UFC Best Of 2016 Awards
1. Knockout Of The Year - Lando Vannata Vs. John Makdessi (UFC 206)
When selecting KO of the Year I employed the opposite reasoning I used on the submissions. There were many more high profile, sport-changing knockouts that took place in the octagon in 2016, but this one was just too damn crazy not to be recognized.
We don't see spinning wheel kicks end fights often. Edson Barboza's beautiful example that shut off Terry Etim's lights is still one of the most iconic moments in the UFC's history. It's a difficult move to perform so they're few and far between, but when they land and turn off the power it's like something out of a movie.
That's exactly what the climax of this UFC 206 lightweight bout looked like, when my Breakout Fighter for 2016 launched a spinning wheel kick that expertly brushed the chin of his opponent and Makdessi went dark.
Had Vannata been standing an inch or two closer or further it wouldn't have landed as flush and thus probably not ended the fight, but this one was as close to "on the button" as it gets.
Amazing.
Honorable Mentions: Tyron Woodley vs. Robbie Lawler (UFC 201), Donald Cerrone vs. Matt Brown (UFC 206), Yair Rodriguez vs. Andre Fili (UFC 197) & Stipe Miocic vs. Fabricio Werdum (UFC 198)