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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.
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If the UFC matchmakers need a replacement for the promotion’s Jan. 20 main event, they have plenty of options.
Not long after it was reported that Khamzat Chimaev has been forced out of his headlining bout opposite Leon Edwards scheduled for UFC Fight Island 8, a slew of welterweight contenders announced their candidacy to serve as a potential replacement.
Vicente Luque seeks a second fight with Edwards after losing a decision to “Rocky” back in March 2017. Since that time, Luque has won eight of nine fights and he’s eager to redeem that loss and take Edwards’ spot int he rankings.
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Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Well everyone, we did it. We’ve made it to the final fight weekend of 2020 (well, for the UFC anyway, I know Rizin is doing their traditional New Year’s Eve card) and so too will this be the final Hot Tweets of 2020. With the year winding down, and the first break of UFC events in what feels like a lifetime soon to hit us, there aren’t any hugely important topics to address so let’s close out the year with a smattering of random questions covering a lot of different ground.