2024 is shaping up to be a fascinating year in MMA. The UFC will celebrate its’ 300th pay-per-view event in April, Francis Ngannou — the “baddest man on the planet” — will make his debut in PFL (though we don’t know if it’ll be MMA or boxing) and maybe, just maybe, Conor McGregor will make his return to the Octagon. Fingers crossed.
Fight fans were treated to storylines galore in 2023. PFL acquired Bellator MMA. The women’s MMA GOAT — Amanda Nunes — retired, leaving two divisions behind without titleholders. Five weight classes in the UFC saw new champions holding the belts at the end of the year compared to the start of it. Surprises were never in short supply.
Those surprises included flash knockouts, stunning upsets and memorable moments inside and outside the cage. But which fighters and spectacles would be good enough to be one of our award winners for 2023? Let’s unveil this year’s winners.
ESPN’s panel of voters for our UFC midyear awards includes Air Broom, Sean Cooney, Andrew Feldman, Carlos Contreras Legaspi, Jake Lebowitz, Eddie Maisonet, Myron Medcalf, Brett Okamoto, Marc Raimondi, Dre Waters and Jeff Wagenheim.
Men’s fighter of the year: Islam Makhachev, UFC
Makhachev might have won his first UFC championship in…
