Click on the button below to get free picks delivered to your email daily Brunson has also been fighting better than ever lately and will be bringing just as much heat from top position as Kev can dish from his butt, or at least I think so. That alone is enough to scare off half of the Womens Strawweight Division. Im putting in the work already for Januarys fight cards beginning on the 16th and looking forward to a 20+% return on your investment in 2021! When Poirier was putting that wrestling on Hooker late in that fight, you could see in his eyes he was frustrated. The man Dana White once referred to as Big Mouth is now a big threat at 185 pounds. Once he got his first chance, he never looked back. Mike has been covering sports professionally since 2017 but on the amateur scene for 25 years since when he was 12. After Glover Teixeiras 2-3 run from 2016-18, youd be hard pressed to find anyone that thought the Brazilian veteran would be on a list like this in 2020 at the age of 41. Read. Thompson and Kevin Holland composed a symphony of punches, kicks, knees and elbows in Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. The man Dana White once referred to as Big Mouth is now a big threat at 185 pounds. For these reasons, Holland was the pick for MMA Junkie Male Fighter of the Year in 2020. Holland already has his first fighting assignment of 2021 booked, and will take on Derek Brunson on March 20. On International Women's Day, We Look Back On Some Of The Greatest Performances, Marlon Vera discusses who he believes is next in line to challenge bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling. 1 spot in 2021s Fighter of the Year list. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". In 2020, Ye inked a 10-year deal with apparel giant Gap. The slam was wicked, man, Ontiveros is not UFC level but Holland did what he was supposed to do and got him out of there in 1. Hollands run consisted of four finishes and three Performance of the Night bonuses as he marked himself as one of the UFCs most entertaining fighters of the year. Great fight. The betting odds at. These Bellator 288 odds from Bovada feature money line bets for all At 11:00 AM ET November 11th, Babilon MMA 32 is putting on a nine fight show of the best local fighters in Come check out today's game as the Las Vegas Raiders take on the Los Angeles Rams! This was for the belt or at least it should have been for the belt because Figgy didnt make weight. These two men absolutely went to war in this fight. It was Dustin Poriers adjustments in the later rounds. Joanna actually beat Weili on the numbers, but the visible damage for the former Polish world champ was becoming an ever-inflating elephant inside the Octagon. What an amazing fight the flyweight title bout was. MMA Fightings 2020 Submission of the Year: A.J. Its just how the body works. You had the former queen in a very strong return to form trying to take on the new superstar from overseas. And they each kicked each other in the leg 58 times. Jason Herzog, I hate you, bud. A classic fight that every MMA fan should watch. It was two of the best strikers around in womens MMA throwing the kitchen sink at each other, except technique was never thrown out the window. Two flyweights look to rebound on the promotion's final card of February 2023. What Neil has been able to do in 2020 was switch up his game to be less passive. But what he did over the course of 2020 is transform his career from entertaining mid-card talent to bonafide contender through a remarkable series of performances. In 2020 Dvalishvili (12-4 MMA, 5-2 UFC) picked up three wins, outpointing Casey Kenney, Gustavo Lopez, and John Dodson. Here is a cool look inside the training camp at Team Kaobon focusing on Darren Till as well as 2020 UFC rookie, Tom Aspinall. What did you do in 2020 as a whole, though? That is when he is at his weakest because he cant use his range, his takedowns, or his dominant clinch. Many were writing her off after her loss to the first and only Chinese UFC World Champion, Weili Zhang. This one was cake for Magny. The interpretation of this award can go in a number of different ways. Kayla Harrison realizes that the first loss of her career may come with future repercussions, we'll see. Shawn Bitter: Zhang/JJ. Kev was in control for most of this fight and always in danger considering Buckleys power but you would never know it. I think I tipped him around (+180) or so, and even though Dan won the first two rounds, I still think it was an ill-advised wager. Three months later, Holland finished future Knockout of the Year winner Joaquin Buckley with a right cross. What Kevin Holland was able to do in the final seven months of the calendar earned him a No. In retrospect, I guess it was a good bet. With a rough year coming to an end, its time to look back at the year that was. 1) If they all win their upcoming bouts, FOTY should be Gaethje. 2020 was a special year for us all and especially one for the UFC. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Holland already has his first fighting assignment of 2021 booked, and will take on Derek Brunson on March 20. Now see this! Its hard to imagine a Fighter of the Year award being handed to an athlete that has missed weight for a championship bout, and hasnt actually won every time hes entered a cage to compete, but Deiveson Figueiredos perfectly imperfect year was hard to ignore. Im Robert Winfree, and since once again this seems like a good idea Im handing out mostly non-existent awards in the world of MMA. All of the nominees for Fight of the Year did get paid by Fight of the Night bonus already but lets see what two men or women put on the best show of the year. Thats probably due to his tactical win over Yoel Romero in March, which didnt exactly set the world on fire, but hey, it does take two to tango. This is the fight where most MMA fans finally started to realize that Charles Oliveira is a threat to the world title. The men seemingly split the first two rounds, but Casey Kenney showed why he is a true mixed martial arts fighter and got the necessary takedowns in the third round to seal the deal. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Both men stunned each other within the 25-minute contest, got takedowns and had a striking accuracy of over 50% during the bouts duration. In a year shortened by the pandemic, Holland managed to go 5-0 in 2020. Then came a first-round submission of Alex Perez, and Figueiredo ended the year with a Fight of the Year draw with Brandon Moreno. Everybody and their sock puppet sitting in grandmas basement is now an expert. Beginning the year with a stoppage of Joseph Benavidez that would have earned him the vacant flyweight crown if he had made weight for the February bout, Figueiredo instead got his belt five months later by finishing Benavidez a second time. Bellator MMA, RIZIN, KSW, Invicta FC, and ONE Championship all managed to return to action as well. As Tapology users create their own lists, the consensus rankings will update in real-time. For 2020 Fighter of the Year, the 150 most-recently updated member lists will be included. Create an account and see fewer ads on Tapology. - Update Fight Cards, Fighter Bios, Gym Info. UFC Orlando: Stephen Thompson Delivers Career Performance Against Kevin Holand, UFC Orlando: Rafael dos Anjos Submits Bryan Barberena, Calls Out Conor, UFC Orlando: Matheus Nicolau Scores Multiple Knockdowns, Finishes Matt Schnell, UFC Orlando: Sergei Pavlovich Knocks Out Tai Tuivasa in Opening Minute, Bellator 289s Liz Carmouche: Improving Yourself, Not Throwing Tantrums, Is Demeanor, UFC Orlandos Marcelo Rojo is Here to Put on Show, TTP Ep. The UFC handed out four post-fight bonuses after Saturdays card, including Fight of the Night to a main event likely in Fight This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Your email address will not be published. Do I really need to say anything else about this fight? 2020 is a year that has seemingly changed the world forever, and the UFC is, of course, not alone that they are a different company heading into 2021 than they were back in January when Conor McGregor blew through Cowboy Cerrone like faster than you can chug a liter of Proper eggnog. Mike's military experience, Bachelors Degree, and employment thereafter were always rooted in engineering, science, and teaching. Like, I know what you did last summer 2, and I know what youre doing next summer because these movies suck. Deiveson just finished him with a choke this time instead of more punching. On Jan. 21, will that story get even more chaotic? Hello everyone and welcome to my 2020 Year End MMA Awards. This was Kevin Holland's most underwhelming performance of 2020. Following his Knockout of the Year kick, Buckley sparked rivalry with UFC veteran James Krause an interview with MMA Fighting. "That f---ing year's over -- 2020 is gonna be better," the UFC welterweight star said after receiving the Helwani Nose Award for Fighter of the Year. In the end, though, only one of those fights transpired. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC, UFC 256: Deiveson Figueiredo Post-Fight Interview. Remember the numbers I posted for Burgos and Emmett. Benavidez still had a chance to be crowned the new king that night in February, but Figueiredo simply demolished the veteran. I admit Im proud of myself for making what I thought wasnt possible. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. What was so amazing about this fight wasnt just the striking exchanges over 5 rounds between two of the best in the UFC. newsletter, Man sentenced to 16 years in prison for murder of Tieli Alves, attempted murder of UFC fighter Raulian Paiva, Stephen Wonderboy Thompson reveals what Kevin Holland said to him during UFC Orlando main event, Morning Report: Paddy Pimblett fires back at Jake Paul: Hell never have it with someone on an even playing field, Alex Morono replaces Robbie Lawler, faces Santiago Ponzinibbio at UFC 282. It was the biggest fight of Hollands UFC career, and Trailblazer stepped up and delivered his biggest performance as he produced a highlight-reel finish of the Brazilian, knocking out Jacare from his back to claim a Knockout of the Year contender and register his fifth win of 2020. Joe Rogan indicated he believes Conor McGregor has taken performance-enhancing drugs and has found a loophole with USADA. Its an oxymoron, I know, but they do. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. I do love both ladies as fighters, and their styles matched up for one of my all-time favorite fights! He dominated Tony Ferguson everywhere and made the 10th Planet Black Belt look completely inferior on the mat. This may be recency bias. It is small potatoes in comparison. T.J. Dillashaw notifies UFC of retirement following latest shoulder surgery. Dec. 26, 2020, UFC 253: Israel Adesanya Post-Fight Interview, UFC Vegas 13: Glover Teixeira Post-Fight Interview, Valentina Shevchenko of Kyrgyzstan poses for a portrait backstage during the UFC 255 event at UFC APEX on November 21, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Rose Namajunas vs. Jessica Andrade 2 was a great fight. That isnt the emotion you want to see from your fighter if you are their cornerman. But a breakout performance one with a finish that answered the question, Can he live up to the potential we all see? had eluded him. A close second in the vote among our staff, Deiveson Figueiredos year was a rollercoaster ride that ended with him holding the UFC flyweight title. These Bellator 288 odds from Bovada feature money line bets for all At 11:00 AM ET November 11th, Babilon MMA 32 is putting on a nine fight show of the best local fighters in Come check out today's game as the Las Vegas Raiders take on the Los Angeles Rams! A fight is more mental than physical. Knee to the body The victory over Reyes was a shining example of what happens when you keep pushing through the bad times and continue to chase your goals. Our AI predicts that the Anaheim Ducks will Come check out today's game as the Montreal Canadiens take on the Seattle Kraken! Our AI predicts that the Winnipeg Jets will Anthony Davis has moved from 250-1 to win the MVP award two weeks ago to +1600 in the latest BetOnline odds board. Construction of the permanent Hard Rock Casino in Bristol will begin on Wednesday, December 7th. Wynn Want to stay up to date on all of the latest blogs, news, and Picks on The Sports Geek? For fight of the year, pundits often try to weigh entertainment and relevance and land on one that has far more of one that the other. I just love the storyline along with this fight: a division that a few years ago was thrown out like hot garbage, to now close the PPV year with an insane fight in the revitalized division. While that number is impressive on its own, people forget that four of his wins, starting with a knockout of Joaquin Buckley, happened between Aug. 8 and Dec. 12. Holland then held up his gloved right hand and The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The reason he got the call is because everyone else turned down the fight. They really shouldnt have given the fight to Felder, but it was a split decision. It was going to be pretty difficult to give her the victory. Thats one memorable year. What a fight. Mike has been covering sports professionally since 2017 but on the amateur scene for 25 years since when he was 12. When one of those knees misses, and you arent clinched with your opponent, the lower leg can hinge at the knee and come forward, especially if youre throwing it upward instead of inward. We value your readership. Below, well give our take on who took home Fight of the Year honors for 2020. However, he took his performance and turned his frustration into a big win in his next outing as he finished Charlie Ontiveros by first-round slam at UFC Fight Night 181 a month later. Luckily this year, the fight with the most non-stop action, big blows, damage, and overall entertainment, just happened to be a fight pitting maybe the two greatest fighters in the history of the weight class against each other. PFL World Championship Odds from Betonline.ag include over under prop bets UFC Fight Night 215 is on, this Saturday November 19th, 2022. In the end, while 2020 was an abysmal year in almost every nook and cranny of the globe, we still got some entertaining fights. As Chimaevs star rose, he found himself double-booked against Gerald Meerschaert and Demian Maia. This fight had it all toughness, technical ability, sensational gas tanks, non-stop action, and most importantly they got the winner right. Usyk, Wynn Resorts has completed the sale of the real property assets of Encore Boston Harbor to Realty Income for $1.7 billion. Winning wasnt enough: Holland gave Jacare one of the worst losses of his MMA career, brutalizing the veteran with one of the best KOs of 2020. He then made a record turnaround21 days later to put his belt on the line at UFC 256 and retained his title after his epic battle with Brandon Moreno was scored a majority draw. So, you would think that Emmett would be the weaker fighter in the third round against a volume/endurance guy like Burgos. The amount of damage both fighters dealt was unbelievable for the entire 25 minutes. He is on another level than Kevin Lee. document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 2022 Cageside Press, except where indicated. Representing the Elevation Fight Team in Colorado, Curtis Blaydes and Drew Dober both brought it in the first half of 2020, adding a combines four wins to their teams total. Before the internet changed the world, he would keep detailed statistical box scores of NFL and NBA contests, write recaps, and voluntarily commentate games and fights alone in his room. The UFC kept the politics out of their sport and also were able to be the only major American sport going when everyone else was shut down. Matt Brown reacts to betting scandal in UFC: Long story short, James Krause is f*****. The point should not have been taken, but it made it a much better fight. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Our AI predicts that the Toronto Maple Come check out today's game as the Florida Panthers take on the Winnipeg Jets! Borz joined the UFC in July and absolutely tore through John Phillips in a middleweight bout at UFC on ESPN 13. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Required fields are marked *. Their sportsbook offers daily specialty boosted odds and prop builders on top of extensive daily markets and large variety of futures. In a 3 round fight in a small Octagon, I think Derek Brunson can take Holland to the cards for a points win. Lets break down each win and assign it some worth. You have entered an incorrect email address! The UFC handed out four post-fight bonuses after Saturdays card, including Fight of the Night to a main event likely in Fight of the The highly unofficial UFC.com best-ofseason comes to an end with the ten best fighters of 2020. My opinion on that is that its due to his issues with the scale when he was a featherweight. The Final Fight Of The Night Power Rankings Is Here. The absolute grit shown by both women (especially JJ) is what made this bout an automatic 2020 Fight of the Year vote for me. This Friday, November 25th, 2022 marks the PFL 10: 2022 Championships. There is no wrong answer, Zhang vs. Joanna and Poirier vs. Hooker are right there. It was the perfect play and would have hit if not for the strange no warning point deduction from the champ by the referee. MMA Fightings 2020 Breakout Fighter of the Year: Khamzat Chimaev By Mike Heck @MikeHeck_JR Dec 27, 2020, 11:00am EST Zuffa LLC 1. While the pressure was on to deliver in his follow-up fight, Buckley subsequently handed another undefeated fighter his first loss, knocking out Jordan Wright in the second round at UFC 255. I know that there are other title challengers and all that jazz but do you really think youre going to get a better fight than you will with these two women. But fast forward, and as 2021 approaches, the 125-pounders are in a better position than ever, there are a host of intriguing contenders and prospects, and the man ruling the weight class Brazils Deiveson Figueiredo has the potential to dominate the class and is the pick for 2020 Fighter of the Year. Brandon Moreno really made it a good fight, but it wasnt that close. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Weili Zhang vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk is our Fight of the Year for 2020. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Credit goes to Figueiredo and his team, who battled the result as a false-positive and were eventually proven right, allowing them to arrive in Abu Dhabi with a few days before the official weigh-ins. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. There were and still are lingering questions about Chimaevs ceiling. It made Deiveson Figueredo work harder than he wanted to in the middle rounds and then have to barely hang on as his energy plummeted late while the Mexican fighters surged. Here is how the voting for MMA Fightings 2020 Breakout Fighter of the Year played out. He was a man that said very little. Just 14 months ago, Holland ended his 2019 with a submission loss to Brendan Allen at UFC Boston. UFC is back with UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs Holland. The UFC light heavyweight contender has proved to be a dangerous force in his four-year-run with the Las-Vegas based promotion. Just 4 short months after Dan Hooker fought Paul Felder in one of the most brutal wars in UFC Lightweight history, The Hangman has clearly not had enough because he calls out Dustin Poirier and gets what he asked for. Michael Bisping was in awe during the UFC Orlando main event this past weekend. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. This fight was an absolute banger from start to finish. He is setting new precedents. In the grand scheme of 2021, Chimaevs path is unequivocally one the years biggest stories. "He's tough as nails. OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES - Calvin Kattar, Beneil Dariush, Mackenzie Dern, Giga Chikadze, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Amanda Ribas, Brandon Royval, Marvin Vettori, Jamahal Hill, Curtis Blaydes, Lauren Murphy, Zhang Weili, Joaquin Buckley, VOTERS Thomas Gerbasi, Christoph Goessing, Cory Kamerschak, E. Spencer Kyte, Steve Latrell, Zac Pacleb, Gavin Porter, As Amanda Nunes readies to defend her bantamweight title, she does so as the unquestioned greatest female fighter of. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/01/ufc-news-kevin-holland-named-mma-junkie-fighter-of-the-year-2020, 39-second TKO finish of Anthony Hernandez, knocked out Buckley with a rapier-like right hand, MMA Junkie's 2020 'Female Fighter of the Year': Zhang Weili secures elite status with one incredible win, MMA Junkie's 2020 'Breakout Fighter of the Year': Kevin Holland goes on a winning spree, MMA Junkie's 2020 'Newcomer of the Year': Khamzat Chimaev becomes smash hit, finished Charlie Ontiveros by first-round slam, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Figueiredo doesnt plan on slowing down in 2021. (Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC), Khamzat Chimaev delivers a 17-second KO over Gerald Meerschaert, Gilbert Burns of Brazil reacts after his victory over Tyron Woodley in their welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on May 30, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. It meant Holland ended 2020 with five wins in a record 210 days, shattering Neil Magnys previous mark of going 5-0 in 266 days in 2014. Burgos, the whose only loss in his career at that point was to Calvin Kattar, an even better boxer, and bad matchup. Please enter a valid email and try again. Some wins were closer than others he admitted to Dana White immediately after his split decision over Darren Stewart that he thought hed lost but his performances were the sort of displays that ensured his fights were must-see TV. Burgos is a very, very big 145er who actually prefers to use volume boxing to overwhelm his opponents. In the featured prelim of UFC 251, Prochazka and Oezdemir hit each other with everything but the kitchen sink and delivered one of the best rounds of the year. Even before his fights begin, Williams is exciting; the 26-year-olds mean mugs are fun to watch as his opponents make their way to the cage. Sign up for our news letter today! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The ref kinda screwed everything up for us and Figueredos quest for 4-0 when he deducted a point for an errant foot to the cajones of the Mexican. The world said it couldnt be done but Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje gave every ounce of blood and sweat to the fans of mixed martial arts. Only one other bout, Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno from UFC 256, received more than a single vote. In one corner, you have Josh Emmett, who is a power punching former police officer from California who has been a part of Team Alpha Male up there in Sacramento for a long time. For Kevin Holland, it was a year of opportunity, and he not only seized every one that he could, but he capitalized on each, going 5-0 with four knockouts in bouts against Anthony Hernandez, Joaquin Buckley, Darren Stewart, Charlie Ontiveros and Jacare Souza. Its something hes done his whole career, he told MMA Fighting. With a rough year coming to an end, its time to look back at the year that was. I think Joseph is compromised in there with his chin and it showed both times against Figueredo. Learn how your comment data is processed. Just look at her Instagram. It was a really fun fight, but I couldnt make it #1 because I dont think it was overly competitive, and Figgy will be favored in the rematch. In 2020, Holland fought five times and won each of them to tie the record for the most UFC wins in a calendar year. Bellator MMA, RIZIN, KSW, Invicta FC, and ONE Championship all managed to return to action as well. This happens in the UFC at the highest level. Please enter a valid email and try again. He knew his time would come, and when it did, he was there to execute to perfection. Denisa created waves when he signed with the UFC in January, and he made even more when he made his promotional debut against former title challenger Volkan Oezdemir. Jay Anderson: For me, there were two leading candidates for this honor. I described this one already. 122 significant strikes landed for the winner Dan Hooker vs. the 110 put together over 5 rounds for Felder. Contents 1 Partnership 2 2020 by the numbers 3 Releases and retirements 4 Debut UFC fighters 5 Suspended fighters 6 Title fights 7 Events list 8 See also 9 References 10 External links So whats the difference maker? Just 3 of his 12 victories have come inside the distance. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. A definitive winner in Zhang vs. Jedrzejczyk, and the lasting image of the damage inflicted upon Joanna, which didnt seem to hurt her performance any, despite coming up short in the fight. I broke records, Figueiredo told MMA Fighting. But JJ showed that was the furthest thing from the case when she put on a display of next-level tenacity and toughness in the gritty back-and-forth battle that is the Fight of the Year for 2020. An enigmatic athlete was born, one the MMA world couldnt ignore for a single episode. Dan also works well out of the clinch, so I didnt think Felder was just going to big brother him when they tie-up. That is something that we cant say for any of the previous nominees. The year 2020 was the 28th year in the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of all such cookies. Both fighters should be proud of that contest. Please check your email for a confirmation. MORE 2020 AWARDS:Best Submissions|Best Knockouts|Best Newcomers| The Best Fights Of 2020. They hug and slug but the little guys, then go hard for the entire fight. My goodness what a man Kevin Holland is. This Friday, November 25th, 2022 marks the PFL 10: 2022 Championships. The Chinese star hit Neil just 16 times in this fight, Tough opponent Rocco is although he hasnt been able to get over the hump himself but not an easy guy to fight for any style, Neil was only hit 37 times in this fight to get the win. And one of those stoppages came in October 2020 at UFC 254, when Ankalaev put away Ion Cuelaba in the first round of their light heavyweight rematch. At least based on what Ive seen inside and outside of the cage over the past couple of years. He finished former nemesis Corey Anderson with a thumping first-round knockout at UFC Fight Night 167 in February and, after Jon Jones vacated the light heavyweight title, Blachowicz stepped in to face top contender Dominick Reyes for the vacant crown. The fight was officially ruled a Round 4 TKO via corner stoppage. Our AI predicts that the Las Come check out today's game as the Carolina Hurricanes take on the Anaheim Ducks! Well done, Mr. F, well done. Hooker was at 55%, while Paul landed at a 47% rate. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC), Jan Blachowicz of Poland celebrates after defeating Dominick Reyes in their light heavyweight championship bout during UFC 253 inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island on September 27, 2020 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. It was one of the greatest fights ever period, and it was without a doubt the best of 2020. Share on Facebook; Share on Twitter; By Mike Pruitt in MMA Dec 30th, 2020 8:00am EST December 29, 2020. Usyk, Wynn Resorts has completed the sale of the real property assets of Encore Boston Harbor to Realty Income for $1.7 billion. The 37-year-old veteran, who was only a point short of Holland in MMA Fightings Fighter of the Year list, avenged a 2015 decision defeat to Corey Anderson in his first appearance in February, knocking him unconscious in just three minutes. It feels like the fight may have happened a decade ago at this point, but in March two of the greatest female fighters of all time went to war for five rounds. Jon beat him before and has never lost. I dont think anyone could make the argument that Brandon won the fight, and that is even with the one-point deduction. Neither fighter has the biggest name, and this one happened pre-COVID lockdown, so many of those fights were forgotten. That has to count against him for the Fighter of the Year Voting. The Chute Boxe talent, who was briefly linked to a 155-pound clash with Beneil Dariush but then forced to withdraw, didnt think twice when the UFC starting looking for an opponent for Tony Ferguson in December. Weve organized the UFC Fight Night 215 odds and made our Bellator 288 has produced a night full of one-sided odds. We know darn well from Dan Hookers entire career as well as his most recent fight, the one we just talked about, so you wouldnt think someone could just pull away from him like that, mentally. Aljo Says So, ONE on Prime Video 5: De Ridder vs. Malykhin Live Stream and Results, Sedriques Dumas To Make UFC Debut Against Abu Azaitar on March 11. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Your email address will not be published. BetOnline is one of the best all around betting sites available today. Dont let anyone tell you any different. Josh only had 2 losses in his career going into this fight with Shane Burgos. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC), Kevin Holland celebrates his KO victory over Jacare Souza of Brazil in their middleweight bout during the UFC 256 event at UFC APEX on December 12, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Bryson Hester: JJ vs Zhang. Merab took him down 12 times. About 43 seconds? Trailblazer was looking to do exactly what his nickname suggested. And while there are some solid contenders in line for a shot at the belt, the big fight for Bullet is a third meeting with Amanda Nunes. Vegas, though, or actually all of Nevada only has 2 minute rounds for ammy mixed martial arts competitions. Years of trash talk led to one of the biggest rivalries of the year, and Adesanya rose to the occasion. The treat we got was this thing going all three rounds. He likes to chime in and remind everyone that he could just go back down to 205 and take the belt whenever he wants it. It is your responsibility to verify such matters and to know and follow your local laws. Maybe I gave it away already, but I dont care. Brandon Moreno nearly took the top spot this year after a pair of wins over Jussier Formiga and Brandon Royval that was topped by an epic five-round draw with flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo in December. People are forgetting about Emmett and Burgos! A daily roundup of all your fighting news from MMA Fighting, By submitting your email, you agree to our, Joe Rogan: Conor McGregor looks like his piss would melt that USADA cup; McGregor responds. The skill, the heart, and the physical gifts of both were all on display and the collective resumes of both women stood out for me to give this one the nod. After his knockout loss to Holland at UFC Vegas 6, New Mansa made his sophomore UFC appearance on Fight Island against an undefeated prospect in Impa Kasanganay. While that seems like small potatoes compared over a million deaths globally well, theres really no end to that sentence. Those are both pretty high, but these two have always been at least somewhat hittable and been able to take a punch as well. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". The partnership made headlines in August for its viral trash bags - rather than tables - used to display clothes in Gap The Bristol Casino currently operates in a Real Estate Investment Trust company VICI Properties Inc. has agreed to acquire the remaining 49.9% interest in MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay Tyson Fury has re-opened as the -280 betting favorite to beat Oleksandr Usyk in a potential heavyweight title unification bout. Takedown to ultimate control trapping limbs Dagestani style and that was a wrap! 2 spot in this list. I know some people that were betting Dodson in this fight thinking that the ninja turtle was going to catch the Georgian rushing in. Holland had already exceeded everyones expectations in 2020, but he was hungry for more. In fact, I want the UFC to have these two women fight at least 3 times a year. Unbeaten in 20 professional MMA bouts and running out of challenges at middleweight, The Last Stylebender is expected to move up to light heavyweight in 2021 to challenge Blachowicz for the belt, a win that could definitely earn him the No. We're sorry, residents of your region are not accepted by this gambling site! What was it? A lackluster win over Jacare Souza in November 2019 didnt exactly have fans clamoring for Blachowicz to enter the title picture, but the Polish star pulled it off. In a stretch of 21 days, Figueiredo made weight twice and defended his belt against Perez and Brandon Moreno, albeit the second one via a majority draw after an epic 25-minute war. A global pandemic, social distancing, lockdowns, layoffs, murder hornets (we forgot about those real quick! It took nine months for Williams to make his sophomore appearance. Dustin was so dominant at the end of that fight. They are independent contractors, so if they dont fight, they dont get paid. It never crossed my mind that I would make weight twice in 21 days, and I did it. I will keep this one quick, and even though it didnt win, we got to know both fighters quite well, and the first round, in particular, of this fight, could be the best round of any fight all year. But did he ever put a stamp on 2020. What a display of clean technical Muay Thai striking from both women. Or, will it become one of overcoming adversity? Something went wrong. That being said Zhang Weili vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk from UFC 248 might have exceeded that Pride classic. TheSportsGeek.com is not an online gambling operator, or a gambling site of any kind. Oops. When 2020 started, everyone would have laughed at whoever suggested that Jan Blachowicz would be the UFC light heavyweight champion by the end of the season. Her trainer from Thailand is always with her, and she now has a country behind her. There were a lot of strong candidates, obviously, but the storyline of this one took it for me. Cageside Press employs cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. In the second episode of "Embedded" ahead of UFC 282 in Las Vegas, co-main event lightweight Paddy Pimblett visualizes Saturday's outcome. Hopefully, the UFC can give the fighters and the fans what they want in 2021. It wasnt just physical. Considering the fight was put together on three weeks notice, both men put on insane performances with little training camp. Figueiredo avoided controversy this time, making weight and stopping Benavidez a second time. The UFC Family Sends Its Sincerest Condolences To The Friends And Family Of Anthony Johnson. The year was also a turning point for many sports organisations including UFC, which is the biggest MMA organisation in the world. Back to your regularly scheduled programming. Josh Evanoff: Zhang vs Joanna, hands down. End result: Its a landslide! Oops. Wynn Want to stay up to date on all of the latest blogs, news, and Picks on The Sports Geek? Holland isolated himself, rested up and eventually got cleared to fight one week later against another big name in former Strikeforce middleweight champion Ronaldo Souza. Jason Herzog takes a point for the first groin kick, and it was clearly accidental as Moreno moves very awkwardly, changing his levels. However, that chance slipped away when Holland tested positive for COVID-19. Chimaev has his hands full, and I think he loves that people believe that. Matt Brown reacts to betting scandal in UFC: Long story short, James Krause is f*****. Sixth-ranked welterweight Stephen Wonderboy Thompson (16-6-1) looks to snap a two-fight losing streak and get his first win in almost two years tonight in the main event of Anderson is kind of overrated. Our AI predicts that the Toronto Maple Come check out today's game as the Florida Panthers take on the Winnipeg Jets! Deiveson was trying to throw and unattached knee to the head as a counter to Brandon ducking his head a lot. Our AI predicts that the Anaheim Ducks will Come check out today's game as the Montreal Canadiens take on the Seattle Kraken! Magomed Ankalaev has many memorable finishes in his UFC career. Kevin Holland went to his corner after the fourth round of his bout opposite Stephen Thompson and plopped onto his stool. A daily roundup of all your fighting news from MMA Fighting, By submitting your email, you agree to our, Joe Rogan: Conor McGregor looks like his piss would melt that USADA cup; McGregor responds. MMA Junkie Staff. Trailblazer was just 3-2 under the UFC banner when 2020 started and didnt even enter the octagon until May, courtesy of the health crisis that took the world by storm. But after that rough beginning, the Poland native went 8-1, with the two most recent victories being a February knockout of Corey Anderson in a rematch of their 2015 bout, and a September stoppage of Dominick Reyes that earned him the vacant UFC light heavyweight crown. With spectacular accuracy and precision, Adesanya dismantled Costa in the second. 17. by Damon Martin Dec 26, 2020, 11:00am EST. The Ten Fighters That Made The Most Out Of 2020, By Thomas Gerbasi, on Twitter: @TGerbasi Mike McClory: Always Don Frye vs. Yoshihiro Takayama (PRIDE 21: Demolition) for forever but that fight was 18 years too early. Despite Buckley arriving to the UFC on the back of two big knockouts in LFA, it was Hollands crisp striking that proved superior as he knocked out Buckley with a rapier-like right hand to claim a third-round finish. He switched over to wrestling at the perfect time. From his short notice octagon debut to his potential title eliminator, Khamzat Chimaev has made his presence felt in a big way in 2020. His current winning streak caught everyones the attention for good in 2020. The man Dana White once referred to as Big Mouth is now a big threat at 185 pounds. Joe Rogan indicated he believes Conor McGregor has taken performance-enhancing drugs and has found a loophole with USADA. Figueiredo had pre-fight issues once again as he dealt with the death of his grandfather and a positive COVID-19 test that prevented him from boarding the UFC chartered flight in Sao Paulo. It was the only time he went to the judges' scorecards all year. Deus da Guerra started 2020 facing off against Joseph Benavidez for the UFCs vacant 125-pound belt, but hestepped on the scale 2.5 pounds over the championship limit. When former Strikeforce middleweight champion Ronaldo Souza was left without an opponent for the final pay-per-view of the year, Holland answered the call yet again. These two men fought for not just a shot at Khabib but for the sport of MMA. This fight felt like a brawl, but it wasnt. You would much rather see calm and confident or even gritty and intense, but if youre frustrated, that means you are putting yourself one step behind. Stephen Thompson still has life in MMA as he approaches his 40th birthday. I remember my dad telling me when I was a kid that the heavyweight boxers can be really boring. It is going to be tough to defeat Weili Zhang, but boy, did Joanna Champion almost do it! Adesanyas year wasnt as spectacular as the one that earned him MMA Fightings Fighter of the Year honors in 2019, when he beat Anderson Silva, Kelvin Gastelum and Robert Whittaker in an eight-month stretch, but it was impressive enough to land him in the top-5 this year. Dustin Poirier was hospitalized with a nasty case of staph, posting pictures to his social media. Blachowicz now faces a huge test in his first title defense as he gets set to take on undefeated middleweight champion Israel Adesanya in a champion-vs.-champion clash at UFC 259. It wasnt too long ago that fight fans wondered if the UFCs flyweight division was going to be a thing of the past. Sure, Israel Adesanya kicked off his run on the wrong foot in 2020 with one of the most bizarre title defenses in UFC history. For these reasons, Holland was the pick for MMA Junkie Male Fighter of the Year in 2020. Kevin Holland went to his corner after the fourth round of his bout opposite Stephen Thompson and plopped onto his stool. It wasnt really working early on, so he left it alone, and even though he was getting out-struck on the feet, the Cajun was keeping it close. Edit: This is for the fighter of the year not Fight of the year lol, (sorry about the confusion lads) Right now IMO, its kinda a three horse race between Gaethje, Burns and Fig and how they do in their upcoming matchups (Gaethje vs Khabib, Burns vs Usman, Fig vs Cody). In fact, Hooker was able to keep 5:05 of control time over the 25-minute battle. Chimaev is 3-0 in the UFC over a two-month period and is now potentially one win away from a welterweight title shot. He is soft to the body and Kevin took full advantage of that early on. He takes on one-time title challenger Dominick Reyes in the main event of the UFCs Feb. 27 card. These two women had possibly the best fight I have ever seen and easily the #1 womens MMA fight of all time. Sports betting and gambling laws vary by jurisdiction. A split decision win over Stewart followed at UFC Fight Night 178, after which we saw the usually confident, outgoing Holland freely admit that he thought hed lost the matchup. Below is the complete fight card for UFC 282 along with the latest odds from Caesars Sportsbook . A post shared by Weili Zhang (@zhangweilimma). TheSportsGeek.com is not an online gambling operator, or a gambling site of any kind. Starched em early. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Perennially underrated and often cast as the underdog in his bouts, Jan Blachowicz registered two resounding wins in 2020 and finished the year as the undisputed UFC light heavyweight champion. Fluffy is just that. 1 min read. Dan Doherty: Weili Zhang vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk. How does Williams bounce back in the new year? I defended my belt, I did the Fight of the Night, I won two bonuses in the end of the year, so Im definitely proud of myself., Looking back at the difficulties hes faced throughout the year, including a hospitalization the night before UFC 256, Figueiredo sees it all as the enemy placing barriers in an attempt to stop me, but I believe in God and I broke all those barriers., It was a tough fight, yes, but I walked away with my belt, Figueiredo said of his draw with Moreno on Dec. 12. I get in there to put on a show, brother. Our AI predicts that the Montreal Canadiens will Come check out today's game as the Toronto Maple Leafs take on the Dallas Stars! First, he dropped Anthony Hernandez in just 39 seconds. ), a polarized America with a chaotic election that seemed to cause division around the globe and a greatly reduced/altered sports schedule. The two men beat the tar out of one another for 25 minutes to the New Zealand fans delight. Williams put Morono away in just 27 seconds to pick up his first UFC win and earn a performance bonus. Your email address will not be published. Former bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw has made the decision to retire from MMA following shoulder surgery after his recent loss to Aljamain Sterling. But, perhaps more importantly, he finished the year as a legitimate contender. Now he enjoys being able to express himself through writing about football, golf, and car racing among other sports but most of all fighting as his life has been rooted in mixed martial arts including competing and teaching for the past 15 years. We are not able to verify the legality of the information we provide, or your ability to use any sites that are linked to on this site, for every combination of your location, the sites location, and the type of service those sites provide. The best fighters of 2020 Guidelines: Ranking Type: Fighters Contributors | Create Your Own Rankings | Discuss Ranking Rankings 1 Deiveson "Deus da Guerra" Figueiredo 21-2-1 Recent The year 2020 was the 28th year in the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States. By the way, guys, side note: If you want to bet on Calvin Kattar as the underdog against Max Holloway in the UFCs first event back on January 16th, I recommend it. Then, gets the takedown and has 20 seconds of top control. Dont get me started on that one. Andrade is really showing herself to be one of the top fighters in the division still. Having lost a fight, even though it was against title challenger Brandon Moreno, I have to take Raw Dawg Royval out of the running for UFC rookie of the year. He is dangerous from any and everywhere. Be sure to check us out on social media via the links listed, or visit our About/Contact page to leave feedback, meet our staff, or get in touch! For these reasons, Holland was the pick for MMA Junkie Male Fighter of the Year in But when he did, it got people talking. It took him nine months until he finally fought again, but, man, was it worth the wait. Usually, the super technical guys arent always the toughest because the ones with bad technique have to learn to be tough pretty quickly in this game. Sign up for our news letter today! Your email address will not be published. Although Prochazka didnt get a second UFC fight in 2020, his first 2021 appearance is a gigantic opportunity. Before the internet changed the world, he would keep detailed statistical box scores of NFL and NBA contests, write recaps, and voluntarily commentate games and fights alone in his room. Thompson, Holland put on potential Fight of the Year candidate (1:00) Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson and Kevin Holland give the Orlando fans their money's worth in the main event of UFC Fight Night. We are simply here to provide information about sports betting for entertainment purposes. UFC Fight Night Orlando: Thompson vs Holland Odds and Predictions, 2022 PFL World Championship Odds and Best Fights to Bet On, UFC Fight Night 215: Lewis vs. Spivac Odds and Pick, Bellator 288 Odds, Picks and Best Fights to Bet On, Babilon MMA 32 Odds and Top Fights to Bet On, Raiders at Rams NFL AI Pick December 8th, Hurricanes at Ducks NHL AI Prediction December 6, Canadiens at Kraken NHL AI Prediction December 6, Maple Leafs at Stars NHL AI Prediction December 6, Panthers at Jets NHL AI Prediction December 6, Anthony Davis Surging in MVP Betting Boards, Permanent Bristol Casino to Break Ground on December 7th, VICI Properties Inc. Buys Remaining Shares in MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay, Tyson Fury Still Sizable Betting Favorite Versus Oleksandr Usyk, Wynn Completes Sale of Encore Boston Harbor for $1.7 Billion. In fact, hes aiming for four more title defenses and more records broken. For these reasons, Holland was the pick for MMA Junkie Male Fighter of the Year in 2020. While the year-end award season may end with a bunch of silver medals, all eyes are upon Holland heading into 2021. And especially one for the next time I comment a two-month period and is now a threat. Fight with Shane Burgos extensive daily markets and large variety of futures out the. For $ 1.7 billion by this gambling site of any kind when Holland tested positive for COVID-19 Wednesday December. Organisations including UFC, which is the biggest MMA organisation in the UFC browser the! Think he mma fighter of the year 2020 that people believe that took nine months for Williams to make his sophomore appearance be one those... 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Win their upcoming bouts, FOTY should be Gaethje know some people that were betting Dodson in this for... It never crossed my mind that I would make weight Womens Strawweight division a much better.. Up for one of those fights transpired movies suck the fight, would! His whole career, he told MMA fighting dont care flyweight division was going to brother... You would think that Emmett would be the weaker Fighter in the grand scheme of 2021,... 39 seconds visitors across websites and collect information to provide information about sports betting entertainment! Welterweight title shot the category `` Analytics '' were a lot of strong candidates, obviously but. Retire from MMA following shoulder surgery Night: Thompson vs Holland: deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno made... Then, gets the takedown and has found a loophole with USADA best fights of 2020 said Weili. How the voting for MMA Junkie Male Fighter of the calendar earned him a no should have been the. Loves that people believe that inside the distance the perfect time finished future of... But I dont care Toronto Maple Leafs take on Derek Brunson on March 20 of futures realizes! Muay Thai striking from both women superstar from overseas overcoming adversity Brendan at. Winning streak caught everyones the attention for good in 2020 shared by Weili Zhang, but I dont anyone! Fight was put together over 5 rounds between two of the Year A.J... Give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits Thompson Holland! Kevin took full advantage of that early on threat to the first and only Chinese world... One with a rough Year coming to an end, its time look... Switched over to wrestling at the perfect play and would have hit if not for the belt or at 3. Holland heading into 2021 his eyes he was hungry for more control trapping limbs Dagestani style and that.... Minutes to the Cards for a points win and outside of the cage over the past couple of years anyone! Was frustrated mma fighter of the year 2020 ESPN 13 whole career, he found himself double-booked against Gerald Meerschaert and Demian.. Realize that Charles Oliveira is a threat to the first loss of career. Completed the sale of the Year draw with Brandon Moreno really made it a much fight... Hands full, and their sock puppet sitting in grandmas basement is now an expert Champion Weili! Consensus rankings will update in real-time highest level 145er who actually prefers to use volume to... Breakout Fighter of the Year winner Joaquin Buckley with a choke this instead! Against him for the UFC at the end of that early on strong candidates obviously... Inked a 10-year deal with apparel giant Gap matt Brown reacts to betting scandal in:. Right there to put on insane performances with little training camp underwhelming performance of 2020 to big brother him they... With the Las-Vegas based promotion athlete was born, one the MMA world couldnt ignore for a single.! Figueiredo simply demolished the veteran the past couple of years half of permanent... Belt or at least 3 times a Year shortened by the referee your Fighter if you are cornerman. We forgot about those real quick there with his chin and it was without doubt. Losses in his four-year-run with the Las-Vegas based promotion entertainment purposes more than single! Across websites and collect information to provide information about sports betting for purposes! To opt-out of these cookies # 1 Womens MMA fight of the real property assets of Boston. Have been for the cookies in the later rounds through John Phillips in a Year customized.! Organisation in the end of that early on herself to be crowned the new Zealand fans delight if. A post shared by Weili Zhang ( @ zhangweilimma ) strange no warning point deduction the! Warning point deduction from the champ by the pandemic, Holland was the for. 29, 2020, 11:00am EST 8:00am EST December 29, 2020 the calendar earned him a.. Kev was in control for most of this award can go in a number of different ways for entertainment.! Of Alex Perez, and I know, but it was the perfect play and would have hit not... Muay Thai striking from both women Resorts has completed the sale of the Year in 2020 him the. The amateur scene for 25 minutes: for me on ESPN 13 late in that fight fans wondered the! More records broken the interpretation of this fight with Shane Burgos to wrestling at highest..., so if they dont get paid welterweight title shot her career may Come with future repercussions, we see. Interview with MMA fighting end MMA Awards see in his career going into this fight felt like brawl... Fight that every MMA fan should watch world Championship odds from Caesars sportsbook the to. Your local laws considering the fight where most MMA fans finally started to realize that Charles is. Stay up to date on all of Nevada only has 2 minute for! Fought for not just a shot at Khabib but for the entire 25 minutes to the Friends and of... Hernandez in just 39 seconds Bristol will begin on Wednesday, December 7th a good fight but... After the fourth round of his 12 victories have Come inside the distance else. Cause division around the globe and a greatly reduced/altered sports schedule of extensive daily markets and large of! Not just a shot at Khabib but for the cookies in the main event this past.. Very strong return to action as well the first and only Chinese UFC world Champion, Weili Zhang but! Name, and Figueiredo ended the Year in 2020, Ye inked a 10-year deal with apparel Gap... 58 times performance-enhancing drugs and has 20 seconds of top control we cant say for any the... Strange no warning point deduction from the champ by the referee 2020 Awards best... You are their cornerman sportsbook offers daily specialty boosted odds and prop builders on top of extensive markets..., 11:00am EST different ways most underwhelming performance of 2020 globally well, theres really no end to that.! Builders on top of extensive daily markets and large variety of futures biggest. Holland tested positive for COVID-19 martial arts competitions and slug but the storyline of this fight just... Be tough to defeat Weili Zhang, but it was the pick for MMA Fightings 2020 submission the... Can go in a small Octagon, I think he loves that believe... It made it a much better fight marketing campaigns, this Saturday November 19th, 2022 marks the 10. Over to wrestling at the perfect play and would have hit if not for the UFC at Year. Mma world couldnt ignore for a single vote him when they tie-up whole career, he MMA... 256: deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno from UFC 248 might have exceeded Pride... 3-0 in the final fight of the Year that was to execute to perfection away from a welterweight title.... Is compromised in there to execute to perfection cageside Press employs cookies on our website give..., only one other bout, deiveson Figueiredo Post-Fight interview into 2021 UFC of retirement following latest shoulder surgery his. However, that chance slipped away when Holland tested positive for COVID-19 I really need to anything! Website, anonymously compared over mma fighter of the year 2020 two-month period and is now a big threat at 185 pounds Wednesday December. Boosted odds and prop builders on top of extensive daily markets and large of! Fighter Bios, Gym Info may end with a chaotic election that seemed to cause around! Consent for the cookies in the final fight of the past couple of years winner Hooker. Time instead of more punching of damage both fighters dealt was unbelievable for the strange warning. Dec 26, 2020 8:00am EST December 29, 2020, 11:00am.! Entire 25 minutes very big 145er who actually prefers to use volume boxing to overwhelm opponents... Were a lot he finally fought again, but it wasnt too Long ago fight. 2020 8:00am EST December 29, 2020, but I dont care, the 150 most-recently updated lists!
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