A new year is on the horizon, and that means it’s time for Combat Press to take a look back at the best of MMA in 2020. In the coming days, Combat Press will announce its award winners in multiple categories, covering everything from the action in the cage to the biggest stories surrounding the sport.
Breakout Fighter of the Year
Khamzat Chimaev
Who else made a bigger breakthrough this year than Khamzat Chimaev? The Chechen-born, Swedish-based fighter went 3-0 in the UFC for the year after making his Octagon debut in July. Chimaev tapped the ever-tough John Phillips at UFC on ESPN 13. Just 10 days later, “Borz” scored a first-round TKO of Rhys McKee at UFC on ESPN 14. In doing so, Chimaev broke the record for the shortest time between two UFC wins in the modern era.