2016 World MMA Awards nominees announced
The 2016 World MMA Awards nominees were announced Thursday.
Former winner MMA Fighting was once again nominated for "MMA Media Source of the Year", while five-time winner Ariel Helwani and Chuck Mindenhall were nominated for "Journalist of the Year".
The MMA Hour was nominated for "Best MMA Programming," which is one of the three new categories this year. The other two new categories are "Analyst of the Year" and "Best MMA Clothing and Equipment Brand."
Fans can vote now at WorldMMAAwards.com with voting closing at Friday, Jan. 31, 2016 at 12 Midnight PT.
The eighth annual Fighters Only World MMA Awards ceremony will be Feb. 5 in Las Vegas.
Charles "Mask" Lewis "Fighter of the Year"
Rafael dos Anjos
Max Holloway
Demetrious Johnson
Conor McGregor
Luke Rockhold
Female Fighter of the Year
Tonya Evinger
Joanna Jedrzejczyk
Holly Holm
Ronda Rousey
Angela Lee
Breakthrough Fighter of the Year
Thomas Almeida
Henry Cejudo
Tony Ferguson
Joanna Jedrzejczyk
Holly Holm
International Fighter of the Year
Joseph Duffy
Joanna Jedrzejczyk
Liam McGeary
Conor McGregor
Marat Gafurov
Fight of the Year
Justin Gaethje vs. Luis Palomino (WSOF 19)
Andrei Arlovski vs. Travis Browne (UFC 187)
Robbie Lawler vs. Rory MacDonald 2 (UFC 189)
Daniel Cormier vs. Alexander Gustafsson (UFC 192)
Vitaly Bigdash vs. Igor Svirid (One Championship 32)
Knockout of the Year
Hisaki Kato (vs. Joe Schilling, Bellator 139)
Thomas Almeida (vs. Brad Pickett, UFC 189)
Holly Holm (vs. Ronda Rousey, UFC 193)
Jorge Filho (vs. Claudio Cezario, Jungle Fight 83)
Conor McGregor (vs. José Aldo, UFC 194)
Submission of the Year
Ronda Rousey (vs. Cat Zingano, UFC 184)
Marcos Galvao (vs. Joe Warren, Bellator 135)
Fabricio Werdum (vs. Cain Velasquez, UFC 188)
Liam McGeary (vs. Tito Ortiz, Bellator: Dynamite)
Tony Ferguson (vs. Edson Barboza, TUF 22 Finale)
Comeback of the Year
Thiago Alves (vs. Jordan Mein, UFC 183)
Alex Chambers (vs. Kailin Curran, UFC Fight Night 65)
Eddie Alvarez (vs. Gilbert Melendez, UFC 188)
Patricio Freire (vs. Daniel Weichel, Bellator 138)
Vitaly Bigdash (vs. Igor Svirid, One Championship 32)
Upset of the Year
Rafael dos Anjos (vs. Anthony Pettis, UFC 185)
Maryna Moroz (vs. Joanna Calderwood, UFC Fight Night 64)
Fabricio Werdum (vs. Cain Velasquez, UFC 188)
Uriah Hall (vs. Gegard Mousasi, UFC Fight Night 75)
Holly Holm (vs. Ronda Rousey, UFC 193)
Shawn Tompkins Coach of the Year
Rafael Cordeiro
John Kavanagh
Javier Mendes
Mike Winkeljohn
Firas Zahabi
Trainer of the Year
Jake Bonacci (S&C)
Mike Dolce (nutrition)
Brian Harris (S&C)
George Lockhart (nutrition)
Ido Portal (S&C)
Gym of the Year
American Kickboxing Academy
Blackzilians
Jackson-Wink MMA
Kings MMA
SBG Ireland
Referee of the Year
Herb Dean
Marc Goddard
John McCarthy
Dan Miragliotta
Mario Yamasaki
Ringcard Girl of the Year
Jhenny Andrade
Carly Baker
Arianny Celeste
Brittney Palmer
Mercedes Terrell
Leading Man
Scott Coker
Victor Cui
Lorenzo Fertitta
Ray Sefo
Dana White
Best Promotion
Bellator MMA
Legacy Fighting Championship
One Championship
Ultimate Fighting Championship
World Series of Fighting
Personality of the Year
Jon Anik
Joe Rogan
Bas Rutten
Brendan Schaub
Bruce Buffer
Analyst of the Year
Michael Bisping
Daniel Cormier
Dominick Cruz
Chael Sonnen
Brian Stann
Best MMA Programming
Bellator MMA: Uncut
The Fighter & The Kid
The MMA Hour
The Ultimate Fighter
UFC Embedded
MMA Media Source of the Year
UFC Tonight
MMA Fighting
MMA Junkie
Inside MMA
Sherdog
MMA Journalist of the Year
Brent Brookhouse
Ben Fowlkes
Ariel Helwani
Chuck Mindenhall
Brett Okamoto
Best MMA Clothing & Equipment Brand
BAD BOY
Everlast
Hayabusa
Torque
Venum