UFC Featherweight Champion Conor McGregor reacts as he walks on stage for UFC 205 Weigh-ins at Madison Square Garden on November 11, 2016 in New York City. (Photo : Getty Images/Michael Reaves)
Through the years, the Ultimate Fighting Championship has seen a lot of great fighters in Anderson Silva, George St-Pierre, Jon Jones, Chuck Liddell, Randy Couture and Bj Penn among others. But none of the mentioned fighters experience the year Conor McGregor had and he is this year's UFC Fighter of the Year among the tough list of competitors:
1. Conor McGregor
The Irish fighter lost his first career fight against Nate Diaz at UFC 196 in March 2016. But instead of sulking, McGregor came back in flying colors, dispatching Diaz in August 2016 at UFC 202 via majority decision before becoming the first fighter in UFC history to hold two titles at the same time after a technical knockout win over Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205 in November for the lightweight belt. However, fans will not see McGregor in a while as he is set on a hiatus with his first baby on the way, Esquire reported.
2. Michael Bisping
Bisping has come a long way in his 10-year UFC career. And 2016 may be his best so far after winning the coveted middleweight championship by knocking out Luke Rockhold for the belt and pulling off a unanimous decision win over Dan Henderson to defend his title. McGregor making UFC history edged Bisping on being Fighter of the Year.
3. Stipe Miocic
Miocic went 3-0 in 2016, with his most notable fight coming against Fabricio Werdum whom he dethroned to win the heavyweight championship. Miocic is No.1 in CBS Sports' Fighter of the Year rankings but winning against Werdum who is already entering father time at 39 years old may not be as worthy as McGregor or Bisping for the award.
4. Cody Garbrandt
'No Love' showed no love against Dominick Cruz when he dethroned the former champ for the bantamweight title. Garbrandt went 4-0 in 2016 and capped his perfect year by overcoming the odds and pulling off the upset against Cruz.
5. Amanda Nunes
'The Lioness' did not take much time to dispatch UFC's former biggest star in Ronda Rousey as she defended her bantamweight belt in just 48 seconds, leaving the UFC world and Rousey in shock. Nunes surely knows how end the year with a bang in her Dec. 30 win.
Watch the video below for Fight of the Year candidate this year:
