WhatCulture UFC Awards: Best Of 2019
We take a look back and award the wildest, craziest and most violent moments from 2019 in the UFC.
What an incredible 12 months it's been for MMA and UFC fans. From double champions who reign supreme in multiple divisions, devastating knockouts that go viral and epic fights that surpass what we could've ever imagined possible, it's safe to say that 2019 has been memorable.
Following a year of some of the best action the promotion has ever seen, it's only right that we make sure that the competitors scrapping in the Octagon are properly recognised for their violent endeavours. That's why we've created the WhatCulture UFC awards to make sure those elite fighters are given the credit they deserve.
These are the categories for this year's awards:
Upset of the Year
Comeback of the Year
Female Fighter of the Year
Rising Star
Most Disappointing Fighter
Submission of the Year
Knockout of the Year
Fight of the Year
Fighter of the Year
It was extremely difficult to choose which fighters would come away with some of these awards, but like it is in the world of combat sports, someone had to be the winner. Do you think you know who earned the right for each award this year? Let's find out who took our top spots...
9. Upset Of The Year - Rose Namajunas Vs. Jessica Andrade
The UFC's strawweight division has really improved a lot over the last year. An abundance of new and old fighters have helped make it the marquee weight class for women competing in the UFC. One of the leading fighters at 115lb is heavy-handed Brazilian, Jessica Andrade.
After dropping down from the women's bantamweight division, Andrade built up an impressive record at strawweight. Unlike many of the other women in the weight class, she had the sort of ungodly power needed to knock opponents clean out. Despite this, very few people gave her much hope against then strawweight champion, Rose Namajunas, at UFC 239 in Brazil.
After her two victories against longtime strawweight titleholder, Joanna Jędrzejczyk, many believed Namajunas would have her own long tenure with the belt. However, Andrade proved to be a stumbling block in her championship run.
It wasn't all plain-sailing for the Brazilian, as Namajunas battered her around the Octagon, using pinpoint accurate striking to keep her opponent at bay. However, Andrade would not stop coming forward, eventually pushing Namajunas up against the cage.
Despite her opponent having a standing kimura hold locked in, Andrade somehow managed to hoist Namajunas into the air and slam her head first onto the canvas, shocking the world and winning the title in front of her countrymen.