Nigerian UFC stars comprising the reigning Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya have been nominated in different categories for the 2021 World MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) awards.
Usman, also known as The Nigerian Nightmare who knocked out Jorge Masvidal in April to retain his Welterweight title has been nominated in the Male Fighter of the Year and Knockout of the Year categories, while Israel Adesanya, despite suffering his first MMA defeat to Jan Blachowicz, has been nominated in the International Fighter of the Year category.
Other notable nominees include UFC supremo, Dana White, and Yaroslav Amosov with 3 nominations, recently retired Russian UFC Lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, Jan Blachowicz, and Brandon Romero with 2 nominations each, while Robert Whitaker has a solitary nomination.
Popular podcast host and former MMA fighter Joe Rogan has also been nominated in the Personality of the Year.
Full list of nominees:
Charles ‘Mask’ Lewis Male Fighter of the Year
Kamaru Usman
Brandon Moreno
Yaroslav Amosov
Charles Oliveira
Jan Blachowicz
Female Fighter of the Year
Mackenzie Dern
Kayla Harrison
Valentina Shevchenko
Rose Namajunas
Manon Fiorot
Breakthrough Fighter of the Year
Khamzat Chimaev
Jirí Prochazka
Brandon Moreno
Yaroslav Amosov
Kevin Holland
International Fighter of the Year
Vadim Nemkov
Israel Adesanya
Yaroslav Amosov
Robert Whittaker
Jan Blachowicz
Fight of the Year
Paul Daley vs. Sabah Homasi – Bellator 257
Edson Barboza vs. Shane Burgos – UFC 262
Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno I – UFC 256
Jiří Procházka vs. Dominick Reyes – UFC on ESPN 23
Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Miguel Baeza – UFC on ESPN+ 47
Knockout of the Year
Joaquin Buckley vs. Impa Kasanganay – Back Kick – UFC on ESPN+ 37
Kamaru Usman vs. Jorge Masvidal – Punch – UFC 261
Cory Sandhagen vs. Frankie Edgar – Flying Knee – UFC on ESPN+ 42
Shane Burgos vs. Edson Barboza – Punch – UFC 262
Mamed Khalidov vs. Scott Askham – Flying Switch Kick – KSW 55
Submission of the Year
AJ McKee vs. Darrion Caldwell – Neck Crank – Bellator 253
Paul Craig vs. Jamahal Hill – Armbar/Triangle – UFC 264
Jimmy Flick vs. Cody Durden – Flying Triangle – UFC on ESPN+ 41
Anthony Hernandez vs. Rodolfo Vieira – Guillotine – UFC 258
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Justin Gaethje – Triangle – UFC 254
Comeback of the Year
Paul Daley vs. Sabah Homasi – Bellator 257
Thanh Le vs. Martin Nguyen – ONE: Inside the Matrix
Sean Strickland (Career)
Rose Namajunas (Career)
Charles Oliviera vs. Michael Chandler – UFC 262
Upset of the Year
Adriano Moraes vs. Demetrious Johnson – ONE on TNT 1
Shana Dobson vs. Mariya Agapova – UFC on ESPN 15
Clay Collard vs. Anthony Pettis – PFL 2021 #1
Ok Rae Yoon vs. Eddie Alvarez – ONE on TNT 4
Anthony Hernandez vs. Rodolfo Vieira – UFC 258
