MMA Junkie’s 2021 awards: A complete list of winners
The MMA Junkie staff came together to hand out 15 awards for the 2021 calendar year. Congratulations to all the winners. The complete list can be seen below.
Male Fighter of the Year: Kamaru Usman
3️⃣ title defenses in 2️⃣6️⃣6️⃣ days.
Kamaru Usman (@USMAN84kg) is MMA Junkie's 2021 Male Fighter of the Year.
Full story: https://t.co/qRImOmn8dk pic.twitter.com/JUeYa67OzL
— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) January 7, 2022
Female Fighter of the Year: Julianna Peña
Julianna Peña is MMA Junkie's 2021 Female Fighter of the Year after pulling off an all-time upset. 🏆
Full story: https://t.co/whBJizSnCh pic.twitter.com/AM3vsSZBsB
— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) January 6, 2022
Knockout of the Year: Sergio Pettis def. Kyoji Horiguchi
.@SergioPettis wins MMA Junkie's Knockout of the Year for 2021. 🏆
Full story: https://t.co/tNaHpcDJBV pic.twitter.com/Jb2IarkOsc
— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) January 3, 2022
.@SergioPettis reacts to winning MMA Junkie's KO of the Year and explains how he halted Kyoji Horiguchi.
"He just gave me the perfect opportunity." 🌪️
Full story: https://t.co/tNaHpcVktt pic.twitter.com/KYb1oJn0Cy
— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) January 3, 2022
Submission of the Year: Andre Muniz def. Ronaldo Souza
.@AndreMunizUFC wins MMA Junkie's 2021 Submission of the Year for snapping "Jacare" Souza's arm. 🦴
Full story: https://t.co/j0hsPmJa54 pic.twitter.com/rAZXOMBI7g
— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) January 4, 2022
Fight of the Year: Justin Gaethje def. Michael Chandler
MMA Junkie's Fight of the Year for 2021 is @Justin_Gaethje vs. @MikeChandlerMMA at #UFC268. 🔥
Full story: https://t.co/HH3D2K7BzJ pic.twitter.com/UQBMDApwGr
— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) January 5, 2022
Breakout Fighter of the Year: Giga Chikadze
.@Giga_Chikadze is MMA Junkie's Breakout Fighter of the Year for 2021. 🇬🇪
Chikadze finished Cub Swanson & Edson Barboza.
Full story: https://t.co/EqocYOzUlS pic.twitter.com/ONbZszk9BD
— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) January 5, 2022
Event of the Year: UFC 261
3⃣ title fights. 3⃣ knockouts.#UFC261 is MMA Junkie's Event of the Year for 2021.
Full story: https://t.co/BpaYiEbKmO pic.twitter.com/pN33068S5J
— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) January 4, 2022
Coach of the Year: Trevor Wittman
Trevor Wittman is MMA Junkie's Coach of the Year for 2021. 🏆
Wittman went 5-0 as chief corner in UFC title fights.
Full story: https://t.co/Va68jjuxZC pic.twitter.com/XFpCkaw4BJ
— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) January 5, 2022
Gym of the Year: Xtreme Couture
Xtreme Couture did big things in 2021 with coach @Eric_XCMMA leading the charge in the corner.
Full story: https://t.co/LcYlsfhY7g pic.twitter.com/bDwLsDl6pm
— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) January 8, 2022
Newcomer of the Year: Raush Manfio
From alternate to $1 million PFL champ: @RaushManfio is MMA Junkie's Newcomer of the Year for 2021. 🏆
Full story: https://t.co/MTfLTlmOWL pic.twitter.com/EeJkFkYhlO
— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) January 5, 2022
Newcomer of the Year: @RaushManfio 🌠
🏆 @MMAjunkie pic.twitter.com/c6f93KVp6d
— PFL (@PFLMMA) January 5, 2022
Under-the-Radar Fighter of the Year: Andre Muniz
Did @AndreMunizUFC get his due for his two armbar submission wins in 2021? We don't think so.
He's our Under-the-Radar Fighter of the Year.
Full story: https://t.co/CviTb3t2MO pic.twitter.com/DJD7NTvRiD
— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) January 7, 2022
Comeback Fighter of the Year: Chris Curtis
Chris Curtis (@Actionman513) wins MMA Junkie's 2021 Comeback Fighter of the Year award. 🏆
Curtis went 6-0 in the calendar year.
Full story: https://t.co/4Tt7vX8lyd pic.twitter.com/PBH5RySN1K
— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) January 3, 2022
Chris Curtis is our 2021 Comeback Fighter of the Year, and he's not surprised, motherf*ckers. 😂
Full story: https://t.co/4Tt7vXpWWN pic.twitter.com/HCoAJlFTW8
— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) January 4, 2022
Upset of the Year: Julianna Pena def. Amanda Nunes
A true stunner: Julianna Peña (@VenezuelanVixen) wins MMA Junkie's 2021 Upset of the Year for taking down Amanda Nunes. 🏆
Full story: https://t.co/tsmceQON5Z pic.twitter.com/0AKF0k17oK
— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) January 3, 2022
Robbery of the Year: Gleison Tibau def. Rory MacDonald
Was there a more questionable decision in 2021 than Gleison Tibau over Rory MacDonald? We don't think so.
Full story: https://t.co/687rRSW2YS pic.twitter.com/NBWHS7NLIV
— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) January 7, 2022
Comeback of the Year: Sergio Pettis def. Kyoji Horiguchi
.@SergioPettis wins MMA Junkie's 2021 Comeback of the Year for his epic KO of Kyoji Horiguchi.
Full story: https://t.co/49OTbeWDbN pic.twitter.com/q1zfFuF95O
— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) January 6, 2022
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