In case you didn’t know, we have our own list of annual awards we issue. They’ve all been posted for 2023. There is a lot of fine print on that page, so please read. Furthermore, please be aware that the awards are at minimum, strongly guided by the data and sometimes, 100% decided by the data. I’m creating posts like this to serve as supporting commentary.
The Rookie of the Year award presents some interesting challenges. It is guided by stats, but not decided by stats. There are many factors to consider, including W-L record, ratings (all systems), strength of division, and rank in division, just to name a few. Furthermore, many fighters who qualify as rookies, spend their early career in lower-level leagues that are known to have inaccurate and delayed reporting. We may get results a week, or a month from now, that could change the fighter that most deserves the award and this is why “Preliminary” is noted in the title.
Similar to baseball, a rookie to us, is a fighter who had adequate activity in the award year, but is allowed to have limited activity in the year prior. Additionally, they must have debuted in either the award year, or in the calendar year before.
As usual, there were many close calls…
Nabi Nabiev (4-0, #290 BW)
On the incredibly long list of close calls for the Men’s award. Nabiev had one of the highest ranks, and the highest rating in most of the systems, but of course Sherdog and Tapology disagree on his record. Tapology has him at 3-0, with a 4th pro fight that is tagged as “Record Ineligible”. Sherdog has him at 3-0 as well. They treat the “Ineligible” fight as a legit pro fight, but are missing his most recent win that Tapology DOES have. For now, Mr. Nabiev has the award. This one is probably worth a re-visit in a few weeks time.
Honorable Mentions: Rizvan Rizvanov, Evgeny Galochkin, Nikita Leshukov, Robert Batte, Renaldy Manse
Julieta Martinez (6-0, #51 WSW)
Thankfully, the Women’s list was much shorter and the selection was essentially between two fighters. Martinez is just 19 and went 6-0 in just over a 7-month span in 2023. Her most recent win was over a 7-0 opponent. Though this is quite remarkable, she lacked a notable win, unlike the very close runner-up, Shanelle Dyer, who went 4-0, and beat Liliya Kazak, a fighter who has a lengthy ranked history here.
Honorable Mention: Shanelle Dyer