Let's Put A Bow On MMA In 2017 With The Best Submissions/Knockouts Of The Year
Hello and welcome to the first ever Barstool Sports MMA Awards, where we’ll take a look at the best submission and knockout of the year. We learned a thing or two from the Deadspin Awards, which had 10829376 categories and lasted like six hours, so here at the Barstool Sports MMA Awards, we’re keeping it simple: 2 awards, a couple hundred words. Both of my award winners were sliding in at the end of the year, but that’s not to say there weren’t good finishes in the first six months of 2017. Also, while not official awards in the Barstool Sports MMA Awards, I’d give Max Holloway Fighter of the Year, and Justin Gaethje vs Michael Johnson Fight of the Year. Alright, onto the fun ones.
Submission Of The Year
Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson taps Ray Borg at 3:15 of the fifth and final round of their fight at UFC 216, making history as the first UFC Champion to defend their belt eleven straight times. While there were some great submissions over the last twelve months, nothing was even contending for this award other than Mighty Mouse’s suplex-armbar. It’s the clip I’ve watched more times than any other. When it happened live, I don’t even think I was fully processing what he did. I blogged it like three times because I couldn’t believe it for weeks, and I still can’t. He tossed Ray Borg in the air like a pizza and had him in an armbar before he hit the ground, which is apparently a move he drilled the shit out of leading up to this fight. Unbelievable. Submission of the year, submission of a lifetime.
Advertisement
Runner up:
(RIP From The Top Rope)
Knockout Of The Year
KO of the Year HAD TO BE my main man Francis Ngannou lifting Alistair Overeem off his feet with a vicious uppercut. So good it froze Joe Rogan in time and space.
At UFC 220, that man will meet Stipe Miocic in Boston, Massachusetts for the most anticipated Heavyweight Championship fight since Cain Velasquez first met Junior Dos Santos. I can’t fucking wait. Neither can you, if you watch this trailer they put together for it…
Runner up:
Advertisement
And that’s it for the 2017 Barstool Sports MMA Awards. Hope you enjoyed them. Here’s to a great year of barbaric human cockfighting in front of us!