MMA DieHards Awards: Breakthrough fighters of the year

<p>Chandler (L) celebrates his win over Alvarez (kneeling) (Bellator photo)</p>

(The MMA DieHards staff has compiled a list of the best fighter of the year, fight of the year, KO of the year, submission of the year and breakthrough fighter of the year to close out 2011.)

Mike Chandler
Chandler entered the Bellator Season 5 lightweight tournament as one of 8 sacrificial lambs to lose to Eddie Alvarez in the end. However, the University of Missouri wrestler had a different agenda.

Chandler met Marcin Held in the opening round of the tourney and took care of Lloyd Woodward with ease. The final round pitted Chandler against his biggest test, Patricky “Pitbull” Freire. Chandler dominated “Pitbull” for 15 minutes and secured an opportunity to scrap Alvarez for the lightweight strap. Chandler was not ruled out of the contest, but Alvarez was expected to retain his title by fans and bookies.

In a back and forth war at Bellator 58, the two combatants put on one of the most memorable bouts in MMA history. More impressively, after Chandler appeared to be the losing end of the fight, he came back to catch Alvarez in a rear-naked choke in Round 4 and become the Bellator lightweight champion.

Chandler went 4-0 in 2011 and made lightweights from every promotion take notice and be aware of what his future has in store.

Donald Cerrone
Cerrone was a close No. 2 for this award.

“Cowboy” went 4-0 on the year, defeating Paul Kelly, Vagner Rocha, Charles Oliveira and Dennis Siver, and finished all but Rocha.  Cerrone has looked unstoppable in his 2011 campaign and could add a fifth victory on the year with a win over Nate Diaz at UFC 141 on Dec. 30.  The former WEC lightweight No. 1 contender credits much of his recent success visiting with a sport’s therapist and it shows in his flawless performances.

Cerrone was edged out by Chandler simply because he was more known then the Bellator champion due to his successful WEC career.  Nevertheless, 2011 was unquestionably the greatest year “Cowboy” has displayed thus far in his MMA career.

Chris Weidman
The former Ring of Combat middleweight champion made his UFC debut on March 3 at UFC Live: “Sanchez vs. Kampmann” and picked up his first Octagon victory against Alessio Sakara.  Weidman went on to submit Jesse Bondfeldt at UFC 131, then choked Tom Lawlor unconscious at UFC 139. 

Weidman extended his undefeated record to 7-0 during 2011 and positioned himself to compete against the upper echelon in the UFC 185-pound division come 2012.

Ronda Rousey
Rousey‘s professional career began in 2011 and it was storied to say the least.

On March 27 Rousey debuted in King of the Cage: “Turning Point” where she submitted Ediene Gomes in 25 seconds.  This set a pace for the year.

Rousey submitted three more opponents this year and each took less than a minute.  She caught Charmaine Tweet in an armbar at HKFC: School of Hard Knocks 12, and then Sarah D’Alelio and Julia Budd under the Strikeforce banner.

Rousey’s 2011 campaign consisted of a 4-0 record, four armbars and took a total time of 2 minutes and 18 seconds.  If Rousey had conquered stiffer competition surely she would have been ranked higher on the list.

Daniel Cormier
Cormier was impressive coming into 2011, but a higher caliber of competition catapulted his stock.

The 2001 NCAA Division I All-American wrestler began his year with a decision victory against Devin Cole on Jan. 7 at Strikeforce Challengers: “Woodley vs. Saffiedine”.  Cormier then took out veteran Jeff Monson on June 18 at Strikeforce: “Overeem vs. Werdum”.

Cormier had the opportunity to show and prove when he replaced Alistair Overeem in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix and he did.  Cormier faced Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva in the tournament and pulled off the upset with a first round knockout and secured a spot in the finals against Josh Barnett.

Cormier is undefeated with a 9-0 record and positive buzz heading into 2012.