Memo to the World MMA Awards 2013

Memo to the World MMA Awards 2013

September 30, 2013

By Ryan Porzl

It's that time of year. Around this time of year, the World MMA Awards from Fighter's Only Magazine begin to consider who should be nominated for their yearly awards. The great film critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert used to have a “Memo to the Academy” special where they bring up actors, actresses, and movies they believed deserved nominations in an attempt to influence the vote. I liked the concept and decided to steal it. Since the World MMA Award usually only nominate fighters associated with Zuffa and specifically the UFC, I don't expect this to change anyone's mind but I'll still do it for fun. Here are the people and personalities that I believe deserve nominations. I won't bring up a lot of UFC names since most of the deserving individuals will likely get nominated. I'm going to focus on other companies who will likely be overlooked. Note that the 2013 awards are for events that happened between September 1, 2012 to September 30, 2013.

Charles “Mask” Lewis Fighter of the Year Award

Chris Weidman (UFC)- He only fought one time between September 2012 – September 2013 but he made it count when he defeated Anderson Silva to win the UFC Middleweight Championship. The win marked the first time Silva lost in the UFC and his first loss since 2006. Nuff said.

Michael Chandler (Bellator)- In the past year, Bellator's Lightweight Champion has not only become one of the top fighters in Bellator but one of the top fighters in the world. In the past year, Chandler has seen his stock skyrocket as he's looked dominant in the Bellator cage with a submission win over Olympic judoka Rick Hawn and a quick knockout over Dave Rickels. The two successful title defenses and impressive performances have earned Chandler a Top 5 position in many MMA websites Top 10 rankings. Outside of fighting, Chandler also starred in a Dave & Buster's commercial as Dave & Buster's is a sponsor for Bellator.

Pat Curran (Bellator)- Michael Chandler isn't the only Bellator champ to see his stock rise in 2013. Like Chandler in Lightweight, Pat Curran has not only become the top featherweight in Bellator but one of the top featherweights in the world. In the past year, Curran has defended his championship two times including a close back and forth with Patricio Pitbull and an impressive fight with Shahbulant Shamhalaev. Like Chandler, Curran has seen his star shine as he's considered a top 3 featherweight on ESPN as of writing and recently made the cover of Fight! Magazine.

Comeback of the Year Award

Josh Barnett (UFC)- After coming up short in the finals of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Tounament, Josh Barnett quickly bounced back and has had one of the better careers of 2013. After easily beaten Nandor Guelmino on the final Strikeforce event in January, Barnett would shock the MMA world when he resigned with the UFC after an eleven year absence. Not taking an easy fight, Barnett was quickly matched with another former UFC Heavyweight Champion in Frank Mir. The fight took place at UFC 164 and Barnett proved he was still a threat in the heavyweight division when he TKOed Mir to return in style.

Josh Burkman (WSOF)- At this time last year, Josh Burkman wasn't anywhere on the MMA radar. He was released for the UFC four years earlier and was in the indy circuit going nowhere. Fast forward to 2012, Burkman has signed with the #3 MMA Organization in the United States The World Series of Fighting. Since then, he won all of his first three fights, shocked the MMA world by choking out Jon Fitch, will challenge for the WSOF Welterweight Title, and is now considered a top 10 Welterweight in many MMA websites. Not bad for a guy who a year ago had no future in MMA.

Muhammad Lawal (Bellator)- Simply put 2012 was the worst year in the career of the man known as King Mo. After starting the year with a win over Lorenz Larkin, Mo's 2012 would freefall. First he tested positive for steroids then he was suspended and his win was overturned to a no contest. From there, he was fired from Strikeforce after insulting an athletic commission member and then saw his career & life put in jeopardy due to a recurring staph infection. Since then Lawal has bounced back in a big way. He signed with Bellator and debuted in January with an impressive KO win. Despite running into a speed bump named Emanuel Newton, it proved to be a temporary setback as he won the 2013 Bellator Summer Series by knocking Seth Petruzelli into retirement and putting on a clinic against Jacob Noe.

Doug Marshall (Bellator)- Marshall was another fighter who heading into this year seemed like a forgotten name who would spend the rest of his career toiling in small MMA shows. Not only have people forgotten his WEC run and that he was a former Light Heavyweight Champion, but it seemed like he would never come close to the big leagues again. Between 2008-2012, Marshall was a guy who was not picked up by the UFC after they absorbed the WEC's Light Heavyweight Division, he went 0-2 in Taichi Palace, and got smashed by Zelg Galesic in Super Fight League. Then in 2012, he found his way to Bellator and has made every moment count. Since that time, he's gone 4-0, won the Season 8 Middleweight Tournament, and became a popular addition with his knockout wins.

Blagoi Ivanov (Bellator)- On February 26, 2012, Ivanov was stabbed in a bar fight with a knife going through his armpit and hitting his heart. For the next three months he fought for his life with his health going up and down. Fast forward 19 months after the bar fight, Ivanov not only survived but made his return at Bellator 99 on September 13, 2013 where he won his return fight against Manny Lara. While he only fought once this year and it wasn't against an elite fighter, just the fact he's returned to fighting when he was on the brink of death a year and half ago should be more than enough.

Breakthrough Fighter of the Year Award

Emanuel Newton (Bellator)- Heading into 2013, Emanuel Newton was a talented fighter and had success by being the former MFC Light Heavyweight Champion but like most up and coming fighters, he needed something to take his career to the next level. That opportunity came on February 21, 2013 when he met Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal in the semifinals of the Bellator Season Eight Light Heavyweight Tournament. Heading into the fight, Mo was the favorite to not only win but would go on to win the tournament. Despite this, Newton would proceed to make a name for himself by turning the entire tournament upside down when he knocked Mo out with a spinning back fist. As if that wasn't enough, he then went on win the entire tournament.

Marlon Moraes (WSOF)- Moraes can be considered WSOF's first created star they've made. An unknown fighter with potential, Moraes has gotten himself on the MMA radar since signing with the new company. He wasted no time when he upset former WEC Bantamweight Champion and UFC fighter Miguel Torres at the first WSOF event in a close split decision. Since that time, he continued to rack up wins when he knocked out Tyson Nam at the second WSOF event which was the first fight Nam had since his non-title upset win over Bellator Bantamweight Champion Eduardo Dantas. Just recently he crushed Brandon Hempleman and took a unanimous decision win. A good example of Moraes rise is the fact he's cracked Sherdog's Top Ten rankings.

Vitaly Minakov (Bellator)- 2013 has seen many Russian fighters break into MMA in the United States. But few have probably had more promise and success than Vitaly Minakov. Debuting in late 2012, he looked impressive in his Bellator debut and by 2013 was considered the #1 prospect in MMA according to Bleacher Report. Since then, he has looked impressive by crushing Bellator vet Ron Sparks and beating another up and comer Ryan Martinez to win the Bellator Summer Series Heavyweight Tournament. Minakov's success in MMA and in sambo have fans comparing him to MMA Legend Fedor Emelianenko.

Lowen Tynanes (ONE FC/King of the Cage)- Tynanes is one of these fighters who's not a well-known as the others but he definitely deserves a nomination. Tynanes didn't waste anytime in getting his name out there when he scored a big upset over URCC/ONE FC fighter and prospect Eduard Folyang by TKO due to doctor's stoppage in only his second fight. Since that time, Tynanes has signed with ONE FC & King of the Cage and continues to be undefeated. He defeated up and comer Vuyisile Colossa in a back and forth fight and smashed Felipe Enomoto in his two ONE FC appearances to date. Despite only having five fights as of writing, Tynanes is already a champion when he won the KOTC Jr. Welterweight Championship.

Kyoji Horiguchi (Shooto/Vale Tudo Japan)- Horiguchi is probably considered by many fans to be the biggest prospect coming out of Japan. A member of Kid Yamamoto's Krazy Bee gym, Horiguchi has been considered someone to look at. In the past year, Horiguchi won four fights, won his first title when he won the Shooto Bantamweight Championship, and made one title defense. Horiguchi rising star hasn't gone unnoticed either. In September 2013, after months of rumors, it was announced that Horiguchi has signed with the UFC.

Glover Teixeira (UFC)- Teixeira has been considered a prospect for a few years and this past year, he showed why he's a promising up and comer. In his third appearance, he scored the biggest win in his career when he defeated Rampage Jackson. Along with that win, Teixeira has scored three other wins over Fabio Maldonado, James Te-Huna, and Ryan Bader all the while he looked impressive in each outing. He is now scheduled to challenge Jon Jones in 2014 for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.

International Fighter of the Year Award

Masakatsu Ueda (ONE FC)- Despite being one and done in Bellator, Ueda has nevertheless become one of the best international fighters in 2013. Following his Bellator release, the former Shooto champ signed with top asian promotion ONE Fighting Championship. Since then, he's gone 3-0 and became the first ONE FC Grand Prix winner when he won the Bantamweight grand prix after defeating aging former UFC Lightweight Champion Jens Pulver and asian prospect Kevin Belingon. With the GP win, Ueda will likely receive a shot at the ONE FC Bantamweight Championship by early 2014.

Alexander Volkov (Bellator)- Despite not having fought as of writing in 2013, the World MMA Awards cover from September 1, 2012 to September 30, 2013. In late 2012, Volkov saw his career be taken to the next level. After replacing Ruslan Magomedov in the Bellator Season Seven Heavyweight Tournament due to visa issues, Volkov took advantage of a great opportunity when he won the tournament and the vacant Bellator Heavyweight Championship. Along with the victory, he scored some of the biggest wins of his career including former Strikeforce & WAMMA Heavyweight Championship contender Brett Rogers and Season 4 Light Heavyweight Tournament finalist Richard Hale.

Fight of the Year Award

Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson (UFC)- Not many expected much from this. Most expected a one sided fight from Jones. But Gustafsson would shock the world by giving Bones the hardest fight of his career. Simply put, this fight had it all. It had action, drama, blood, and kept you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. While Jones walked away the official winner, Gustafsson came out a star and left fans wanting more.

Wanderlei Silva vs. Brian Stann (UFC)- This was probably the most fan-friendly fight in the UFC this year. Nothing pretty here and that's a good thing as these two swung for the fences and threw as much leather as they could. Wanderlei got knocked down and Stann got knocked out all for the enjoyment of those who witnessed it.

Masakatsu Ueda vs. Kevin Belingon (ONE FC)- This fight is one of those fights that had it all. It had striking, it had submission attempts, it had blood, and was for something prestigious which was the ONE FC Bantamweight Grand Prix.

Alexander Shlemenko vs. Brett Cooper (Bellator)- These competed once before. Back in 2011 with Shlemenko defeating Cooper. On September 7^th, Cooper stepped in to replace an injured Doug Marshall and even though he came up short, he made Shlemenko earn it. This fight saw both guys give it their all with Cooper nearly finishing Shlemenko and Shlemenko returning the favor in the 4^th. By the fifth round, the fight was even according to two of the judges. In the end, Shlemenko proved that even if he won the title when it was vacant, he proved he earned it while Cooper proved to be a legit challenger even if he was a substitute.

Knockout of the Year Award

Douglas Lima over Ben Saunders (Bellator)- Heading into this fight, Saunders had already suffered a loss to Lima. Unfortunately, Lightning would strike twice in more ways then one. After getting picked apart and suffering from swelling in his eye during the first round, he would be brutally knocked out again but this time it would be by head kick.

Emanuel Newton over Muhammed Lawal (Bellator)- This fight wasn't supposed to be anything special. It was supposed to see The Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Muhammed Lawal defeat some no-name in Emanuel Newton and make it to the finals where he would clean house against Mikhail Zayats and win the Season Eight Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament. It was a fight where Lawal came in at more than a -1000 favorite in the betting odds. This didn't matter to Newton as the Hardcore Kid decided to rain on everyone's parade and make a name for himself at the same time. Throughout the course of the fight, Newton would shock many by holding his own against the highly touted Lawal. But the ending would leave many fans mouths wide open as Newton would throw a spinning back fist that would land perfectly and send the King off his throne. The spinning back fist is always great for highlight reels but the fact that some unknown used it to knock the overwelming favorite out of “his” tournament makes this knockout even bigger. Not content with just beaten Mo, Newton would then rub salt in Lawal's wounds when then went on to defeat Zayats in the finals and win the tournament most thought was Mo's for the taking.

Derrick Mehman over Rolles Gracie (WSOF)- This one is not only one of the more memorable knockouts of 2013 but also the most bizarre and goofy. After being outboxed in the first round by Gracie, Mehman not only found his range but proceeded to knock Gracie out so bad, he spun around and flopped facefirst on the canvas. The best way to describe this knockout is by comparing it to wrestling legend Ric Flair's Flair Flop which many have already done.

Koji Oishi over Honorio Banario (ONE FC)- This is one of those surprising knockouts given Oishi not being known for Knockout power and also for being a come from behind. During the first round, the fight was fairly even until Oishi landed a punch that knocked Banario to the ground. From there, the fight would get crazy as Banario quickly came back and nailed some good punches on Oishi that nearly put him away. Oishi was literally saved by the bell. After being nearly TKOed at the end of round 1, Oishi started round 2 slowly until eventually throwing a punch that landed flush and knocked Banario out. Quite the comeback for a guy who was seconds away from being finished.

Submission of the Year Award

Josh Burkman over Jon Fitch (WSOF)- Heading into his WSOF debut, Jon Fitch had only been submitted once in over 25 fights with the last being his debut 11 years ago. Even though he was dominated by Damian Maia, the BJJ ace couldn't submit Fitch. Along with this, Fitch was debuting in WSOF as a guy who despite washing out of the UFC would dominate the WSOF Welterweight Division and become it's first champion. Everyone got that memo except for Fitch's opponent Josh Burkman. Despite all of that and the fact Fitch beat Burkman years ago, Burkman left a lot of people shocked when he dropped Fitch with a punch and slapping on a guillotine choke that rendered Fitch unconcious and Burkman the winner by technical submission in 41 seconds. Essentially, Burkman took Fitch's reputation of having great submission defense and flushed it down the toilet. What was supposed to be Jon Fitch's welcoming party instead became Josh Burkman continuing his career resurgence at the expense of Fitch. Most will remember the ending of Burkman choking Fitch out, laying him on the ground, and standing over his unconcious body while he raised his hand in the air declaring victory like a warrior slaying his rival all before the ref could even stop the fight.

Shawn Tompkins Coach of the Year Award

Duane Ludwig (Team Alpha Male)- Most fans by now know that Ludwig is a coach at the Team Alpha Male gym and for good reason. Since joining the gym in late 2012, many MMA fans and experts have credited him for the elite gym being taking to the next level. With Ludwig's guidance, the elite members of the gym have gone unbeaten in the past year with Urijah Faber, Chad Mendes, and Joseph Benavidez returning to title contention while TJ Dillashaw has been considered a top 10 bantamweight.

Ricardo Liborio (American Top Team)- The co-founder and long time head trainer on American Top Team, Liborio has led ATT to a very successful 2013. Entering the year, he had 2 champions in his gym and helped lead two more fighters to championship gold (I won't count Lima since he trains out of the Atlanta branch). Liborio and ATT have also begun guiding the careers of UFC prospects like Shawn Jordan & Glover Teixeira and Bellator prospects Will Brooks & Bubba Jenkins.

Gym of the Year Award

American Top Team- ATT has been around for over 10 years but 2013 is one of the best years for the gym from Coconut Creek, Florida. 2013 saw ATT enter with two championships as Kenny Garner entered the year as the M-1 Global Heavyweight Champion while Nathan Coy entered the MFC Middleweight Champion but have added more titles and one tournament to their trophy case as Attila Vegh captured the Bellator Light Heavyweight Championship, Dan Hornbuckle won the DEEP Welterweight Championship, and Douglas Lima won his second Bellator tournament when defeated Ben Saunders to win the Season Eight Welterweight Tournament. Outside of their accomplishments, the camp has also seen Antonio Silva return to title contention as he handed the undefeated prospect Travis Browne his first loss and scored a huge upset over Alistair Overeem to earn a chance to challenge for the UFC Heavyweight Championship (though he lost). Along with the gym continuing to have many established names like Garner, Coy, Vegh, Hornbuckle, Lima, Silva, Jeff Monson, Hector Lombard, and Thiago Alves, the gym has also recruited many prospects like Glover Teixeira, Shawn Jordan, Will Brooks, and Bubba Jenkins to name some. The gym has also been the place or one of the places where fighters like Mark Hunt and Robbie Lawler have trained and experienced career resurgences.

Team Alpha Male- Team Alpha Male have become one of the elite gyms of 2013. Following Urijah Faber and Joseph Benavidez's failure in aquiring UFC gold and the recruitment of Duane Ludwig as a coach, the gym went back to the drawing board. Since then the team has look incredible. Though they haven't won a title in 2013, the team has looked awesome and have gone unbeaten as Faber, Benavidez and Mendes have all bounced back to top contenders and future championship challengers in their divisions.

RusFighters Sports Club- One of the most underated gyms has been the RusFighter Sports Club. During 2013, many of their members have enjoyed tremendous success in Bellator. Already having success over the years with Alexander Shlemenko, many of the gyms top members including Alexander Volkov, Mikhail Zayats, Andrey Koreshkov, Akop Stepayan, and Alexander Sarnavskiy have made their debuts in Bellator throughout 2012 and early 2013. Over the past year, The gym won two tournaments and two championships with Shlemenko winning the Middleweight Championship, Koreshkov winning the Season Seven Welterweight Tournament, and Volkov winning both the Heavyweight Championship and Season Seven Heavyweight Tournament. Meanwhile, Zayats made a name for himself by defeating MMA legend Babalu Sobral and making to the finals of the Season Eight Light Heavyweight Tournament.