MMA Fighter of the Year of each year since 1993. (1993-2025)

[CombatSports55]

MMA Fighter Of The Year For Each Year

1993 - Royce Gracie
1994 - Royce Gracie (8 Wins all by sub!)
1995 - Ken Shamrock (Runner Up: Bas Rutten)
1996 - Igor Vovchanchyn (14 finishes!) or Dan Severn (6-0) or Mark Coleman (5 finishes this year and wins title next year)
1997 - Randy Couture or Igor Vovchanchyn (Runner Ups: Vitor Belfort & Mark Kerr)
1998 - Frank Shamrock (3 title defenses)
1999 - Igor Vovchanchyn (7 wins) or Pat Miletich (4-1 with 2 title defenses)
2000 - Randy Couture
2001 - BJ Penn or Tito Ortiz or Matt Hughes or Wanderlei Silva
2002 - Matt Hughes or Wanderlei Silva
2003 - Fedor Emelianenko (Runner Up: Randy Couture)
2004 - Fedor Emelianenko or BJ Penn or Wanderlei Silva
2005 - Maurício Shogun Rua (5-0 against elite comp. 2005 Pride Grand Prix winner.)
2006 - Chuck Liddell (3 title defenses) or Anderson Silva
2007 - Rampage Jackson [3-0, Won UFC Belt and then won Unification] (Runner Up: Randy Couture & Anderson Silva)
2008 - Gegard Mousasi [6-0 & Won the 2008 Dream Middleweight Grand Prix] (Runner Up: Anderson Silva)
2009 - José Aldo (Runner Up: Lyoto Machida or Georges St-Pierre or Gegard Mousasi)
2010 - Frankie Edgar
2011 - Jon Jones (Close Runner Up: Dan Henderson) (3rd: Nick Diaz)
2012 - Benson Henderson (3 title defenses)
2013 - Demetrious Mighty Mouse Johnson (Runner Up: Cain Velasquez)
2014 - Robbie Lawler (Runner Up: Max Halloway)(3rd & 4th: TJ Dillashaw & Luke Rockhold)
2015 - Conor McGregor (Runner Ups: Luke Rockhold & Ronda Rousey)
2016 - Stipe Miocic (Runner Up: Conor McGregor & Michael Bisping)
2017 - Max Halloway (Runner Ups: Rose Namajunas & Demetrious Johnson)
2018 - Daniel Cormier
2019 - Israel Adesanya (Runner Up: Jorge Masvidal) (3rd: Usman)
2020 - Deiveson Figueiredo
2021 - Kamaru Usman
2022 - Alex Pereira
2023 - Islam Makhachev
2024 - Alex Pereira (Runner Up: Ilia)
2025 - Merab Dvalishvili (so far)

 

[CombatSports55]

Factoring Criteria for my list

1. Quality of the win
2. How you win the fight
3. How sensational you are
4. Breaking Records
5. Overcoming adversity
6. How great/entertaining the fight is / FOTY candidate
7. Activity

FOTY is not to be confused for P4P best fighter of the year.
That's only one aspect of my criteria.

Feel free to give constructive criticism for any year.

 

[jeff7b9]

No love for Bas Rutten?

He should.make an appearance somewhere between 96-99 imo.

Guy was unbeaten for 20+ fights, won and defended King Of Pancrase and won UFC gold.

Pat Militech gets a mention but Bas doesn't?

 

[RockyLockridge]

MMA Fighter Of The Year For Each Year

1993 - Royce Gracie
1994 - Royce Gracie (8 Wins all by sub!)
1995 - Ken Shamrock
1996 - Igor Vovchanchyn (14 finishes!) or Dan Severn (6-0) or Mark Coleman (5 finishes this year and wins title next year)
1997 - Randy Couture or Igor Vovchanchyn (Runner Ups: Vitor Belfort & Mark Kerr)
1998 - Frank Shamrock (3 title defenses)
1999 - Igor Vovchanchyn (7 wins) or Pat Miletich (4-1 with 2 title defenses)
2000 - Randy Couture
2001 - BJ Penn or Tito Ortiz or Matt Hughes or Wanderlei Silva
2002 - Matt Hughes or Wanderlei Silva
2003 - Fedor Emelianenko (Runner Up: Randy Couture)
2004 - Fedor Emelianenko or BJ Penn or Wanderlei Silva
2005 - Maurício Shogun Rua (5-0 against elite comp. 2005 Pride Grand Prix winner.)
2006 - Chuck Liddell (3 title defenses)
2007 - Rampage Jackson [3-0, Won UFC Belt and then won Unification] (Runner Up: Randy Couture)
2008 - Gegard Mousasi [6-0 & Won the 2008 Dream Middleweight Grand Prix] (Runner Up: Anderson Silva)
2009 - José Aldo (Runner Up: Lyoto Machida or Georges St-Pierre or Gegard Mousasi)
2010 - Frankie Edgar
2011 - Jon Jones (Close Runner Up: Dan Henderson) (3rd: Nick Diaz)
2012 - Benson Henderson (3 title defenses)
2013 - Demetrious Mighty Mouse Johnson (Runner Up: Cain Velasquez)
2014 - Robbie Lawler (Runner Up: Max Halloway)(3rd & 4th: TJ Dillashaw & Luke Rockhold)
2015 - Conor McGregor (Runner Ups: Luke Rockhold & Ronda Rousey)
2016 - Stipe Miocic (Runner Up: Conor McGregor)
2017 - Max Halloway (Runner Ups: Rose Namajunas & Demetrious Johnson)
2018 - Daniel Cormier
2019 - Israel Adesanya (Runner Up: Jorge Masvidal) (3rd: Usman)
2020 - Deiveson Figueiredo
2021 - Kamaru Usman
2022 - Alex Pereira
2023 - Islam Makhachev
2024 - Alex Pereira (Runner Up: Ilia)
2025 - Merab Dvalishvili (so far)

What got me into mma

 

[JPOMMA]

I’d put Anderson in 2007. He won three fight including the belt and the way in which he demolished Rich Franklin put an exclamation point to his rise in the UFC.

Only a year prior he was planning to quit fighting and had a visa to give MMA classes in the US. I guess he did end up giving lessons but in the octagon!

Also bonus points as all three fights were ended differently (including a sub).

 

[oski]

2013 - Demetrious Mighty Mouse Johnson (Runner Up: Cain Velasquez)

2020 - Deiveson Figueiredo

FOTY in a division nobody cares about is a little weird.

 

[ultra321]

MMA Fighter Of The Year For Each Year

1993 - Royce Gracie
1994 - Royce Gracie (8 Wins all by sub!)
1995 - Ken Shamrock
1996 - Igor Vovchanchyn (14 finishes!) or Dan Severn (6-0) or Mark Coleman (5 finishes this year and wins title next year)
1997 - Randy Couture or Igor Vovchanchyn (Runner Ups: Vitor Belfort & Mark Kerr)
1998 - Frank Shamrock (3 title defenses)
1999 - Igor Vovchanchyn (7 wins) or Pat Miletich (4-1 with 2 title defenses)
2000 - Randy Couture
2001 - BJ Penn or Tito Ortiz or Matt Hughes or Wanderlei Silva
2002 - Matt Hughes or Wanderlei Silva
2003 - Fedor Emelianenko (Runner Up: Randy Couture)
2004 - Fedor Emelianenko or BJ Penn or Wanderlei Silva
2005 - Maurício Shogun Rua (5-0 against elite comp. 2005 Pride Grand Prix winner.)
2006 - Chuck Liddell (3 title defenses)
2007 - Rampage Jackson [3-0, Won UFC Belt and then won Unification] (Runner Up: Randy Couture)
2008 - Gegard Mousasi [6-0 & Won the 2008 Dream Middleweight Grand Prix] (Runner Up: Anderson Silva)
2009 - José Aldo (Runner Up: Lyoto Machida or Georges St-Pierre or Gegard Mousasi)
2010 - Frankie Edgar
2011 - Jon Jones (Close Runner Up: Dan Henderson) (3rd: Nick Diaz)
2012 - Benson Henderson (3 title defenses)
2013 - Demetrious Mighty Mouse Johnson (Runner Up: Cain Velasquez)
2014 - Robbie Lawler (Runner Up: Max Halloway)(3rd & 4th: TJ Dillashaw & Luke Rockhold)
2015 - Conor McGregor (Runner Ups: Luke Rockhold & Ronda Rousey)
2016 - Stipe Miocic (Runner Up: Conor McGregor)
2017 - Max Halloway (Runner Ups: Rose Namajunas & Demetrious Johnson)
2018 - Daniel Cormier
2019 - Israel Adesanya (Runner Up: Jorge Masvidal) (3rd: Usman)
2020 - Deiveson Figueiredo
2021 - Kamaru Usman
2022 - Alex Pereira
2023 - Islam Makhachev
2024 - Alex Pereira (Runner Up: Ilia)
2025 - Merab Dvalishvili (so far)

Nice throw away account....

 

[Luthien]

Shogun fighter of the year 1981 - 2246 Possibly beyond

 

[Qays Stetkevich]

MMA Fighter Of The Year For Each Year

1993 - Royce Gracie
1994 - Royce Gracie (8 Wins all by sub!)
1995 - Ken Shamrock
1996 - Igor Vovchanchyn (14 finishes!) or Dan Severn (6-0) or Mark Coleman (5 finishes this year and wins title next year)
1997 - Randy Couture or Igor Vovchanchyn (Runner Ups: Vitor Belfort & Mark Kerr)
1998 - Frank Shamrock (3 title defenses)
1999 - Igor Vovchanchyn (7 wins) or Pat Miletich (4-1 with 2 title defenses)
2000 - Randy Couture
2001 - BJ Penn or Tito Ortiz or Matt Hughes or Wanderlei Silva
2002 - Matt Hughes or Wanderlei Silva
2003 - Fedor Emelianenko (Runner Up: Randy Couture)
2004 - Fedor Emelianenko or BJ Penn or Wanderlei Silva
2005 - Maurício Shogun Rua (5-0 against elite comp. 2005 Pride Grand Prix winner.)
2006 - Chuck Liddell (3 title defenses)
2007 - Rampage Jackson [3-0, Won UFC Belt and then won Unification] (Runner Up: Randy Couture)
2008 - Gegard Mousasi [6-0 & Won the 2008 Dream Middleweight Grand Prix] (Runner Up: Anderson Silva)
2009 - José Aldo (Runner Up: Lyoto Machida or Georges St-Pierre or Gegard Mousasi)
2010 - Frankie Edgar
2011 - Jon Jones (Close Runner Up: Dan Henderson) (3rd: Nick Diaz)
2012 - Benson Henderson (3 title defenses)
2013 - Demetrious Mighty Mouse Johnson (Runner Up: Cain Velasquez)
2014 - Robbie Lawler (Runner Up: Max Halloway)(3rd & 4th: TJ Dillashaw & Luke Rockhold)
2015 - Conor McGregor (Runner Ups: Luke Rockhold & Ronda Rousey)
2016 - Stipe Miocic (Runner Up: Conor McGregor)
2017 - Max Halloway (Runner Ups: Rose Namajunas & Demetrious Johnson)
2018 - Daniel Cormier
2019 - Israel Adesanya (Runner Up: Jorge Masvidal) (3rd: Usman)
2020 - Deiveson Figueiredo
2021 - Kamaru Usman
2022 - Alex Pereira
2023 - Islam Makhachev
2024 - Alex Pereira (Runner Up: Ilia)
2025 - Merab Dvalishvili (so far)

Glad to see Vovchanchyn getting some of the respect he deserves.

 

[Angelassassin53]

FOTY in a division nobody cares about is a little weird.

Mighty Mouse is the single most skilled and complete fighter we've ever seen compete. Your opinion is bad and you should feel bad

 

[CombatSports55]

I’d put Anderson in 2007. He won three fight including the belt and the way in which he demolished Rich Franklin put an exclamation point to his rise in the UFC.

Only a year prior he was planning to quit fighting and had a visa to give MMA classes in the US. I guess he did end up giving lessons but in the octagon!

Also bonus points as all three fights were ended differently (including a sub).

2007 was a great year for Anderson Silva no doubt. 3 wins all finishes

I gave it to Rampage because of the level of opponents.
The 2007 Marvin Eastman ko is whatever but he went on to ko Prime Liddell and then beat the Pride Champion Dan Henderson.
So technically, Rampage was the UFC champion and the Pride FC Champion at the same time. Which is a very prestigious accolade.

Prime Liddell and Prime Henderson are better wins then Travis Lutter, Nate Marquardt or Prime Rich Franklin

Randy Couture captured Heavyweight gold after beating Tim Sylvia and then defended the title against Gabriel Gonzaga by TKO, which he did at 44 years old which is insane. Which is why I put Couture as runner up.

But I'm adding Anderson Silva to runner up spot as well now that you mention it.

Anderson Silva went on to choke out Dan Henderson the next year of 08. He would have been my pick for 07 if that fight happened earlier.

 

[bng]

DeepSeek version

Of course. Here is a list of the widely recognized MMA Fighter of the Year for each year, based on consensus from major publications and awards like the World MMA Awards.

• 1997: Maurice Smith
• 1998: Frank Shamrock
• 1999: Bas Rutten
• 2000: Kazushi Sakuraba
• 2001: Randy Couture
• 2002: Matt Hughes
• 2003: Wanderlei Silva
• 2004: Chuck Liddell
• 2005: Fedor Emelianenko
• 2006: Chuck Liddell
• 2007: Quinton Jackson
• 2008: Anderson Silva
• 2009: Georges St-Pierre
• 2010: Jose Aldo
• 2011: Jon Jones
• 2012: Anderson Silva
• 2013: Chris Weidman
• 2014: Robbie Lawler
• 2015: Conor McGregor
• 2016: Conor McGregor
• 2017: Georges St-Pierre
• 2018: Daniel Cormier
• 2019: Israel Adesanya
• 2020: Deiveson Figueiredo
• 2021: Kamaru Usman
• 2022: Alex Pereira
• 2023: Islam Makhachev

 

[560ti]

Mighty Mouse is the single most skilled and complete fighter we've ever seen compete. Your opinion is bad and you should feel bad

To add to this the year in question (2013) was the literal definition of complete.

Mighty Mouse had 3 title defenses and won all 3 awards (fight of the night, submission of the night, and knockout of the night). The full package

 

[CombatSports55]

No love for Bas Rutten?

He should.make an appearance somewhere between 96-99 imo.

Guy was unbeaten for 20+ fights, won and defended King Of Pancrase and won UFC gold.

Pat Militech gets a mention but Bas doesn't?

Hm. Bas Rutten I could put as runner up for 95 which is his best year. 8-1 with his one loss being to Ken Shamrock

 

[JKS]

DeepSeek version

Of course. Here is a list of the widely recognized MMA Fighter of the Year for each year, based on consensus from major publications and awards like the World MMA Awards.

• 1997: Maurice Smith
• 1998: Frank Shamrock
• 1999: Bas Rutten
• 2000: Kazushi Sakuraba
• 2001: Randy Couture
• 2002: Matt Hughes
• 2003: Wanderlei Silva
• 2004: Chuck Liddell
• 2005: Fedor Emelianenko
• 2006: Chuck Liddell
• 2007: Quinton Jackson
• 2008: Anderson Silva
• 2009: Georges St-Pierre
• 2010: Jose Aldo
• 2011: Jon Jones
• 2012: Anderson Silva
• 2013: Chris Weidman
• 2014: Robbie Lawler
• 2015: Conor McGregor
• 2016: Conor McGregor
• 2017: Georges St-Pierre
• 2018: Daniel Cormier
• 2019: Israel Adesanya
• 2020: Deiveson Figueiredo
• 2021: Kamaru Usman
• 2022: Alex Pereira
• 2023: Islam Makhachev

Fedor over Shogun in 05?? I don't about that.

 

[SuperAlly]

Gay-guard Moussaka is overrated on this forum

 

[Bork Neslar]

1993 - Chael Sonnen
1994 - Chael Sonnen
1995 - Chael Sonnen
1996 - Chael Sonnen
1997 - Chael Sonnen
1998 - Chael Sonnen
1999 - Chael Sonnen
2000 - Chael Sonnen
2001 - Chael Sonnen
2002 - Chael Sonnen
2003 - Chael Sonnen
2004 - Chael Sonnen
2005 - Chael Sonnen
2006 - Chael Sonnen
2007 - Chael Sonnen
2008 - Chael Sonnen
2009 - Chael Sonnen
2010 - Chael Sonnen
2011 - Chael Sonnen
2012 - Chael Sonnen
2013 - Chael Sonnen
2014 - Chael Sonnen
2015 - Chael Sonnen
2016 - CM Punk
2017 - Chael Sonnen
2018 - Chael Sonnen
2019 - Chael Sonnen
2020 - Chael Sonnen
2021 - Chael Sonnen
2022 - Chael Sonnen
2023 - Chael Sonnen
2024 - Chael Sonnen
2025 - Chael Sonnen
2026 - Chael Sonnen

 

[Neck&Neck]

No Ronda Rousey?

 

[Shaolin Alan]

How is GSP never on this list??!!

 

[CombatSports55]

FOTY in a division nobody cares about is a little weird.

I'm not even a big Deiveson Figueiredo fan per say but his 2020 run was undeniable.

Beat (one of the most skilled UFC fighters)Joseph Benavidez twice, once by tko and once by submission.
Defended his Flyweight Belt by choking out Alex Perez in the 1st round
And then fought Brandon Moreno to a draw which earned Fight of the Night. (who he would go on to fight 3 more times)

If you can name me a better candidate for 2020, I'm all ears and will take into consideration.

-----
And for 2013, Mighty Mouse defended his belt 3x, all fights with different rewards

1. win over John Dodson - Fight of the Night
2. win over John Moraga - Submission of the Night
3. win over Joseph Benavidez - Knock Out of the Night