Oliveira vs. Justin Gaethje – Rear-naked choke (1 vote)

Former UFC lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira successfully prevented former interim titleholder, Justin Gaethje from obtaining gold in May of this year, however, was unable to exit Phoenix, Arizona with his title.

Missing weight for their UFC 274 title headliner in the ‘Copper State’, Oliveira survived a pair of knockdowns against the Arizonian, to rally and land a knockdown of his own, before securing a rear-naked choke victory. 

Glover Teixeira vs. Jiri Prochazka – Rear-naked choke (2 votes)

Sans hooks, Czech Republic native, Jiri Prochazka managed to land himself the undisputed light heavyweight title at UFC 275 back in June with a buzzer-beating fifth round rear-naked choke win over Glover Teixeira.

Prochazka, who was losing their Singapore fight on all three judges’ scorecards – attempting to win the fifth round and secure a potential draw on the night, managed to take Minas Gerais veteran, Teixeira’s back, and without hooks to boot, submitted the Brazilian to win light heavyweight gold.

Charles Oliveira vs. Islam Makahchev – Arm-triangle (1 vote)

Seeing his division-best winning run halted back in October on ‘Fight Island’, Charles Oliveira failed in his bid to become a two-time lightweight titleholder, suffering a rather one-sided second round arm-triangle submission loss to American Kickboxing Academy staple, Islam Makhachev. 

Suffering a knockdown in the second frame, Oliveira was jumped upon by Makhachev, who quickly assumed half guard and then stepped across, locking up an arm-triangle submission win.

Frank Bonada: Stevie Ray

Ross Markey: Charles Oliveira

Murdo Todd: Paul Craig

Patrick Post: Jiri Prochazka

Ian Shutts: Paul Craig

Brady Ordway Briggs: Islam Makhachev

Marc Ray: Jessica Andrade

Ollie Brockett: Jessica Andrade

Keelin McNamara: Ilia Topuria

Tim Wheaton: Angela Lee

Arshan Dhillon: Jiri Prochazka

Alex Lough: Jessica Andrade

2013 Fighters Only World MMA Awards: The Girls Reflect Back on the Event

When it comes to mixing annual MMA achievements with mainstream pop culture, nobody does it better than Fighters Only. For the past six years, the UK-based MMA publication has kicked down doors and shaken up the industry with its year-end extravaganza, known as the World MMA Awards. The event, which highlights the achievements of the […]

When it comes to mixing annual MMA achievements with mainstream pop culture, nobody does it better than Fighters Only. For the past six years, the UK-based MMA publication has kicked down doors and shaken up the industry with its year-end extravaganza, known as the World MMA Awards. The event, which highlights the achievements of the […]

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2013 Women’s MMA Year-End Awards

2013 was a monumental time for women’s mixed martial arts. After years of being told that they “just weren’t good enough” and that there “wasn’t enough girls to form a legitimate division”, women finally graced the UFC’s famed Octagon and blew everyone away in the process. At the forefront, we had women’s bantamweight champion Ronda […]

2013 was a monumental time for women’s mixed martial arts. After years of being told that they “just weren’t good enough” and that there “wasn’t enough girls to form a legitimate division”, women finally graced the UFC’s famed Octagon and blew everyone away in the process. At the forefront, we had women’s bantamweight champion Ronda […]

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UFC on Fuel 10: Recapping the Fight Night Bonus Awards

UFC on Fuel 10 may not have been the most star-studded event, but that didn’t stop it from producing a bevy of fast-paced fights or impressive stoppages.  All told, 10 of the event’s 12 contests failed to make it to the final bell. That means two things: There was a lot exciting moments, and the […]

UFC on Fuel 10 may not have been the most star-studded event, but that didn’t stop it from producing a bevy of fast-paced fights or impressive stoppages.  All told, 10 of the event’s 12 contests failed to make it to the final bell. That means two things: There was a lot exciting moments, and the […]

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More From Pat Barry & Rose Namajunas At The 2012 World MMA Awards

In this extended interview, the always funny UFC heavyweight Pat Barry hams it up for the camera alongside girlfriend, and Invicta FC fighter Rose Namajunas. The two were on the Red Carpet Friday night in Las Vegas for the Fighters Only 2012 World MMA Awards. The two talk about meeting in the gym, how it was love at first punch, living together, Barry’s recent Twitter incident with a disgruntled fan, plus more.
Props to StudioMMA.com for the video

Click here to view the embedded video.

In this extended interview, the always funny UFC heavyweight Pat Barry hams it up for the camera alongside girlfriend, and Invicta FC fighter Rose Namajunas. The two were on the Red Carpet Friday night in Las Vegas for the Fighters Only 2012 World MMA Awards. The two talk about meeting in the gym, how it was love at first punch, living together, Barry’s recent Twitter incident with a disgruntled fan, plus more.

Props to StudioMMA.com for the video