Fighter of the Year since 1989

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NHB7

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Ill start by naming a worthy candidate for fighter of the year in 1989 then the next poster either does a better 1989 candidate or they move on to 1990. So on and so forth until present day.

1989: Kenji Kawaguchi
 
I like the thread idea, but in the interest of discussion and thread activity would propose to move the beginning date to 1993. After UFC 1 MMA (re-)exploded all over the world, before then, events were too rare, documentation is too scarce and records are too sketchy. Before ca. 1992 I know of only Shooto and Brazilian one-off events/exhibition matches.

In short, I think our sample size is too small to determine with any kind of viability who the best fighter of the year was during the pre-UFC era, you would basically be forced to rely on single events/fights on which to judge fighters' performances.

Like I could nominate Eugenio Tadeu for fighter of the year in 1984 simply because I only have one video from that year and he looked the best on that card. Or nominate Euclides Pereira for 1968 because he beat Carlson Gracie with documented proof via newspaper article and Gracie's admission in a (much) later interview.

If you decide to keep the current format, I'ld continue with Noboru Asahi for 1990.
 
Pyreen said:
I like the thread idea, but in the interest of discussion and thread activity would propose to move the beginning date to 1993. After UFC 1 MMA (re-)exploded all over the world, before then, events were too rare, documentation is too scarce and records are too sketchy. Before ca. 1992 I know of only Shooto and Brazilian one-off events/exhibition matches.

In short, I think our sample size is too small to determine with any kind of viability who the best fighter of the year was during the pre-UFC era, you would basically be forced to rely on single events/fights on which to judge fighters' performances.

Like I could nominate eugenio Tadeu for fighter of the year in 1984 simply because I only have one video from that year and he looked the best on that card. Or nominate Euclides Pereira for 1968 because he beat Carlson Gracie with dcumented proof via newspaper article and Gracie's admission in a (much) later interview.

If you decide to keep the current format, I'ld continue with Noboru Asahi for 1990.
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It's a little difficult, but people can just go to: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1991_in_Shooto

Then: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1992_in_Shooto

And then start looking at Pancrase and UFC from there.

I didn't go back to years of single events. There were 3 events in 1989 and several fighters fought on all three cards. Fighters today often only have 3 fights a year. I also specifically chose Worldwide forum because in Heavys most posters don't know anything earlier than Brock.
 
NHB7 said:
1991: Kenji Kawaguchi
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I'ld veto that with Wallid Ismail, his win over Tadeu that year I rank higher than Kawaguchi beating Sakurada (who I consider his best win that year). Also I would value wins under Vale Tudo rules higher than those contested under shooto rules. Plus it's Wallid ;)

Edit: Either him or Bustamante. While career wise I'ld prob rank Busta over Wallid, in 1991 specifically beating Marcelo Mendes pales compared to a win over Tadeu, so I'll go with Wallid for that year.
 
NHB7 said:
I didn't go back to years of single events. There were 3 events in 1989 and several fighters fought on all three cards. Fighters today often only have 3 fights a year. I also specifically chose Worldwide forum because in Heavys most posters don't know anything earlier than Brock.
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Yeah that's true, like I said in that timeframe it's basically a Shooto MVP award.
 
Pyreen said:
I'ld veto that with Wallid Ismail, his win over Tadeu that year I rank higher than Kawaguchi beating Sakurada (who I consider his best win that year). Also I would value wins under Vale Tudo rules higher than those contested under shooto rules. Plus it's Wallid ;)

Edit: Either him or Bustamante. While career wise I'ld prob rank Busta over Wallid, in 1991 specifically beating Marcelo Mendes pales compared to a win over Tadeu, so I'll go with Wallid for that year.
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Agreed. Get us to 1993 so others can contribute!
 
NHB7 said:
Agreed. Get us to 1993 so others can contribute!
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It starts to get a bit difficult by 1992, for me it depends on the rules of your thread. Specifically, whether you want to allow a fighter winning in multiple years, or whether you want to limit it to one year per fighting career, since for me it's between Marco Ruas, Kawaguchi again, and Asahi again.

I'll have to pick Ruas by default even though Im not a fan of his and his win over Borges doesnt mean much of anything, but if multiples are allowed, I'ld pick Kawaguchi again.
 
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1993 - Royce

He beat Ken so decisively and fast. No brainer IMO.
 
Pyreen said:
It starts to get a bit difficult by 1992, for me it depends on the rules of your thread. Specifically, whether you want to allow a fighter winning in multiple years, or whether you want to limit it to one year per fighting career, since for me it's between Marco Ruas, Kawaguchi again, and Asahi again.

I'll have to pick Ruas by default even though Im not a fan of his and his win over Borges doesnt mean much of anything, but if multiples are allowed, I'ld pick Kawaguchi again.
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Definitely year by year.
 
It has to go Royce in '94 as well right?

Royce Gracie: 1994
 
1992 ken shamrock
NHB7 said:
It has to go Royce in '94 as well right?

Royce Gracie: 1994
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With all the stuff going on in pancrase in 94 how can you pick Royce ?
 
NHB7 said:
It has to go Royce in '94 as well right?

Royce Gracie: 1994
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Depends on whether you want to include Pancrase as MMA/NHB. If so, I'ld argue that it's Funaki that year. Wins over Rutten, Ken Shamrock x 2, Vernon White, and Minoru Suzuki are way better than wins over Kimo and Severn. If its no Pancrase, then absolutely Royce again.
 
Pyreen said:
Depends on whether you want to include Pancrase as MMA/NHB. If so, I'ld argue that it's Funaki that year. Wins over Rutten, Ken Shamrock x 2, Vernon White, and Minoru Suzuki are way better than wins over Kimo and Severn. If its no Pancrase, then absolutely Royce again.
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Shoot. Of course it's Pancrase and you are right again. I'm embarrassing myself in my own thread!!!
 
Yi-Sunsin said:
1995: Kenji Kawaguchi
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1995 is Ricardo Moraes year, he won by far the most stacked tourney of that year in the IAFC. Specifically, he beat Ilyukhin (who himself beat Vovchanchyn in the same tournament), Yerohin and Tarasov.

Here's a post about that event I made in the past:

"Finally, I'ld like to give a shoutout and raise awareness towards the IAFC, which I understand is pretty much unknown in America, but was (relatively speaking) a big deal in Europe.

Its hard for me to overstate just how advanced the competitors were relative to their era. Sure, you had your bullshido artists like in the US, but they were mixed with excellently trained combat sambo guys and quality Brazilians and Americans.

Specifically, their second event (November 1995) is one of my favorite tournies ever with an incredible talent pool including Morais, Ilyukhin, Vovchanchin, Vasily Kudin, Avetisyan, Maxim Tarasov, Alex Andrade, Adilson Lima, Golovihin, Tra Telligman... all in the same tournament! Just compare and contrast to, say, UFC 5, 6 or 7 to get your mind blown at the unbeleivable skill gap over what revisionist history claims as the "premier" NHB org at the time. "

I know that all those guys arent super known in the US, but many of the combat sambo guys were at least 5-6 years ahead of the game compared to the US. You dont have to take my word for it, you can find the event all over internet video portals.

And Moraes beat them all. The slow ass zombie version of Moraes everyone knows from Pride was like pre- and post-TRT Bigfoot, night and day.

I dont think its possible to get a legitimate feel for the best fighter from 1995 - 1997 without knowing the European scene at the time.
 
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Pyreen said:
Depends on whether you want to include Pancrase as MMA/NHB. If so, I'ld argue that it's Funaki that year. Wins over Rutten, Ken Shamrock x 2, Vernon White, and Minoru Suzuki are way better than wins over Kimo and Severn. If its no Pancrase, then absolutely Royce again.
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The gracies avoided pancrase
Pyreen said:
1995 is Ricardo Moraes year, he won by far the most stacked tourney of that year in IAFC 1. Specifically, he beat Ilyukhin (who himself beat Vovchanchyn in the same tournament), Yerohin and Tarasov.

Here's a post about that event I made in the past:

"Finally, I'ld like to give a shoutout and raise awareness towards the IAFC, which I understand is pretty much unknown in America, but was (relatively speaking) a big deal in Europe.

Its hard for me to overstate just how advanced the competitors were relative to their era. Sure, you had your bullshido artists like in the US, but they were mixed with excellently trained combat sambo guys and quality Brazilians and Americans.

Specifically, their second event (October 1995) is one of my favorite tournies ever with an incredible talent pool including Morais, Ilyukhin, Vovchanchin, Vasily Kudin, Avetisyan, Maxim Tarasov, Alex Andrade, Adilson Lima, Golovihin, Tra Telligman... all in the same tournament! Just compare and contrast to, say, UFC 5, 6 or 7 to get your mind blown at the unbeleivable skill gap over what revisionist history claims as the "premier" NHB org at the time. "

I know that all those guys arent super known in the US, but many of the combat sambo guys were at least 5-6 years ahead of the game compared to the US. You dont have to take my word for it, you can find the event all over internet video portals.

And Moraes beat them all. The slow ass zombie version of Moraes everyone knows from Pride was like pre- and post-TRT Bigfoot, night and day.

I dont think its possible to get a legitimate feel for the best fighter from 1995 - 1997 without knowing the European scene at the time.
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Yes I agree with this as well

Ilyukhin was a wizard on the ground (much better than gracie technique wise) and Moraes walked through him

I looked up the records of the other two guys since I didn't remember much about them and one is 15-4 the other is 9-3


Anyway do you know why he looked so bad after? Was it just the fact that he was now facing guys with superior firepower in the standup or what?
 
Rickson had a good year in 95, wonder how he would have done in IAFC
 
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