World MMA Awards 2023 Nominees: Results and Where to Watch

The World MMA Awards are awards presented by Fighters Only magazine to honor exceptional performance in various aspects of mixed martial arts. These awards, which were first given out in 2008, recognize achievement in more than 20 categories, from Best Knockout to Fighter of the Year. The highly sought-after Fighters Only silver figurine is awarded

The World MMA Awards are awards presented by Fighters Only magazine to honor exceptional performance in various aspects of mixed martial arts.

These awards, which were first given out in 2008, recognize achievement in more than 20 categories, from Best Knockout to Fighter of the Year. The highly sought-after Fighters Only silver figurine is awarded to the winners.

These awards are special because the winners are selected by online fan voting, which creates a unique celebration where the voice of the MMA community is heard.

World MMA Awards

The Fighters Only magazine-hosted World MMA Awards honor exceptional accomplishments in mixed martial arts (MMA). These awards, which were first given out in 2008, recognize achievement in more than 20 categories, from Best Knockout to Fighter of the Year.

The highly sought-after Fighters Only silver figurine is awarded to the winners. These awards are special because the winners are selected by online fan voting, which creates a unique celebration where the voice of the MMA community is heard.

Since its launch, the World MMA Awards have grown to be the most prominent MMA event, honoring the dedication and talent of competitors and contributors. Fans get to take part in honoring and celebr ating the top performers in the exciting and always changing world of mixed martial arts once a year.

World MMA Awards 2023

Official announcement of the World MMA Awards 2023 results took place on Thursday night, much to the excitement of fans. The awards show, which took place at the Sahara Theatre in Las Vegas, was broadcast on ESPN+ at 10:30 p.m. ET. Prominent media outlet MMA Fighting was nominated for MMA Media Source of the Year, a title they had won five times before.

Prominent reporter Ariel Helwani, who has competed in 13 fights, was a nominee for MMA Journalist of the Year. His well-liked show, The MMA Hour, was also nominated for Best MMA Programming. The occasion honored exceptional achievements in more than twenty categories, highlighting the top performers in the vibrant mixed martial arts industry.

World MMA Awards 2023 Results

CategoryWinner
Fighter of the YearLeon Edwards
Female Fighter of the YearAlexa Grasso
Breakthrough Fighter of the YearAlex Pereira
International Fighter of the YearLeon Edwards
Fight of the YearIslam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski (UFC 284)
Knockout of the YearLeon Edwards vs. Kamaru Usman – Head kick (UFC 278)
Submission of the YearAlexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko – Face crank (UFC 285)
Comeback of the YearLeon Edwards vs. Kamaru Usman 2 (UFC 278)
Upset of the YearAlexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko (UFC 285)
Shawn Tompkins Coach of the YearMike Brown
Trainer of the YearHeather Linden
Gym of the YearAmerican Top Team
Referee of the YearHerb Dean
Ringcard Girl of the YearBrittney Palmer
Leading ManDana White (UFC)
Best PromotionUFC
Personality of the YearJoe Rogan
Analyst of the YearMichael Bisping
Best MMA ProgrammingDana White’s Contender Series
MMA Media Source of the YearESPN
MMA Journalist of the YearAriel Helwani
Fighting Spirit AwardThemba Gorimbo
Lifetime Achievement AwardKen Shamrock

World MMA Awards Nominee

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 Colosseum 2)
  • 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 choke (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 2 (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 (UFC)
  • Scott Coker (Bellator)
  • Peter Murray (PFL)
  • Maciej Kawulski (KSW)
  • Ondrej Novotny (Oktagon)

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 the Bellator welterweight title)
  • Steven 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 and putting others ahead of himself)
  • Chris Barnett (Adversity – overcoming great personal loss and adversity in the cage)

Lifetime Achievement Award

  • Ken Shamrock

Where to Watch the MMA Awards 2023?

On the scheduled night, you can watch the MMA Awards 2023 on ESPN+. ESPN+ aired the awards ceremony live from the Sahara Theatre in Las Vegas, starting at 10:30 p.m. ET. The esteemed World MMA Awards are among the live events, special programs, and sports content available on ESPN+, a streaming service.

Make sure you have a subscription or the necessary streaming device to access ESPN+. Fans may celebrate the accomplishments of their favorite mixed martial arts fighters, journalists, and celebrities by watching the awards. It’s a chance to see how exceptional feats and noteworthy occasions are honored in the ever-changing and dynamic world of mixed martial arts.

World MMA Awards 2023- FAQs

What are the World MMA Awards?

Fighters Only magazine presents the World MMA Awards, which recognize exceptional performances in mixed martial arts, every year.

How are the winners determined?

The MMA community can express its opinion in identifying excellence in a number of categories by participating in online fan voting to select the winners.

When did the World MMA Awards start?

In the field of mixed martial arts, the field MMA Awards ceremony gained prominence after its inaugural presentation in 2008.

Where was the World MMA Awards 2023 held?

In 2023, the World MMA Awards were held at Las Vegas’ Sahara Theatre.

How can I watch the World MMA Awards 2023?

The awards ceremony gave fans a chance to see the highest accomplishments in mixed martial arts recognized, and it aired on ESPN+ at 10:30 p.m. ET.

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