Most Improved Fighter of the Year: Volkan Oezdemir
With an ascent similar to that of Junior dos Santos, Oezdemir came out of nowhere to become a title contender in the UFC.
2017 Awards: Upsets of the Year
Note: We have two ways that we derive biggest “upsets” based on points difference between winner and loser.
“Most Noteworthy” (X minus Y)
“Most Lopsided” (X divided by Y)
Most Noteworthy: Francis Ngannou KO(1) Alistair Overeem
More of a guard change than an upset. Nevertheless, Ngannou made up a massive point difference in taking Overeem out.
Most Lopsided: Volkan Oezdemir SD(3) Ovince St. Preux
Were the actual outcome a part of this, Emmett/Lamas would get the award. However, this is about proportional point differences and Oezdemir wasn’t even on the map before this fight.
Featured Upcoming Bouts (Outside of UFC)
| Thursday, December 31st 2026: Rizin FF Super Rizin 6: Shiwasu no Owarinagoya Gekokujo Matsuri | |||
 [#1 W105] Natalia Kuziutina |  [#4 W105] Saori Oshima | ||
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| Last Fight Date: 9/10/2026 [Rizin Fighting Federation] Last Opponent: [#18 W105] Rena Kubota Last 5: W W W W W | Last Fight Date: 7/18/2026 [Rizin Fighting Federation] Last Opponent: [#13 W105] Ye Ji Lee Last 5: L W L W W | ||
| Sunday, December 13th 2026: Deep - 135 Impact | |||
| [#3 SW] Sukai China | [#4 SW] Jo Arai | ||
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| Last Fight Date: 5/04/2026 [DEEP] Last Opponent: [#6 SW] Sora Sugiyama Last 5: W W W W W | Last Fight Date: 9/13/2026 [DEEP] Last Opponent: [#23 SW] Daichi Kitakata Last 5: L L W L W | ||
| Sunday, December 13th 2026: Deep Tokyo Impact 2026 6th Round | |||
| [#6 SW] Sora Sugiyama | [#10 SW] Goal Makino | ||
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| Last Fight Date: 9/20/2026 [DEEP] Last Opponent: [NR] Musashi Musashi Last 5: W W W L W | Last Fight Date: 9/06/2026 [DEEP] Last Opponent: [#42 SW] Toshiya Takashima Last 5: W W W W W | ||
Featured Fighters
| [#18 W125] |  Lucia Szabova | [#1 WW] | Islam Makhachev | |
| [#18 LW] |  Renato Carneiro | [#1 FW] |  Alexander Volkanovski | |
| [#13 LW] | Tom Nolan | [#26 WW] |  Jacobe Smith | |
| [#102 W125] | Tainara Lisboa | [#1 LW] | Justin Gaethje | |
| [#2 LW] |  Ilia Topuria | [#8 HW] | Josh Hokit |
2017 Awards: Most Noteworthy Match of the Year
Most Noteworthy Match of the Year:
Max Holloway TKO(3) Jose Aldo II
The “most noteworthy” match of the year isn’t about box office or the popular scene, instead it is a pretty basic calculation — a sum of quality if you will. You can decide between the first or the rematch, they were basically the same fight.
2017 Awards: Comeback Fighter of the Year
As a refresher, our “Comeback” award is about coming back from inactivity or major injury (that we know about) and in doing so, really impressing. You can see more details at the bottom of the post about specific qualifiers.
Comeback Fighter of the Year: Georges St. Pierre (2-time winner)
Talk about a no-brainer. GSP comes off a massive layoff and stops the Middleweight champion, capturing UFC gold in a second division. He’s the best ever.
Honorable Mentions: Al Iaquinta, Chan Sung Jung
To qualify, fighters must be in an active status at the end of the award year and did not have a fight in the previous calendar year or are coming off of a known major injury that caused an inactive period of 15+ months.
Fight Matrix Program – UFC 219: Cyborg/Holm (12-30-2017)
Women Featherweight Championship (145)
[#1/#3DD/#3P4P] Cristiane Justino (18-1-0, -363) vs. [#5] Holly Holm (11-3-0, +285)
Cristiane Justino is the All-Time #2 ranked Women’s fighter.
Holly Holm is the All-Time #16 ranked Women’s fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Cristiane Justino (3-0-0)
2017-07-29: W vs. [#6BW] Tonya Evinger (19-6-0) via TKO in 1:56 of round 3
2016-09-24: W vs. [#25BW] Lina Lansberg (7-3-0) via TKO in 2:29 of round 2
2016-05-14: W vs. [#8BW] Leslie Smith (10-7-1) via TKO (Punches) in 1:21 of round 1
Last 3 Fights: Holly Holm (1-2-0)
2017-06-17: W vs. [#12BW] Bethe Correia (10-3-1) via KO (Head Kick and Punch) in 1:09 of round 3
2017-02-11: L vs. [#2FW/#8DD/#10P4P] Germaine de Randamie (7-3-0) via UD (48-47, 48-47, 48-47)
2016-07-23: L vs. [#2BW/#4DD/#8P4P] Valentina Shevchenko (14-3-0) via UD (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Cristiane Justino 154, Holly Holm 196
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Even: Both have 1 win(s) against common opposition.
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Lightweight (155)
[#4] Edson Barboza (19-4-0, +235) vs. [#6] Khabib Nurmagomedov (24-0-0, -294)
Edson Barboza is the All-Time #27 ranked Lightweight fighter.
Khabib Nurmagomedov is the All-Time #28 ranked Lightweight fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Edson Barboza (3-0-0)
2017-03-11: W vs. [#14LW] Beneil Dariush (14-3-1) via TKO in 4:35 of round 2
2016-07-23: W vs. [#38FW] Gilbert Melendez (22-7-0) via UD (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
2016-04-23: W vs. [#11LW] Anthony Pettis (20-7-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Last 3 Fights: Khabib Nurmagomedov (3-0-0)
2016-11-12: W vs. [#21LW] Michael Johnson (17-12-0) via Submission (Kimura) in 2:31 of round 3
2016-04-16: W vs. [#161LW] Darrell Horcher (13-3-0) via TKO (Punches) in 3:38 of round 2
2014-04-19: W vs. [#3WW] Rafael dos Anjos (28-9-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Edson Barboza 294, Khabib Nurmagomedov 413
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Khabib Nurmagomedov leads 1-0
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Women Strawweight (115)
[#8] Carla Esparza (12-4-0, +220) vs. [#13] Cynthia Calvillo (6-0-0, -277)
Last 3 Fights: Carla Esparza (2-1-0)
2017-06-25: W vs. [#20SW] Maryna Moroz (8-2-0) via UD (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
2017-02-19: L vs. [#19SW] Randa Markos (7-5-0) via SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
2016-04-23: W vs. [#34SW] Juliana Lima (9-4-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Last 3 Fights: Cynthia Calvillo (3-0-0)
2017-07-16: W vs. [#26SW] Joanne Calderwood (11-3-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
2017-04-08: W vs. [#101SW] Pearl Gonzalez (6-3-0) via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in 3:45 of round 3
2017-03-04: W vs. [#48SW] Amanda Bobby Cooper (3-3-0) via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in 3:19 of round 1
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Carla Esparza 188, Cynthia Calvillo 167
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
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McGregor Keen on Diaz Rematch
Source: Wikimedia
It’s the news we all wanted to hear: everyone’s favorite (or least favorite) Irishman is hoping for a third bout with Nate Diaz. We all know what happened in the previous two fights, so suffice to say, that a third meeting between the pair would bring closure to a lot of people. The news comes after McGregor’s assertion just a few days ago that he was uninterested in a second consecutive boxing match after losing to Mayweather last Summer. It’s no real surprise to fans of the Irishman who understand that while the big money is in the boxing ring, McGregor’s heart is in the octagon. He does love that cash money, though.
Despite BetStars offering odds on McGregor to fight both Manny Pacquiao and Paulie Malignaggi in March of next year, we’re still unsure as to whether The Notorious will ever step back inside the boxing ring. With McGregor, you just can’t tell, and according to Khabib Nurmagomedov, McGregor will be in no rush to jump back into the octagon.
Fight Matrix Program – UFC on Fox 26: Lawler/dos Anjos (12-16-2017)
Welterweight (170)
[#3] Robbie Lawler (28-11-0, -110) vs. [#4] Rafael dos Anjos (27-9-0, -115)
Robbie Lawler is the All-Time #3 ranked Welterweight and #18 ranked Absolute fighter.
Rafael dos Anjos is the All-Time #32 ranked Absolute fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Robbie Lawler (2-1-0)
2017-07-29: W vs. [#15WW] Donald Cerrone (32-10-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2016-07-30: L vs. [#1WW/#5DD/#7P4P] Tyron Woodley (18-3-1) via KO (Punches) in 2:12 of round 1
2016-01-02: W vs. [*] Carlos Condit (30-10-0) via SD (48-47, 47-48, 48-47)
Last 3 Fights: Rafael dos Anjos (2-1-0)
2017-09-09: W vs. [#12WW] Neil Magny (19-6-0) via Submission (Arm Triangle Choke) in 3:43 of round 1
2017-06-17: W vs. [#29WW] Tarec Saffiedine (16-7-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
2016-11-05: L vs. [#3LW/#8DD] Tony Ferguson (23-3-0) via UD (48-47, 48-47, 48-47)
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Robbie Lawler 140, Rafael dos Anjos 98
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Rafael dos Anjos leads 2-1
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Featherweight (145)
[#4] Ricardo Lamas (18-5-0, -274) vs. [#39] Josh Emmett (12-1-0, +220)
Ricardo Lamas is the All-Time #12 ranked Featherweight fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Ricardo Lamas (2-1-0)
2017-07-29: W vs. [#26FW] Jason Knight (20-4-0) via TKO in 4:34 of round 1
2016-11-05: W vs. [#20LW] Charles Oliveira (22-8-0) via Submission (Guillotine Choke) in 2:13 of round 2
2016-06-04: L vs. [#1FW/#1DD/#2P4P] Max Holloway (19-3-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Last 3 Fights: Josh Emmett (2-1-0)
2017-10-21: W vs. [#159FW] Felipe Arantes (18-9-1) via UD (30-26, 30-26, 30-25)
2017-04-08: L vs. [#68LW] Desmond Green (20-6-0) via SD (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
2016-12-17: W vs. [#84LW] Scott Holtzman (11-2-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Ricardo Lamas 140, Josh Emmett 56
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
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Welterweight (170)
[#14] Santiago Ponzinibbio (25-3-0, -194) vs. [#23] Mike Perry (11-1-0, +161)
Last 3 Fights: Santiago Ponzinibbio (3-0-0)
2017-07-16: W vs. [#22WW] Gunnar Nelson (16-3-1) via KO (Punches) in 1:22 of round 1
2017-02-19: W vs. [#66WW] Nordine Taleb (13-4-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2016-08-06: W vs. [#31WW] Zak Cummings (21-5-0) via UD (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Last 3 Fights: Mike Perry (2-1-0)
2017-09-16: W vs. [#373WW] Alex Reyes (13-3-0) via KO (Knee) in 1:19 of round 1
2017-04-22: W vs. [#34WW] Jake Ellenberger (31-13-0) via KO (Elbow) in 1:05 of round 2
2016-12-17: L vs. [#53WW] Alan Jouban (15-6-0) via UD (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Santiago Ponzinibbio 153, Mike Perry 91
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
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