Welcome to the latest of many MMATorch Awards for 2018. MMATorch staff have voted in a wide array of categories, with the top vote-getters receiving the awards. Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments or Tweet us @MMATorch. Be sure to check out our other awards thus far.
- MMA Story of the Year
- Career Tailspin Award
- Rising Star of the Year
- Submission of the Year
- Knockout of the Year
- Fighter of the Year
- Worst Event of the Year
- Best Event of the Year
Worst Fight of 2018
There are a lot of fights that go down over the course of the year. Many, if not most of them, are inconsequential and are forgotten as quickly as they happen. Every year though, a select few are so bad that we can never forget them or get that time back. Sometimes it’s a big fight that fails to live up to expectations. Other times there are two fighters who probably shouldn’t be there in the first place. This year’s winner is a fight that seemed to promise fireworks on paper, but in reality, delivered quite the opposite.
Winner: Derrick Lewis vs. Francis Ngannou – UFC 226
On one of the biggest cards of the year, directly under a heavyweight championship fight, Derrick Lewis and Francis Ngannou had a chance to make an impression and secure a top contender’s spot against whoever came out on top in the evening’s main event. Ngannou was looking to rebound from a tough five-round beating from Stipe Miocic but was on an absolute tear leading up to that. Lewis had won three of his last four, all by KO/TKO and has been known for having entertaining back and forth fights. It seemed like a match made in MMA heaven, but it wasn’t to be. Lewis and Ngannou both appeared to have too much respect for each other’s power and were reluctant to engage in what turned into a 15-minute borefest that Lewis took by decision. Our own Cole Henry wrote in his live report, ” I hate being critical, but this was one of the biggest disappointments in a while. Just a terrible fight. Nobody deserves a win.”
Honorable Mention
Both of our honorable mentions fall into the “shouldn’t be there” category.
-Mike Jackson vs. CM Punk – UFC 225
-Tito Ortiz vs. Chuck Liddell – Liddell vs. Ortiz 3
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