Admittedly, selecting a comeback fighter of the year depends on a few factors, some of which are subjective.  Certainly, the math and data points are available to filter down to a select few possibilities before proceeding with the actual selection of the winner of said award.  Luckily, for 2011, the choice is pretty obvious.

The 2011 Comeback Fighter of the Year is: Shinichi Kojima

After suffering a decision loss to Jussier da Silva and losing his #1 Flyweight ranking, Kojima tore his ACL and suffered a 25 month layoff.  Kojima returned in August 2011 and took decision wins over Masaaki Sugawara and Kiyotaka Shimizu, propelling Kojima back up to #4 in the division.

Honorable Mentions: Ed Herman, Michal Materla

To the FightMatrix system, the most noteworthy match is based on cumulative rank strength accompanied by divisional strength.

In 2011, the most “noteworthy” match was: Frankie Edgar KO(4) Gray Maynard.

This saw the #1 versus the #2, for the most important championship in the deepest division (at least by number of competitors).  The only other #1 vs. #2 in 2011 (in the men’s — at least) was the first match between Edgar and Maynard.

The FightMatrix Most Improved Fighter of the Year for 2011 is: Michael Chandler

Chandler, who was unranked at the end of 2010, skyrocketed all the way up to #5 in the Lightweight division, with wins over highly ranked fighters such as Patricky Freire and Eddie Alvarez.  After going 4-0 in 2011, his career record stands at a perfect 9-0.

Honorable Mention: Robert Peralta

With upsets of the year, we use pre-bout point totals and also put some exclusions into play — both fighters cannot be suffering from any inactivity penalty and the losing fighter must have a respectable rank — within the top 20. We also do the math two ways; proportional raw point difference and net point difference normalized by division.

Using both equations, the upset of the year was Robert Peralta SD(3) Hiroyuki Takaya

Honorable Mention: Jake Ellenberger KO(1) Jake Shields

Had this taken into account the actual outcome (Split vs. KO), you could certainly argue for these placements to be flip-flopped.

It’s probably no surprise to most, but our women’s rookie fighter of the year for 2011 is Ronda Rousey.

She fulfilled our basic requirements of debuting and fighting three times in the 2011 calendar year.  Furthermore, she has earned the #3 ranking in the 145 division, which may turn into the #2 ranking depending on Baszler who is likely to drop down to 135 or go inactive.  She has also finished all four of her opponents by submission, within a minute.  This was a no-brainer.

As for a follow-up on our 2010 winner, Liz Carmouche, she has not fared so well.  Although fighting against top opposition, she has went 0-2 on the year.

2011 Honorable Mention: Sara McMann