What are your top three or four candidates for Fight of the Year so far this year?
CHRISTOPHER KING, MMATorch contributor
No. 1 for me was Robbie Lawler vs. Carlos Condit. Condit won that damn fight, but it was so impressive from both fighters. It had everything – technique, power, skill, heart, courage – and both fighters gave everything. In fact it was so good I may go and watch it again right now!
No. 2 was Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs. Claudia Gadelha 2. I was so impressed with Joanna after being down in the fight. She simply refused to wilt and lose her cardio, and then took over and eventually overwhelmed the exhausted Gadehla.
No. 3 is Nate Diaz vs. Conor McGregor 2. I actually believe that this was not as good as the first fight. However, it was still completely absorbing, enthralling, and fascinating. McGregor deserved all the plaudits for changing his game plan. I think he just about won the decision, but it was a great fight.
NICK GRINUPS, MMATorch contributor
Not in order my top candidates for Fight of the Year so far are:
Dan Henderson vs. Michael Bisping
Robbie Lawler vs. Carlos Condit
Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz 2
Jim Miller vs. Joe Lauzon
MICHAEL HISCOE, MMATorch contributor
My favorite fight this year was Stipe Miocic vs. Alistair Overeem from UFC 203. It was a short but back and forth fight that had great atmosphere. Miocic getting rocked and surviving the guillotine and phantom tapout only to recover and knockout Overeem made for great drama and the best fight I’ve seen this year.
Honorable mentions go to Francisco Trinaldo vs. Yancy Medeiros from UFC 198 and Tony Ferguson vs. Lando Vannata from UFC Fight Night on July 13.
ADAM TINDAL, MMATorch contributor
Fight of the year is so hard for me to choose because I have to dig back early into the year and I’ve watched so many good fights that it’s near impossible to pick. The three that stand out the most for me though are 1 and 2 Diaz-Mcgregor fights just for the sheer intensity of the two.
The final one is a sleeper for most, I bet, but the Tony Ferguson-Lando Vannata fight was about as good as it can get for me. Lando comes in on short notice and almost everyone is clueless about this guy and doesn’t know what to expect from him. What we got was some of the craftiest and slickest Muay Thai I’ve seen outside of Glory and Lumpinee Stadium. Props to Brandon Gibson for molding that style into Lando, who by the way is a natural featherweight and made Tony Ferguson look like Kevin Ferguson. El Cucuy did show us, though, just how tough he is and he engaged in one of the craziest back and forth fights I’ve seen in a while. When I was watching this card I was only tuning in simply for the main event between Lineker and MacDonald and this one took me by total surprise. I watched it again everyday for probably two weeks after.
NOW CHECK OUT THE PREVIOUS ROUNDTABLE: What are leading contenders for Fight of the Year so far in 2016? Bisping vs. Silva? Diaz vs. McGregor? Tate vs. Holm? (pt. 1 of 2)
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