Mid-Year MMA Awards

Published by Paul Kocoras on July 4th, 2009 in Current Events

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We’ve reached high noon in a 2009 that has been extremely robust for MMA action. Ironically, the beginning of July marks a rare lull this year before an absolute explosion of high-profile MMA events, suitably beginning with UFC 100 on July 11. We felt now was the perfect time to look back at some of the best of the best from the first six months of 2009.

Best Fight: Miguel Torres vs. Takeya Mizugaki (WEC 40)
Tabbed as a late replacement for the injured Brian Bowles, few gave Mizugaki much of a chance against the pound-for-pound great Miguel Torres. Apparently someone forgot to tell Mizugaki, who gave Torres everything he could handle in this 25 minute firefight. Mizugaki dealt with Torres’ impossible range on the feet while wisely avoiding Torres’ area of expertise: the ground. The five round war put on display some extremely high level MMA tactics, featuring great inside fighting and some truly innovative clinchwork. Though Torres won the hard-fought decision to retain his belt, Mizugaki did something few fighters have managed: climbed the rankings and won accolades in defeat.

Also Considered:
- Martin Kampmann vs. Carlos Condit (UFN 18)
- Thierry Quenneville vs Doug Evans (XMMA 7)
- Abel Cullum vs. Hideo Tokoro (Dream 9)

Best Knockout: Fedor Emelianenko over Andrei Arlovski (Affliction: Day of Reckoning)
The unparalleled drama of this KO in one of the year’s biggest bouts is undeniable. Andrei Arlovski represented a true #1 contender to MMA’s heavyweight king, and for the first few minutes, looked to be every bit of that threat. Arlovski lept through the air for a flying knee as Fedor rebounded off the ropes, and was met with a huge overhand right in mid-air. Arlovski came crashing to the mat face first, sealing Fedor’s place atop the heavyweight and pound-for-pound ranks, and putting the exclamation point on one of the great KO’s we’ve seen in MMA.

Also Considered:
- Jose Aldo over Cub Swanson, Flying double knee (WEC 41)
- Yahir Reyes over Estevan Payan, Spinning backfist (Bellator VI)
- Matt Hamill over Mark Munoz, Headkick (UFC 96)

Best Submission: Toby Imada over Jorge Masvidal (Bellator V)
In perhaps the easiest category to award, Toby Imada provided one of the best submissions of the sport’s young history, let alone the year, in a spectacular inverted triangle late in the third round against Jorge Masvidal. Imada had been losing the fight for two and a half rounds and was on his way to being eliminated from the Bellator lightweight tournament. But his last second heroics turned an evitable Masvidal slam into a piece of highlight reel material. As great as the submission was in and of itself, its effect was even more spectacular: it thrust Bellator directly onto the main stage with MMA fans and made subsequent Bellator shows “can’t miss� events.

Also Considered:
- Seth Dikun over Rolando Perez, Flying Triangle (WEC 41)
- Demian Maia over Chael Sonnen, triangle (UFC 95)
- BJ Kojima over Yuki Shoujou, RNC (Shooto Tradition 6)

Biggest Upset: Joe Warren over Norifumi “Kid� Yamamoto (Dream 9)
Coming off an upset of former WEC bantamweight champion Chase Beebe, Joe Warren was supposed to be a walk-through return fight for Japanese star Kid Yamamoto. With just months of MMA training, Warren proceeded to take the fight directly to Kid, despite taking several vicious kicks to the body. Warren continued to put Yamamoto on his back and took a very close decision from Yamamoto on his home turf. While Paulo Thiago performed an upset equaling shocking, it is important to note that this was Warren’s second consecutive large upset (the first being vs. Chase Beebe), earning him the honor in our eyes.

Also Considered:
- Paulo Thiago over Josh Koscheck (UFC 95)
- Brett Rogers over Andrei Arlovski (Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields)
- Joe Warren over Chase Beebe (DREAM 7)

Come-From-Behind Win: Scott Smith over Benji Radach (Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz)
In a bout that stole the show for Strikeforce’s first promotional offering on Showtime, Benji Radach spent the better part of three rounds outmaneuvering Scott Smith and staggering him with power shots. Entering into the third round, this observer had Radach winning the fight 20-17 and cruising en route to a decision win. With heroics reminiscent of his win over Pete Sell, Scott Smith dug deep and pulled out a right straight that sent Radach crashing into the fence with just a minute and a half remaining. In a year featuring several great come-from-behinds, Scott Smith edged out Toby Imada with the most dramatic one.

Also Considered:
- Toby Imada over Jorge Masvidal (Bellator V)
- Hiroyuki Takaya over Yoshiro Maeda (Dream 9)
- Thierry Quenneville over Doug Evans (XMMA 7)

Best Fighter: Lyoto Machida
When the UFC purchased the WFA and select fighter contracts, including Quinton Jackson and Heath Herring, few dreamt that the crown jewel of that acquisition would have been the enigmatic Lyoto Machida. With a unique style and a very reserved persona, Lyoto seemed to be as much a promotional challenge as tactical challenge. But with back to back dazzling KO victories over undefeated fighters Thiago Silva and Rashad Evans, Lyoto Machida earned himself a UFC title, pound-for-pound consideration, and international stardom. Truly remarkable in such a short amount of time.

Also Considered:
- Mike Brown
- Fedor Emelianenko
- Georges St. Pierre

Comeback Fighter: Michihiro Omigawa
After going 0-3-1 in four fights, including a disastrous 0-2 run in the UFC, Omigawa entered the Sengoku featherweight tournament, playing the well traveled veteran in a field packed with young talent. Showing reinvented stand up skills and an airtight grappling game, Omigawa dispatched two early tournament favorites in L.C. Davis and Nam Phan. Omigawa now finds himself slated for a semifinal bout against the undefeated Marlon Sandro in what could be the tournament’s best fight yet.

Also Considered:
- Cole Escovedo
- Mauricio Rua
- Toby Imada

Breakthrough Fighter: Joe Warren
Joe Warren began the year without an MMA bout or a place in MMA fans’ consciousness. In just 6 months, he has become a star on two continents and serious contender to win the Dream Featherweight Grand Prix. Warren’s first round berth against Chase Beebe drew criticism that a 0-0 fighter could be slated against some of the sport’s best in a high stakes tournament. Two fights later, Warren has pulled upsets over Chase Beebe and Japanese superstar Norifumi “Kid� Yamamoto. Next up for Warren: another impossible bout against Bibiano Fernandes. But why count Warren out a third time?

Also Considered:
- Jose Aldo
- Dan Hardy
- Muhammed Lawal

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