MMA’s Biggest Night! 2023 World MMA Awards Celebrates 15 Years with Star-Studded Nominations
The World MMA Awards, now in its fifteenth year, is gearing up for an electrifying event to honor the best of the sport’s athletes, coaches, and personalities. With a rich history of celebrating excellence in mixed martial arts, the awards have become a prestigious recognition within the MMA community.
2023 World MMA Awards
This year’s nominations are nothing short of spectacular, with fierce competitors vying for the coveted Charles ‘Mask’ Lewis Fighter of the Year award. Among the contenders are Leon Edwards, Aljamain Sterling, Israel Adesanya, Islam Makhachev, and Sadibou Sy, all showcasing their exceptional talents in the octagon.
The Female Fighter of the Year category is equally competitive, featuring top-notch contenders like Alexa Grasso, Amanda Nunes, Larissa Pacheco, Seika Izawa, and Liz Carmouche. These formidable women have proven their prowess and determination inside the cage, making this award an intense battle.
The Breakthrough Fighter of the Year nominees are also set to impress, with rising stars Dricus Du Plessis, Alex Pereira, Ilia Topuria, Sergei Pavlovich, and Alexa Grasso all displaying outstanding performances and making their mark in the MMA world.
Internationally, fighters have been pushing boundaries, and the International Fighter of the Year nominees exemplify the global reach of the sport. Among them are Leon Edwards, Israel Adesanya, Dricus Du Plessis, Sergei Pavlovich, and Sadibou Sy, showcasing MMA’s diverse talent pool.
For the prestigious Fight of the Year award, fans will have a tough choice with thrilling bouts such as Justin Gaethje vs. Rafael Fiziev, Dustin Poirier vs. Michael Chandler, and Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski, among others, all leaving audiences on the edge of their seats.
In the Knockout of the Year and Submission of the Year categories, jaw-dropping moments take center stage as fighters like Leon Edwards, Israel Adesanya, Sadibou Sy, and Alexa Grasso delivered unforgettable moments of sheer brilliance.
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Other awards, including Comeback of the Year, Upset of the Year, and various accolades for coaches, trainers, and media personalities, will ensure a night of celebration and recognition for all those who make MMA what it is today.
Mark your calendars for the MMA event of the year, as the World MMA Awards showcases the very best in the sport, honoring those who have dedicated their hearts and souls to the world of mixed martial arts. Get ready to witness history in the making on this unforgettable fifteenth anniversary.
Check out all the nominations below
Sure! Here are the categories and nominations listed one below the other, numbered for easy reference:
Charles ‘Mask’ Lewis Fighter Of The Year
Leon Edwards
Aljamain Sterling
Israel Adesanya
Islam Makhachev
Sadibou Sy
Female Fighter Of The Year
Alexa Grasso
Amanda Nunes
Larissa Pacheco
Seika Izawa
Liz Carmouche
Breakthrough Fighter Of The Year
Dricus Du Plessis
Alex Pereira
Ilia Topuria
Sergei Pavlovich
Alexa Grasso
International Fighter Of The Year
Leon Edwards
Israel Adesanya
Dricus Du Plessis
Sergei Pavlovich
Sadibou Sy
Fight Of The Year
Justin Gaethje vs. Rafael Fiziev (UFC 286)
Dustin Poirier vs. Michael Chandler (UFC 281)
Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski (UFC 284)
Brennan Ward vs. Sabah Homasi (Bellator 290)
Matt Schnell vs. Su Mudaerji (UFC on ABC 3)
Knockout Of The Year
Leon Edwards vs. Kamaru Usman – Head kick (UFC 278)
Israel Adesanya vs. Alex Pereira – Punches (UFC 287)
Sadibou Sy vs. Shane Mitchell – Spinning wheel kick (PFL 6, 2023)
Krzysztof Głowacki vs. Patryk Tołkaczewski – Punch (KSW 83)
Ismael Bonfim vs. Terrance McKinney – Flying knee (UFC 283)
Submission Of The Year
Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko – Face crank (UFC 285)
Louis Glismann vs. Melvin van Suijdam – Inverted omoplata (Oktagon 43)
Islam Makhachev vs. Charles Oliveira – Arm-triangle (UFC 280)
Olga Rubin vs. Claire Guthrie – Buggy choke (Invicta FC 53)
Reinier de Ridder vs. Vitaly Bigdash – Inverted triangle choke (ONE 159)
Comeback Of The Year
Jon Jones (Career)
Leon Edwards vs. Kamaru Usman (UFC 278)
John Hathaway (Returning from lengthy illness)
Matt Schnell vs. Su Mudaerji (UFC on ABC 3)
Yaroslav Amosov (Returning from war)
Upset Of The Year
Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko (UFC 285)
Larissa Pacheco vs. Kayla Harrison (PFL 10, 2022)
Christian Echols vs. Pat Downey (Bellator 289)
Jesus Pinedo vs. Brendan Loughnane (PFL 4, 2023)
Zebaztian Kadestam vs. Roberto Soldic (ONE Fight Night 10)
Shawn Tompkins Coach Of The Year
Eugene Bareman
Mike Brown
Dave Lovell
Ray Longo
Eric Nicksick
Trainer Of The Year
Heather Linden
Jonathon Reynolds
Everton Oliveira
Jordan Sullivan
Brandon Gallagher
Gym Of The Year
City Kickboxing
American Top Team
Team Renegade
Kill Cliff FC
American Kickboxing Academy
Referee Of The Year
Marc Goddard
Jason Herzog
Mark Smith
Herb Dean
Rich Mitchell
Ringcard Girl Of The Year
Brittney Palmer
Louise McKie
Brookliyn Wren
Jhenny Andrade
Luciana Andrade
Leading Man
Dana White
Scott Coker
Peter Murray
Maciej Kawulski
Ondrej Novotny
Best Promotion
UFC
Bellator MMA
PFL
KSW
Oktagon MMA
Personality Of The Year
Joe Rogan
Laura Sanko
Chael Sonnen
Daniel Cormier
Jon Anik
Analyst Of The Year
Michael Bisping
Paul Felder
Dan Hardy
Anthony Smith
Kenny Florian
Best MMA Programming
Morning Kombat
The MMA Hour
Dana White’s Contender Series
The Anik & Florian Podcast
UFC Embedded
MMA Media Source Of The Year
MMA Fighting
Sherdog
MMA Junkie
ESPN
Bloody Elbow
MMA Journalist Of The Year
Ariel Helwani
Aaron Bronsteter
Marc Raimondi
John Morgan
Nolan King
Fighting Spirit Award
Yaroslav Amosov (Adversity – returning from war to unify Bellator welterweight title)
Stevie Ray (Strength – fighting for his family)
Biaggio Ali Walsh (Bravery – helping his community in the face of danger)
Themba Gorimbo (Charity – building a water pump in Zimbabwe & putting others ahead of himself)
Chris Barnett (Adversity – overcoming great personal loss & adversity in the cage)
Abhishek, a versatile sports journalist and also a dedicated martial arts aficionado. With an enduring devotion to boxing and a growing interest in MMA, he has developed a profound understanding of combat sports. His writing mirrors the intensity of the ring, aiming to land a punch that resonates with readers.