As you may know, the highly-prestigious The MMA Hour Awards show will air on Jan. 3. I’ve been doing this show for several years now — of course, it was called The Helwani Nose awards during my time at ESPN, but it was the same thing — and I love doing it.
KNOCKOUT - Hard one but Derrick Lewis on Blaydes was nasty
FIGHT - Chandle/Gaethje
ROUND - RD2 Reyes/Prochazka
SUBMISSION - Makhachev on Dober
BREAKOUT - Magomed Ankalaev/Adrian Yanez
MOST IMPROVED - Kai-Kara France
COMEBACK FIGHTER - Dominick Cruz
COMEBACK FIGHT - Dvalishvilli on Moraes
UPSET - Julianna Pena
RIVALRY - Dustin/Conor
COACH - Khabib
EVENT - UFC 267/268
CROWD - UFC 267/268
WALKOUT - Colby Covington
PROMO - Colby Covington
POSTER - UFC 260
PHOTO - The photo of Charles picking up the cut man 🤣
STORY - Has to be Glover
FEEL GOOD MOMENT/MENSCH - Alex Volkanovski deserves something called performance of the year, that fight was crazy how he got out of those subs. We all know blessed is the real champ tho
KNOCKOUT - Ignacio Bahamondes (I’m a sucker for a spinning back kick with seconds left); Runners up: Pettis’ KO of Horiguchi and Sandhagen’s KO of Edgar
FIGHT - Holloway/Rodriguez
ROUND - Volk/Ortega Round 3
SUBMISSION - Luque’s Darce on Woodley
BREAKOUT - Chris Curtis (honorable mention Ian Garry)
MOST IMPROVED - Brandon Moreno (almost chose Jose Aldo)
COMEBACK FIGHTER - Dominic Cruz
COMEBACK FIGHT - Merab vs Moraes
UPSET - Peña/Nunes; Runner Up: Pettis/Horiguchi
RIVALRY - Heelwani vs Brendan Schaub (or Jake Shields in Tampa, both fully 10-7s).
COACH - Trevor Wittman
EVENT - UFC 268
CROWD - Find me one that doesn’t chant USA or do the Ric Flair ‘Woo’ and I’ll vote for it…KSW? Cage Warriors?
WALKOUT - Ortega’s Purge walkout against Volk
PROMO - Terrence McKinney/near death experience
POSTER - UFC 266
PHOTO - Holloway/Rodriguez together in the back of the ambulance after their fight
STORY - Glover winning the belt
FEEL GOOD MOMENT/MENSCH — Nick Diaz making a beeline for GSP to shake his hand before 266. Runner up: Dustin Pourier offering to donate to Charles Olivera’s charity in the cage at the end of 269.
MALE FIGHTER - Charles Oliveira
FEMALE FIGHTER - Julianna Pena
KNOCKOUT - Hard one but Derrick Lewis on Blaydes was nasty
FIGHT - Chandle/Gaethje
ROUND - RD2 Reyes/Prochazka
SUBMISSION - Makhachev on Dober
BREAKOUT - Magomed Ankalaev/Adrian Yanez
MOST IMPROVED - Kai-Kara France
COMEBACK FIGHTER - Dominick Cruz
COMEBACK FIGHT - Dvalishvilli on Moraes
UPSET - Julianna Pena
RIVALRY - Dustin/Conor
COACH - Khabib
EVENT - UFC 267/268
CROWD - UFC 267/268
WALKOUT - Colby Covington
PROMO - Colby Covington
POSTER - UFC 260
PHOTO - The photo of Charles picking up the cut man 🤣
STORY - Has to be Glover
FEEL GOOD MOMENT/MENSCH - Alex Volkanovski deserves something called performance of the year, that fight was crazy how he got out of those subs. We all know blessed is the real champ tho
Hopefully not too late AH and AW, wanted to ruminate on these.
MALE FIGHTER Kamaru Usman
FEMALE FIGHTER Valentina Shevchenko KNOCKOUT Lewis X Blaydes - Uppercut FIGHT Volk X Ortega
ROUND Volk Ortega round 3
SUBMISSION Luque X Woodley D’Arce Choke BREAKOUT Jiri Prochazka
MOST IMPROVED Ciryl Gane
COMEBACK FIGHTER Israel Adesanya COMEBACK FIGHT Oliveira X Chandler
UPSET Pena vs Lioness
RIVALRY Gane vs N’Gannou
COACH Trevor Whitman
EVENT UFC 261 Usman X Masvidal 2
CROWD Bellator 270 Dublin
WALKOUT Poirier UFC 264
PROMO Kayla Harrison Puzzle solve PFL 8 POSTER UFC Fight Night: Edwards X Muhammad
PHOTO Usman KO’d Masvidal
STORY UFC 155 division - life after Khabib FEEL GOOD MOMENT/MENSCH Glover champion at 42
MALE FIGHTER - Olivera
FEMALE FIGHTER - Schevschenko
KNOCKOUT- Sandhagen KO Edgar
FIGHT - Chandler v Gaetschje
ROUND - round 3 Vokanovski vs Ortega
SUBMISSION - Anthony Hernandez subs. Rodolfo Viera
BREAKOUT- Paddy Pimblett
MOST IMPROVED- Brunsin
COMEBACK FIGHTER - Aldo
COMEBACK FIGHT - Merab vs Morais
UPSET - Peña vs. Nunes
RIVALRY - Usman vs Covington
COACH - Trevor Whittman
EVENT - UFC 268
CROWD - UFC 261 (Usman vs. Masvidal)
WALKOUT - Tai Tuivasa Spice Girls walkout
PROMO - Paddy Pimblett
POSTER - Hollowa v Rodrigues
PHOTO - Chito Vera KO Edgar
STORY - Glover winning the belt / Olivera
FEEL GOOD MOMENT/MENSCH - Dustin Porier
MALE FIGHTER - Kamaru Usman
FEMALE FIGHTER - Rose Namajunas
KNOCKOUT - Cory Sandhagen KO Frankie Edgar (UFC Vegas 18, Flying Knee)
FIGHT - Just Gaethje vs Michael Chandler (UFC 268)
ROUND - Merab Dvalishvili vs Marlon Moraes (UFC 266, Round 1)
SUBMISSION - Anthony Hernandez vs Rodolfo Viera (Guillotine Choke)
BREAKOUT - 'King' Casey O'Neil
MOST IMPROVED - Marina Rodriguez
COMEBACK FIGHTER - Gerald 'GM3 'Meerschaert prior to this year was 2 wins from 7. This year he is 3 wins of 3 with 3 submissions
COMEBACK FIGHT - Merab Dvalishvili comeback against Marlon Moraes (UFC2 266)
UPSET - Julianna Pena WIN vs Amanda Nunes (UFC 269)
RIVALRY - Ariel Hellwani vs Brendan Schaub
COACH - Trevor Whitman
EVENT - UFC 268
CROWD - UFC 261
WALKOUT - Chris Barnet
PROMO - No idea lol
POSTER - UFC 260: Miocic vs. N'Gannou 2
PHOTO - Ignacio Bahamondes' spinning wheel kick KO over Roservelt Roberts
STORY - Chris Curtis FINALLY making it to the UFC, winning TWICE against Phil Hawes and Brendan Allen.
FEEL GOOD MOMENT/MENSCH - Brandon Moreno taking in the moment of becoming world champ when he beats Deiveson Figueiredo.
Male Fighter - Kamaru Usman
Female Fighter - Rose Namajunas
Knockout - Usman KO Masvidal
Fight - Gaethje x Chandler
Round - Volkanovski x Ortega Round 3
Submission - Anthony Hernandez Subs Rodolfo Vieira
Breakout - Ciryl Gane
Most Improved - Charles Oliveira
Comeback Fighter - Jose Aldo
Comeback Fight - Marlon Moraes x Merab Dvalishvili
Upset - Julianna Peña Sub Amanda Nunes
Rivalry - Dustin Poirier x Conor McGregor
Coach - Trevor Wittman
Event - UFC 261
Crowd - Bellator 270
Walkout - Brian Ortega “Purge” UFC 266
Promo - Paddy Pimblett
Poster - UFC 257
Photo - Usman KO Masvidal
Story - Brandon Moreno
Feel Good Moment/Mensch - Glover Teixeira UFC 267
Male - Usman
Female - Rose
KO - Dustin KO Conor
FOTY - Justin/Chandler
ROUND - Volk/Ortega
SUB - Pena Sub Nunes
Breakout - Gane/Jiri/Islam
Most Improved - Merab
Upset - Pena
Coach - Khabib
Event - UFC 268
Crowd - UFC 261
Walkout - Virna
Feel Good - Moreno winning Belt
Rivalry- Khamzat Kill everybody
MALE Fighter - Charles Oliveira
FEMALE FIGHTER - rose namajunas
KNOCKOUT - kamaru vs jorge
FIGHT - Alexander volkanovski vs Brian
ROUND - Alexander volkanovski 3 round vs Ortega
SUBMISSION - Figueiredo vs. Moreno
BREAKOUT - khamzat chimaev
MOST IMPROVED - glover teixeira
COMEBACK FIGHTER - Derrick lewis
COMEBACK FIGHT - KaraFrance vs. Bontorin
UPSET - Juliana peña vs amanda nunes
RIVALRY - conor vs dustin
COACH - Trevor wittman
EVENT - UFC 264
CROWD - UFC 261
WALKOUT - Brian Ortega walkout vs alexander
PROMO - paddy pimblett
POSTER - ufc 257
PHOTO - usman knockout of masvidal
STORY - Charles Oliveira
FEEL GOOD MOMENT/Mensch - glover teixeira and Charles Oliveira winning the belts
MALE FIGHTER – Islam Makhachev
FEMALE FIGHTER – Talia Santos
KNOCKOUT – Kamaru Usman’s KO over Jorge Masvidal
FIGHT – Gaethje v. Chandler
ROUND – Ortega v. Volkanovski, Round 3
SUBMISSION – Luque v. Michael Chiesa
BREAKOUT – Paddy Pimblett
MOST IMPROVED – Bobby Green
COMEBACK FIGHTER – Jose Aldo
COMEBACK FIGHT – Merab Dvalishvili v. Marlon Moraes
UPSET – Juliana Pena v. Amanda Nunes
RIVALRY – Dana White v. Covid-19
COACH – Trevor Whitman
EVENT – UFC 261; the first sold-out event since COVID and the entire card delivered.
CROWD – UFC 261
WALKOUT – Brian Ortega (UFC 266)
PROMO – UFC 261 Announcement via UFC Instagram – the energy around this, and at the time it happened, was insane!! https://vimeo.com/658717118
POSTER – UFC 261 Poster
PHOTO – Usman KO of Masvidal
FEEL GOOD MOMENT/MENSCH – Glover Texeira winning UFC Gold at UFC 267, becoming the oldest UFC first-time UFC Champion
Knockout - Heelwani KOs Schaub
Fighter of the year: Jake Paul
MALE FIGHTER - Usman
FEMALE FIGHTER - Rose
KNOCKOUT - Jiri vs Reyes
FIGHT - Chandler Gaethje
ROUND - Oretga Volk 3rd
SUBMISSION - Pena vs Nunes (call me crazy)
BREAKOUT - Jiri
MOST IMPROVED - Brunson
COMEBACK FIGHTER - Cruz
COMEBACK FIGHT - Charles vs Chandler
UPSET - Pena vs Nunes
RIVALRY - Conor vs Dustin
COACH - Wittman
EVENT - UFC 261
CROWD - UFC 261
WALKOUT - Ortega vs Volk
PROMO - Chandler vs Hooker
POSTER - UFC 264
PHOTO - Stipe KO against Francis
STORY - Jon Jones
FEEL GOOD MOMENT/MENSCH - Dustin charity work throughout the year
MALE FIGHTER - Usman
FEMALE FIGHTER - Kayla
KNOCKOUT - Sandhagen v Frankie/Jiri v Reyes
FIGHT - Chandler v Gaethje
ROUND - Volk v Ortega R3
SUBMISSION - Moreno v Figgy
BREAKOUT - Ian Garry/Chris Curtis (tough one)
MOST IMPROVED - Blonde Brunson COMEBACK FIGHTER - Cruz
COMEBACK FIGHT - Pettis v Horiguchi
UPSET - Peña v Nunes
RIVALRY - Weili v Rose
COACH - Trevor Wittman
EVENT - UFC 269
CROWD - Bellator 270
WALKOUT - Virna Janjiroba/Queally zombie Bellator 270
PROMO - UFC 264
POSTER - KSW 65
STORY - Ngannou becoming champ
FEEL GOOD MOMENT/MENSCH - Glover winning the belt
I'll respond after, I just needed to beat El Cubano first
Later than late to this too…
MALE FIGHTER - Kamaru Usman
FEMALE FIGHTER - Rose Namajunas
KNOCKOUT - Ignacio Bahamondes (I’m a sucker for a spinning back kick with seconds left); Runners up: Pettis’ KO of Horiguchi and Sandhagen’s KO of Edgar
FIGHT - Holloway/Rodriguez
ROUND - Volk/Ortega Round 3
SUBMISSION - Luque’s Darce on Woodley
BREAKOUT - Chris Curtis (honorable mention Ian Garry)
MOST IMPROVED - Brandon Moreno (almost chose Jose Aldo)
COMEBACK FIGHTER - Dominic Cruz
COMEBACK FIGHT - Merab vs Moraes
UPSET - Peña/Nunes; Runner Up: Pettis/Horiguchi
RIVALRY - Heelwani vs Brendan Schaub (or Jake Shields in Tampa, both fully 10-7s).
COACH - Trevor Wittman
EVENT - UFC 268
CROWD - Find me one that doesn’t chant USA or do the Ric Flair ‘Woo’ and I’ll vote for it…KSW? Cage Warriors?
WALKOUT - Ortega’s Purge walkout against Volk
PROMO - Terrence McKinney/near death experience
POSTER - UFC 266
PHOTO - Holloway/Rodriguez together in the back of the ambulance after their fight
STORY - Glover winning the belt
FEEL GOOD MOMENT/MENSCH — Nick Diaz making a beeline for GSP to shake his hand before 266. Runner up: Dustin Pourier offering to donate to Charles Olivera’s charity in the cage at the end of 269.
My first post at Helwani Nose! Late to the conversation but here goes:
MALE FIGHTER: Kamaru Usman
FEMALE FIGHTER: Valentina Shevchenko
KO: Cory Sandhagen flying knee KO of Frankie Edgar
FIGHT: Gaethje v Chandler
ROUND: Volkanovski v Ortega Round 3
SUBMISSION: Amanda Nunes armbar and triangle choke of Megan Anderson
BREAKOUT: Brandon Moreno
MOST IMPROVED: José Aldo
COMEBACK FIGHTER: Khamzat Chimaev (comeback from covid)
COMEBACK FIGHT: Oliveira TKOs Chandler
UPSET: Peña submission of Nunes
RIVALRY: Jake Paul vs MMA
COACH: Eugene Bareman
EVENT: UFC 261 Usman v Masvidal II, Thug Rose v Weili, Valentina v Andrade
CROWD: Bellator 270
WALKOUT: Peter Queally at Bellator 270
PROMO: Jake Paul v Tyron Woodley I
POSTER: UFC 267 fan art poster by Smart_Elk
PHOTO: Francis Ngannou holding belt during parade in Douala, Cameroon
STORY: Three simultaneous African Champs -- Israel Adesanya, Kamaru Usman, Francis Ngannou
FEEL GOOD MOMENT/MENSCH: Charles Oliveira becoming champ
MALE FIGHTER - Usman
FEMALE FIGHTER - Valentina
KNOCKOUT - Pettis V Horiguchi
FIGHT - Yan V Sandhagen
ROUND - R1 Chandler V Gaethje
SUBMISSION - Moreno V Figgy II
BREAKOUT - Adrian Yanez
MOST IMPROVED - Marina Rodriguez COMEBACK FIGHTER - Chris Curtis
COMEBACK FIGHT - Spike Carlyle V Dan Moret (Bellator 272)
UPSET - Peña V Nunes
RIVALRY - Usman V Covington
COACH - Whitman
EVENT - UFC 268
CROWD - UFC 261
WALKOUT - Brian Ortega UFC 266
PROMO - Khamzat
POSTER - UFC Fight Night 189
PHOTO - Usman KO Masvidal
STORY - Glover
FEEL GOOD MOMENT/MENSCH - Moreno winning belt