The yearly Fighters Only World MMA Awards have been released for the 14th annual awards.
“We are back to a full-strength awards show this year, that will be our biggest to date,” said
Fighters Only CEO Rob Hewitt via a press release. “Las Vegas will once again be home to the world’s best MMA fighters and celebrity fans who will all come together to celebrate. Growing on previous years, the 2022 event will be free from restrictions and have a greater broadcast reach, making sure our fan-focused show, the ‘Oscars’ of MMA, will pay greater tribute to the sport and its award winners
than ever before.”
The eligibility period for these awards took place between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022, and voting is open now through September 30.
Charles ‘Mask’ Lewis Fighter of the Year
Alexander Volkanovski
Johnny Eblen
Charles Oliveira
Islam Makhachev
Francis Ngannou
Female Fighter of the Year
Julianna Peña
Cris Cyborg
Kayla Harrison
Valentina Shevchenko
Raquel Pennington
Breakthrough Fighter of the Year
Tai Tuivasa
Mateusz Gamrot
Paddy Pimblett
Molly McCann
Johnny Eblen
International Fighter of the Year
Alexander Volkanovski
Roberto Soldic
Mateusz Gamrot
Islam Makhachev
Khamzat Chimaev
Fight of the Year
Jiří Procházka vs. Glover Teixeira – UFC 275
Justin Gaethje vs. Michael Chandler – UFC 268
Alexander Volkanovski vs. Brian Ortega – UFC 266
Khamzat Chimaev vs. Gilbert Burns – UFC 273
Max Holloway vs. Yair Rodriguez – UFC Vegas 42
Knockout of the Year
Michael Chandler (Front Kick) vs. Tony Ferguson – UFC 274
Ignacio Bahamondes (Wheel Kick) vs. Roosevelt Roberts – UFC Vegas 34
Sergio Pettis (Spinning Backfist) vs. Kyoji Horiguchi – Bellator 272
Molly McCann (Spinning Back Elbow) vs. Luana Carolina – UFC Fight Night 204
Roman Faraldo (Flying Knee) vs. Robert Turnquest – Bellator 271
Submission of the Year
Jiří Procházka (Rear-Naked Choke) vs. Glover Teixeira – UFC 275
Stevie Ray (Modified Body Lock) vs. Anthony Pettis – PFL 5
Oliver Enkamp (Inverted Triangle Choke) vs. Mark Lemminger – Bellator 281
Jessica Andrade (Standing Arm Triangle Choke) vs. Amanda Lemos – UFC Vegas 52
Charles Oliveira (Rear-Naked Choke) vs. Dustin Oliveira – UFC 269
Comeback of the Year
Sergio Pettis vs. Kyoji Horiguchi – Bellator 272
Carla Esparza (career)
Clay Guida vs. Leonardo Santos – UFC on ESPN 31
Aljamain Sterling (overcoming intense ridicule & injury)
Chris Curtis (career)
Upset of the Year
Julianna Peña vs. Amanda Nunes – UFC 269
Mariusz Pudzianowski vs. Michał Materla – KSW 70
Matheus Scheffel vs. Bruno Cappelozza – PFL 5
Ben Parrish vs. Christian Edwards – Bellator 266
Seika Izawa vs. Ayaka Hamasaki – RIZIN 33
Best Promotion of the Year
UFC
Bellator
PFL
Cage Warriors
KSW
Leading Man of the Year
Dana White (UFC)
Scott Coker (Bellator)
Peter Murray (PFL)
Graham Boylan (Cage Warriors)
Kerrith Brown (IMMAF)
Referee of the Year
Jason Herzog
Marc Goddard
Mike Beltran
Mark Smith
Keith Peterson
Analyst of the Year
Paul Felder
Michael Bisping
Dan Hardy
Kenny Florian
Dominick Cruz
Personality of the Year
Laura Sanko
Daniel Cormier
Chael Sonnen
Joe Rogan
Jon Anik
Best MMA Programming
UFC Embedded
Dana White Contender Series
The MMA Hour
JRE MMA Show
Morning Kombat
MMA Media Source of the Year
MMA Fighting
MMA Junkie
ESPN
BT Sport
Sherdog
MMA Journalist of the Year
Ariel Helwani
John Morgan
Shaheen Al-Shatti
Aaron Bronsteter
Mike Bohn
Coach of the Year
Eugene Bareman
Eric Nicksick
Mike Brown
Henri Hooft
Diego Lima
Gym of the Year
City Kickboxing
Xtreme Couture
American Top Team
Kill Cliff (formerly Sanford MMA)
Fortis MMA
Trainer of the Year
Phil Daru
Jordan Sullivan
Andrew Wood
Heather Linden
Corey Peacock
Ringcard Girl of the Year
Brittney Palmer
Arianny Celeste
Luciana Andrade
Brooklyn Wren
Chrissy Blair
Fighting Spirit of the Year
Kevin Holland (Bravery – in and out of the cage, helping his community in the face of danger
on several occasions)
Aaron Aby (Heart – surviving cancer and battling cystic fibrosis to become a top contender in
Cage Warriors)
Bryce Mitchell (Charity – dedicating half of his UFC 272 fight purse to help children in
medical need in his native Arkansas, with a special mention for Dana White who matched
Mitchell’s contribution)
Alexander Volkanovski (Determination – demonstrating a champion’s will to overcome
adversity and battling through a seemingly inescapable submission from Brian Ortega)
Robbie Lawler (Compassion vs. Nick Diaz – displaying true respect & genuine care for his
opponent’s wellbeing in life)
World MMA Awards: Full list of nominees announced