UFC Best Of 2016 Awards
3. Breakout Fighter Of The Year - Lando Vannata
Had he not already been crowned Male Fighter of the Year, this honor would have gone to Cody Garbrandt, but in order to avoid being redundant I'm going to recognize a talent who made an impression on a smaller, yet no less dynamic scale.
UFC lightweight up-and-comer Lando Vannata dove headfirst into 2016 determined to make his name in one of the toughest divisions in the sport, and he made an impact right out of the gate.
In his first fight of the year he scored a first round TKO victory over Ramico Blackmon in an outside organization, and this would be the fight that would earn him a spot on the UFC roster.
Stepping up on short notice against current #1 contender Tony Ferguson - who at the time had won 7 straight - "Groovy" and the well-established Ferguson put on one of the most exciting first rounds of the year, openly trading shots that allowed Lando to show off a ridiculous chin, before "El Cucuy" caught him with a D'Arce choke in the second, earning them the Fight of the Night bonus.
In his second appearance on the undercard of UFC 206, Vannata scored a dazzling knockout over veteran John Makdessi with a picture-perfect spinning wheel kick, which netted him a Performance of the Night recognition and a spot on highlight reels for the rest of eternity.
2017 should be a big year for "Groovy" as his star continues to brighten.