Fight Booth’s ‘HOV-MMA’ 2009 Year-End Awards

• KO of the Year

UFC 100
July 11, 2009
Las Vegas, Nevada
Mandalay Bay Events Center
Dan Henderson vs. Michael Bisping

After putting up with Bisping’s mouth during the filming of TUF 9: United States vs. United Kingdom, Henderson finally shut it via KO at 3:20 of the 2nd Round during the biggest PPV event of the year. Bisping circled right into Henderson’s power right, and even ate a couple of punches for good measure after being knocked unconscious.

• Submission of the Year

DREAM.12
October 25, 2009
Osaka, Japan
Osaka-jo Hall
Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Zelg Galesic

photo via Daniel Herbertson/Sherdog

MMA Legend Kazushi Sakuraba submits Zelg Galesic via kneebar at the 1:40 mark of Round 1 while taking a steady diet of punches to the face. Mixed Martial Arts at its finest.

• Beatdown of the Year (Tie)

UFC 101/UFC 107
August 8/December 12, 2009
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania/Memphis,Tennessee
Wachovia Center/FedExForum
Anderson Silva vs. Forrest Griffin/B.J. Penn vs. Diego Sanchez

• Fight of the Year

UFC 102
August 29, 2009
Portland, Oregon
Rose Garden
Randy Couture vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira defeated Randy Couture via unanimous decision in a roller coaster of an affair; one in which we saw Couture come back from the dead no less than a handful of times. This fight provided 15 minutes of action starring two legends of the sport that was on par with any 5 star edge of your seat box office thriller. In my opinion this one had more “Holy Shit!” moments that any other fight in 2009, just barely edging out Sanchez vs. Guida (Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale).

• Fighter of the Year

Georges St. Pierre

GSP started of his 2009 campaign with a dominating victory over one of the greatest fighters of all in time in B.J. Penn. This SuperFight saw St. Pierre dominating Penn in a fight that would end via corner stoppage at the end of the 4th Round. With his 2nd victory over Penn in the Octagon, the first being a razor-thin split decision victory, this one left no question in the mind’s of MMA fans as to who was the better fighter when competing in the 170 pound division.

Later in the year at UFC 100, St. Pierre put on a clinic against #1 contender Thiago “Pitbull” Alves. GSP made another great fighter look like an amateur once again while showcasing his wrestling for five commanding rounds. With two dominant title defenses in 2009, Georges St. Pierre is well on his way to passing Hall of Famer Matt Hughes, becoming the longest-serving Welterweight Champion in UFC History.