The 2020 Heavies Awards - Fighter of the Year - Winner: Deiveson Figueiredo

The Heavies Awards
-2020-
FIGHTER OF THE YEAR​

While 2020's Fighter of the Year (FrOTY) could be summarily awarded en masse to frontline medical workers tackling COVID-19, we're here to spotlight a different frontline -- one on either side of which this past year has stood a gladiator in pursuit of prize and pride alike and in battles as mental as they are physical. Whom you're voting for is to take seat at a small, oaken table given the breed of person it takes even to be considered. While a contest in dynamic as old as time, the sport of mixed martial arts is not for everyone as it without frill and at great expense celebrates the strong.

'You have to remember something: everybody pities the weak; jealousy you have to earn.'
Arnold Schwarzenegger​

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Meet your FrOTY candidates:

Deiveson Figueiredo
Deus da Guerra/God of War
Brazil

Spoiler: Image

'I grew up with all the wild animals and think I got something from them.'
re: On his power being unique for the division​

• Grew up in a tropical monsoon climate working animals and land under his father until early teens
• Originally a capoeirista, the diverse background he brings into the cage includes a local grappling style called Marajoara of island Marajó, a style of engagement inspired by time-old observations on the interactions of the area's buffalo
  
• Fought four times this year, winning the vacant Flyweight title (UFC) and defending twice with only 21 days between

Kevin Holland
Trailblazer
USA

Spoiler: Image

'I turned my nightmare into a dream tonight.'
re: Ronaldo Souza​

• A late-starter, orthodox striker Kevin did not pick up combat sport until aged 16 and found MMA icon Georges St-Pierre a motivating factor in doing so
  
• Only the third fighter in UFC history to go 5-0 in a calendar year, three of those five being Performances OTN and first of which not even taking place until May 2020
  
• Put an exclamation point on 2020 with December KO of grizzled veteran Jacaré

Jan Blachowicz
Prince of Cieszyn
Poland

Spoiler: Image

'This is a historic moment for me and for Polish fans.'
re: What the LHW belt means to Poland's growing MMA scene​

• Grew up admiring Jean-Claude Van Damme and began his journey into martial arts with judo in mountainous hometown of Cieszyn on the Czech border, home to Poland's top-selling candy company
  
• Went 2-0 in 2020 vs. Corey Anderson and Dominick Reyes by (T)KOs in dual Performances OTN
  
• Captured vacant albeit no less coveted LHW belt (UFC)

Charles Oliveira
Do Bronx/The Ghetto
Brazil

Spoiler: Image

'2021, I'm coming.'
re: LW belt aspirations​

• Grew up very poor and whose nickname, Do Bronx/The Ghetto, originates in him being called 'that kid from the ghetto' when introduced to impressed gym patrons; he is this year a 10-year black belt in BJJ and has a giving-back project to help at-risk youth grapple instead of turn to crime
  
• Currently in LW title contention (UFC) after besting Kevin Lee and Tony Ferguson
  
• A veteran of both MMA and UFC, his career leading into 2020 counted almost 40 professional fights and a decade in the sport's premier organisation

Poll locks in seven (7) days but you can see right now before deciding which way Sherdog.com Staff went by reading the main-page write-up here.

So, who you got?

 

Yeah I have to second that, @Valhoven did a great job with this thread. The profiles and quotes are fantastic.

 

Same. Kevin missed weight too, coming in heavy, iirc. Besting him and madman wonder Tony in one calendar year (at shark-infested LW) is something in talking careers one can hang a hat on. Be it poverty or opponents in-cage, Oliveira has proven himself a fighter in every sense of the word. Respect.

 

Thanks for the info on Bronx being a hard location, brother; did quite a bit of reading to call together and confirm background bits but hadn't seen reference to this at any point. On 'The Ghetto' versus 'From...', I think in monikers preference for an article lead-in over preposition is in keeping with norms the vein of fewest-moving-parts-as-possible so I'm chalking that up to English-language stylistics than inaccuracy rather. Who are you pulling for, BTW?