The 2018 World MMA Awards take place on Tuesday, July 3, at 11:00 p.m. ET, at the Pearl Concert Theater in Las Vegas, Nevada. It will broadcast on July 15 at 9:00 p.m. ET on FOX Sports.
The annual MMA Awards are organized by Fighters Only magazine and this year was hosted by actor Jeremy Piven. Winners are chosen via online polling. The awards are widely recognized as second in prestigious only to the UFC Hall of Fame.
Charles ‘Mask’ Lewis Fighter of the Year – Max Holloway
Nominees:
Ryan Bader
Rafael dos Anjos
Robert Whittaker
Demetrious Johnson
Max Holloway
Female Fighter of the Year – Rose Namajunas
Nominees:
Julia Budd
Angela Lee
Ilima-Lei Macfarlane
Cris Cyborg
Breakthrough Fighter of the Year – Brian Ortega
Nominees:
Martin Nguyen
Volkan Oezdemir
Darren Till
Francis Ngannou
International Fighter of the Year – Robert Whittaker
Nominees:
Volkan Oezdemir
Martin Nguyen
Darren Till
Kamaru Usman
Fight of the Year – Eddie Alvarez vs. Justin Gaethje (UFC 218)
Nominees:
Eddie Alvarez vs. Dustin Poirier (UFC 211)
Robert Whittaker vs. Yoel Romero (UFC 213)
Justin Gaethje vs. Michael Johnson (The Ultimate Fighter 25 Finale)
Aung La N Sang vs. Vitaly Bigdash (ONE Championship: Light Of A Nation)
Knockout of the Year – Francis Ngannou (vs. Alistair Overeem, UFC 218)
Nominees:
Matt Brown (vs. Diego Sanchez, UFC Norfolk)
Edson Barboza (vs. Beneil Dariush, UFC Fortaleza)
Paul Daley (vs. Brennan Ward, Bellator 170)
Aaron Pico (vs. Justin Linn, Bellator 183)
Submission of the Year – Demetrious Johnson (vs. Ray Borg, UFC 216)
Nominees:
Diego Brandao (vs. Murad Machaev, Fight Nights Global 38)
Brett Johns (vs. Joe Soto, The Ultimate Fighter 26 Finale)
Ali Bagov (vs. Bubba Jenkins, ACB 54)
Brian Ortega (vs. Cub Swanson, UFC Fresno)
Comeback of the Year – Justin Gaethje (vs. Michael Johnson, The Ultimate Fighter 25 Finale)
Nominees:
Uriah Hall (vs. Krzysztof Jotko, UFC Pittsburgh)
Nathaniel Wood (vs. Josh Reed, Cage Warriors 86)
Darren Elkins (vs. Mirsad Bektic, UFC 209)
Derrick Lewis (vs. Travis Browne, UFC Halifax)
Upset of the Year – Rose Namajunas (vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk, UFC 217)
Nominees:
Martin Nguyen (vs. Marat Gafurov, ONE Championship: Quest For Greatness)
Darren Elkins (vs. Mirsad Bektic, UFC 209)
Brent Primus (vs. Michael Chandler, Bellator 180)
Zach Freeman (vs. Aaron Pico, Bellator 180)
Shawn Tompkins Coach of the Year – Trevor Wittman
Nominees:
Duke Roufus
Firas Zahabi
Matt Hume
Duane Ludwig
Trainer of the Year – Nick Curson (S&C coach)
Nominees:
Sam Calavitta (S&C coach)
Phil Daru (S&C coach)
Tyler Minton (Nutritionist)
Michelle Ingels (Nutritionist)
Gym of the Year – American Top Team
Nominees:
Roufusport
Gracie Technics
Kings MMA
Tristar
Referee of the Year – John McCarthy
Nominees:
Jason Herzog
Mike Beltran
Herb Dean
Marc Goddard
Ringcard Girl of the Year – Jhenny Andrade
Nominees:
Angelica Anderson
Carly Baker
Arianny Celeste
Mercedes Terrell
Best Promotion – UFC
Nominees:
LFA
ONE Championship
KSW
Bellator MMA
Analyst of the Year – Dominick Cruz
Nominees:
Paul Felder
Jimmy Smith
Pat Miletich
Brian Stann
Best MMA Programming – The Ultimate Fighter
Nominees:
MMA Junkie Radio
Sherdog Roundtable
The MMA Hour
UFC Embedded
MMA Media Source of the Year – MMA Fighting
Nominees:
FloCombat
Bloody Elbow
Sherdog
MMA Junkie
MMA Journalist of the Year – Ariel Helwani
Nominees:
Karim Zidan
Brett Okamoto
Chuck Mindenhall
John Morgan
TBA
Leading Man –
Nominees:
Martin Lewandowski
Chatri Sityodtong
Ed Soares
Dana White
Scott Coker
Personality of the Year –
Nominees:
Daniel Cormier
Michael Schiavello
Chael Sonnen
Jon Anik
Joe Rogan
MMA Clothing and Equipment Brand of the Year –
Nominees:
Reebok
RVCA
Bad Boy
Venum
Hayabusa
H/T MMA Fighting
