2009 MMA Award

Posted By RJ Clifford on the Feb 1 2010

Lyoto Machida 2009 End of the Year Awards

By RJ Clifford

KO of the Year

Dan Henderson def Michael Bisping (punch) – UFC 100

In the biggest show of the year, former two-division Pride champion Dan Henderson came into his UFC 100 bout against an opponent he knew far better than he had wished. Just months earlier, Henderson had coached opposite Brit Michael Bisping in the ninth edition of The Ultimate Fighter pitting Team USA against Team UK. Tempers rose and there were some heated exchanges between coaches as the competition grew fierce, adding to the anticipation of the bout. Nothing punctuated that season more than the famous overhand right of Henderson that knocked Bisping out cold midway through the second round. As Bisping fell unconscious, the American jumped through the air and landed a brutal forearm to his opponent’s jaw, which Henderson later claimed was used to “shut him up” for all the torment Bisping gave him during the show. The $100,000 KO of the Night bonus Henderson received for his efforts probably helped the healing as well. Ironically, it would be Henderson’s last foray in the UFC as he’s now on the Strikeforce roster.

Honorable Mention

Yahir Reyes def Estevan Payan (spinning back fist) – Bellator 6

Nate Marquardt def Demian Maia (punch) – UFC 102

Jose Aldo def Cub Swanson (double flying knee) – WEC 41

Fedor Emelianenko def Andrei Arlovski (punch) – Affliction: Day of Reckoning

Todd Duffee def Tim Hague (punch) – UFC 102

Submission of the Year

Toby Imada def Jorge Masvidal (inverted triangle choke) – Bellator 4

The first season of Bellator Fighting Championships opened up with a bang thanks to some television deals, high quality production and some incredible finishes. In the semi-finals of the lightweight tournament, Jorge Masvidal was the heavy favorite expected to make it to the finals for a superfight against Bellator golden boy Eddie Alvarez. Toby Imada was on a seven-fight win streak, but was still considered a journeyman fighter. Masvidal went to work on Imada for the first two and a half rounds until a single leg attempt went terribly wrong. With a visibly beat-up Imada sprawled on top of his back, the American Top Team fighter stood up with Imada hanging over his shoulders. Imada locked up an inverted triangle while dangling from Masvidal’s back and started squeezing. No one in the stands expected it, but Masvidal’s eyes began to close and he suddenly slumped to the floor unconscious. A victorious Imada walked out of the Bellator cage leaving a permanent legacy on the world of fighting.

Honorable Mention

Kazushi Sakuraba def Zelg Galesic (knee bar) – Dream 12

Mackens Semerzier def Wagnney Fabiano (triangle choke) – WEC 43

Demian Maia def Chael Sonnen (triangle) – UFC 95

Shinya Aoki def Mizuto Hirota (hammer lock) – Dynamite!! 2009

Dustin Hazelett def Tamden McCrory (inverted arm bar) – UFC 91

Upset of the Year

Mackens Semerzier def Wagnney Fabiano – WEC 43

The head office of the WEC had a problem. They had two top five featherweight fighters on their roster from the same camp who refused to fight each other. If either Nova União fighter Jose Aldo or Wagnney Fabiano won the 145-pound title, the other would not fight his teammate and the WEC would be stuck with a top contender and no match for him. Fortunately for the WEC, Mackens Semerzier took care of that for them. With just barely a year of pro fighting under his belt, the promising, but drastically less-experienced 4-0 Semerzier fought the #3 featherweight in the world and former IFL champion Wagnney Fabiano. After a quick takedown, Semerzier locked on a lightning fast triangle choke on his stunned opponent. After a few unbelievable seconds, the BJJ ace tapped to the WEC rookie. No one gave Semerzier a chance and it was ludicrous to think he would defeat Fabiano by submission, proving once again why you fight the fights instead of what’s on paper.

Honorable Mention

Ray Mercer def Tim Sylvia – AMMA 3

Brian Bowles def Miguel Torres – WEC 42

Jussier da Silva def Shinishi “BJ” Kojima - Shooto: Undefeated

Mamed Khalidov def Jorge Santiago – Sengoku: 11^th Battle

Paul Daley def Martin Kampmann – UFC 103

Breakout Fighter of the Year

Jose Aldo

The young Brazilian had a 2009 most fighters only dream about. The Nova União featherweight came from such a poor background that teammate Wagnney Fabiano said he would have to feed him when he showed up to the gym because he looked so hungry and could not afford food. That physical hunger turned him into a fighting dynamo who racked up a respectable 10-1 record against lesser opposition before entering the WEC. He raised eyebrows when he defeated Alexandre Franca Nogueira at WEC 34 in 2008, but that was just a warm-up. In 2009 he went from relative unknown to WEC champion and consensus #1 featherweight in the world. He fought four times and scored four knockouts with only one fight making it to the second round, including a KO of the Year nominee with his double flying knee over Cub Swanson. He demolished Mike Thomas Brown for the WEC title in November to cap off one of the most dominant runs of the year. He is nominated for an unprecedented three awards this year (including KO and Fighter of the Year).

Honorable Mention

Dan Hardy

Marius Zaromoskis

Joe Warren

Bibiano Fernandes

Jon Jones

Comeback Fighter of the Year

Mauricio “Shogun” Rua

When Pride Fighting Championships shut its doors in 2007 and was subsequently purchased by Zuffa, fans drooled over the possibility of matching Pride superstars like Wanderlei Silva, Fedor Emelianenko and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua against UFC veterans. Rua’s first UFC fight against Forrest Griffin went less than spectacular for the Brazilian, losing by submission in the third. Rua spent the rest of 2007 and 2008 recovering from injuries and getting acclimated to fighting in a cage under UFC rules. He looked sluggish again in victory defeating the 44-year-old Mark Coleman before knocking out former 205-pound king Chuck Liddell in spectacular fashion. The stage was set for a title match against undefeated Lyoto Machida—who had not lost a round in the UFC—let alone a fight. A calculated and strategic Rua that fans had never seen before, kicked, pushed and punched Machida for five rounds and eventually lost by unanimous decision, one that many fans have called the biggest robbery of the year. Regardless of what the judges thought, Rua, who was only a year and a half ago thought to be completely done, proved he is one of the best 205-pounders in the world. Rua will get a second crack at Machida later this year.

Honorable Mention

Michihiro Omigawa

Kazushi Sakuraba

Mark Coleman

Kimbo Slice

Paulo Filho

Fight of the Year

Diego Sanchez def Clay Guida - The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale

Often times the Fight of the Year candidate is an unexpected one between two relatively-unknown fighters with nothing to lose. This was not the case. Diego Sanchez had recently dropped to 155 pounds and was making a run at BJ Penn’s title. Clay Guida was on a three-fight win streak and looking to erase his “gatekeeper” status. The stare down immediately set the mood, as seconds later, both men planted their feet and started winging punches willing to give up a shot to the head in order to deliver one of their own. Guida scored with his trademark ground and pound, but Sanchez got the better of the exchanges courtesy of his uppercuts and flying knees, including a devastating head kick towards the end of Round 1. But Guida trudged on with a takedown in the second round and scored on top. The third round was the closest as Sanchez still scored with punches and kicks, but Guida ended up on top after a failed submission attempt by Sanchez. In the end, the judges awarded Sanchez the split decision victory, but in reality, everyone won. Sanchez earned himself a title shot, Guida’s stock rose as a fan favorite fighter, and the fans got to witness the best fight of the year on free television.

Honorable Mention

Gilbert Melendez def Josh Thomson – Strikeforce: Evolution

Miguel Torres def Takeya Mizugaki – WEC 40

Thierry Quenneville def Doug Evans – XMMA 7

Scott Smith def Benji Radach – Strikeforce: Shamrock vs Diaz

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira def Randy Couture – UFC 102

Fighter of the Year

Lyoto Machida

Last year, Anderson Silva won Fighter of the Year with his stand-up and dominance in the UFC. This year, friend and teammate Lyoto Machida did the same. At the start of 2009, everyone knew “The Dragon” was a force to be reckoned with, going undefeated as a professional having never even lost a round in the UFC. That said, he developed the reputation as being a boring fighter picking his shots and playing it safe. That all changed January 31^st at UFC 94 when he faced fellow undefeated Brazilian and top ten fighter Thiago Silva. With one second remaining in the first round, Lyoto pounced on a grounded Silva with a right hand that knocked the American Top Team product out cold. It was enough to earn a title shot against Rashad Evans who had recently defeated Forrest Griffin for the title and the number one ranking in the world. The story was the same. Machida landed strike after strike—never receiving damage of his own—and finally dropped Evans with a brutal flurry in Round 2, finishing his second undefeated opponent. Machida made his first title defense against a previous number one fighter and Comeback of the Year winner in Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 104. While Rua battered Machida’s legs with kicks, Machida landed punches and combinations earning a decision win in the end.

Honorable Mention

Jose Aldo

Gegard Mousasi

Eddie Alvarez

Bibiano Fernandes

Marius Zaromoskis

Look for the full story in MMA Worldwide Magazine on News Stands now!!!

rj@mmaworldwide.com

Twitter -- @rjclifford2