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. Fight of the Year
Weili Zhang vs. Joanna Jędrzejczyk (UFC 248)
There are always a multitude of great fights in a calendar year. However, in a year full of unorthodoxy and unexpected events, this award eventually came down to two fights: the clash between Weili Zhang and Joanna Jędrzejczyk at UFC 248 and the UFC 256 title tilt featuring flyweight kingpin Deiveson Figueiredo and challenger Brandon Moreno.
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. Knockout of the Year
Joaquin Buckley vs. Impa Kasanganay (UFC on ESPN+ 37)
Despite the uncertainty that 2020 brought, MMA fans were spoiled with some of the greatest knockouts in the sport’s short history. Cody Garbrandt stormed back into contention with one perfectly placed winging right hand that put Raphael Assunção to sleep at UFC 250. Kevin Holland arrived as a legitimate contender when he knocked out Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza in stunning fashion with a right hand while on his back at UFC 256.
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.
Combat Press 2020 MMA Awards: Female Fighter of the Year – Valentina Shevchenko
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. Female Fighter of the Year
Valentina Shevchenko
Two female fighters stood out this year. They are champions who defended their titles and showed why they are worthy of sitting atop their respective decisions. Weili Zhang put on an instant classic in March at UFC 248 against former strawweight champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk and walked away with a split-decision victory. That performance alone earned her runner-up honors this year for the Combat Press Female Fighter of the Year.