MMA

Women’s MMA Awards 2012 Nominations Released

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wmma-awards-2012-light-bg-300x300WMMA Press Association has released the nominees for The Fourth Annual Women’s MMA Awards.
The awards are to help recognize the accomplishment of all the female fighters and organizations that support the sport throughout the year. The WMMA Press members include…

The awards will be voted on in the coming weeks; and given out at a ceremony Jan.4 in Kansas City; the night before InvictaFC 4. Location to be announced. One award, the Fan Favorite of the Year, is open to public voting and can be voted on below.

The recipient of the “Mia Hayes Inspirational Fighter of the Year” award will be announced at the awards ceremony. Sara McMann won the honor at last year’s awards.

Here are the nominees (along with last years winners)

Fight of the Year
(2011 winner – Patricia Vidonic vs Chelsea Colarelli)
  • Ronda Rousey vs Miesha Tate at Strikeforce: Rousey vs Tate (Video here)
  • Sarah Kaufman vs Alexis Davis at Strikeforce: Rousey vs Tate (Video part 1; Video part 2)
  • Kaitlin Young vs Leslie Smith at Invicta FC 1 (Video here)
  • Jessica Penne vs Lisa Ellis at Invicta FC 1 (Video here)
  • Rosi Sexton vs Aisling Daly at Cage Warriors 47 (Video here)
  • Sara McMann vs Shayna Baszler at Invicta FC 2 (Video here)
  • Miesha Tate vs Julie Kedzie at Strikeforce: Rousey vs Kaufman (no video available)
Fighter of the Year

(2011 Winner – Ronda Rousey. Nominees chosen from the weight division winners)

Female Featherweight (145) of the Year
(2011 winner – Ronda Rousey)
  • Julia Budd
  • Marloes Coenen
  • Ediene Gomes
  • Germaine de Randamie
Female Bantamweight (135) of the Year
(2011 winner – Alexis Davis)
  • Alexis Davis
  • Sarah Kaufman
  • Sara McMann
  • Ronda Rousey
Female Flyweight (125) of the Year
(2011 winner – Barb Honchak)
  • Jessica Eye
  • Munah Holland
  • Barb Honchak
  • Michelle Ould
Female Strawweight (115) of the Year
(2011 winner – Jessica Aguilar)
  • Jessica Aguilar
  • Carla Esparza
  • Ayaka Hamasaki
  • Felice Herrig
Female Atomweight (105) of the Year
(2011 Winner – Naho Sugiyama)
  • Stephanie Frausto
  • Jessica Penne
  • Satomi Takano
  • Michelle Waterson
Female Newcomer of the Year
(2011 winner – Ronda Rousey. Nominees must have had 2 pro fights in 2012)
  • Joanne Calderwood
  • Jessamyn Duke
  • Emily Kagan
  • Karolina Kowalkiewicz
  • Eeva Siiskonen
  • Satomi Takano
  • Paige VanZant
Amateur Fighter of the Year
(2011 winner Taylor Stratford. Nominees must NOT have had pro 2 fights in 2012)
  • Cortney Casey
  • Brittany Dugas
  • Rebecca Heintzman
  • Kaiyana Rain
  • Tecia Torres
Knockout of the Year
(2011 winner – Heather Clark KO’s April Coutino)
  • Vanessa Porto defeats Luana Teixeira via KO at :41 of round 1 at Pink Fight 2 (Video here)
  • Sheila Gaff defeats Jennifer Maia via KO at :10 of round 1 at Cage Warriors: Fight Night 4 (Video here)
  • Munah Holland defeats Marianna Kheyfets via KO at 4:45 of round 2 at Bellator 63 (Video here)
  • Kaline Medeiros defeats Stephanie Eggink via KO at :07 of round 1 at Beatdown MMA (Video Here)
  • Joanne Calderwood defeats Ashley Cummins via KO at 3:13 of round 1 at Invicta FC 3 (Video here)
  • Sheila Bird defeats Christina Barry via KO at :11 of round 1 at AFC 12: Domination (Video here)
Submission of the Year
(2011 winner – Miesha Tate triangle chokes Marloes Coenen)
  • Marta Chojnoska defeats Paulina Suska via Scarf Hold Armlock at :42 of round 1 at KSW 19 (Video here)
  • Ayaka Hamasaki defeats Yuka Tsuji via Kimura at 3:41 of round 1 at Jewels: 19th Ring (Video here)
  • Sarah D’Alelio defeats Vanessa Porto via Reverse Triangle Choke at 3:16 of round 1 at Invicta FC 2 (Video here)
  • Jessica Penne defeats Naho Sugiyama via Triangle Choke at 2:20 of round 2 at Invicta FC 3 (Video here)
  • Stephanie Frausto defeats Amy Davis via Guillotine Choke at :48 of round 1 at Invicta FC 3 (Video here)
  • Jessica Eye defeats Zoila Gurgel via Standing Arm Triangle Choke at :58 of round 1 at Bellator 83 (video here)
Promotion of the Year
(2011 winner – JEWELS)
  • Bellator Fighting Championships
  • Cage Warriors Fighting Championship
  • Invicta Fighting Championships
  • Jewels
  • Strikeforce
  • Super Fight League
Sponsor of the Year
(2011 Co-winners – Fightchix & Tussel Fight Gear)
  • Babes of MMA
  • Brawl and Maul Fight Performance Gear
  • Fight Chix
  • FighterGirls
  • MMA Chick
  • Polanti Watches
  • Tussle Fight Gear
  • VII A.D. Jewelry
  • Xtreme Female Fight Gear
Headline of the Year
(2011 Winner – “Zuffa Purchases Strikeforce”)
  • Ronda Rousey Signs With UFC
  • Knapp and Martin Form Invicta FC, All-Female Promotion
  • Strikeforce Cancels Events, Rumored To Fold In 2013
*****Fan Favorite*****
(2011 winner – Cyborg Santos. Cast your vote below.)

42 thoughts on “Women’s MMA Awards 2012 Nominations Released”

  3. FOTY: Miesha Tate vs Julie Kedzie at Strikeforce: Rousey vs Kaufman
    FWTY: Marloes Coenen
    BWTY: Ronda Rousey
    FWTY: Barb “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter” Honchak
    SWTY: Carla Esparza
    AWTY: Jessica Penne
    Newcomer: Jessamyn Duke
    Amateur: SHOULD be Jordan Gaza but Tecia Torres since she’s nominated
    KOTY: Munah Holland defeats Marianna Kheyfets via KO at 4:45 of round 2 at Bellator 63
    SOTY: Jessica Eye defeats Zoila Gurgel via Standing Arm Triangle Choke at :58 of round 1 at Bellator 83
    Promotion: InvictaFC by a LANDSLIDE
    Headline: Rousey signs with UFC

    Reply

    2. How can you justify Gaza over Torres? Tecia went undefeated as an amateur and won her pro debut. Gaza got beaten by an, albeit gorgeous, overrated Paige Van Zant.

      Reply

  8. Fan favorite was definitely a tough choice…. I had to go with Julie Kedzie. She really brings it in the cage. She always comes to brawl. never seen her play it safe and score points. A great announcer too.

    Reply

  10. Jessamyn Duke’s 4000 FB friends, 2100 FB Fanpage fans and 1800 Twitter followers are wondering why they can’t vote for her as their Fan Favorite? Seriously???

    Reply

  11. And while we’re talking about The Gun, her submission of Allen after getting her hair yanked, losing her mouthpiece, and being pounded in the face was totally badass and certainly a SOTY contender.

    Reply

  12. How is Jessamyn Duke not listed as a fan favorite nominee?? And,I agree about Ronda’s arm bar, that should have been on there – as well as Jessamyn Duke’s Submission of the Night from Invicta FC3 – where is that?

    Reply

    1. The committee could have had 50 on that list, but wanted to limit it to 24. Will look at criteria for next year based on FB and twitter following.

      As for the Ronda sub not being nominated my opinion (not necessarily that of the committee) is Ronda’s armbar was not surprising or innovative. If Ronda would have gotten a triangle choke or twister like submission, can easily argue for it to be on the list.

      Reply

      1. I can agree that Ronda’s arm bar was expected – that said, how can you not see Jessamyn’s SOTN arm bar AFTER having her hair pulled & mouth piece knocked out? I would say that was some suprising and innovative stuff right there!

      2. While it may not have been innovative or unexpected, Ronda’s submission arguably changed the future of Women’s MMA. Without that gruesome submission, Dana White may never have warmed to women entering MMA’s largest and most prominent stage. That submission’s impact will resonate for YEARS to come. To exclude it from Submission of the Year is ridiculous.

  27. Bec is AWESOME! She is gonna take it all the way baby! Bet on that! I love ya Bec! I’m your #1 American fan, know this! ❤ You're #1!!!!

    Reply

  28. Bec Hyatt has got me interested in MMA again. I watched the first half dozen UFC’s and over the years have sporadically watched the occasional PPV and tv matches but sadly there wasn’t any personality to draw me in and often the the main events were over-hyped and disappointing. Some time ago I happened across Bec, she was 1-1 I think with just over 2,000 fans on Facebook. Was amazing to watch as the number of wins increased and the fans skyrocketed, now past 20,000. Her signing with Invicta is fantastic, the level of competition is a fairly significant step up. Looking at Joanne Calderwood’s history and experience it’s clear she is the favourite, if I knew nothing more than what was on paper I’d bet on her, but I know Bec Hyatt a little and she can’t be dismissed so easily. She’s a true warrior and is coming to win, it will be a fight, and if Bec happen’s to come up short it will make her even hungrier. So Invicta has me ordering the next three events with Rowdy Hyatt to continue to watch her journey and it’s already exposing me to a few other fighters. Seems a good thing all around. Happy Holidays and here’s to a great 2013!

    Reply

  33. Bec is an awesome fighter and has always responded to all my messages on social media and some very kind genuine words and support when I told her of my recent health problems. Truly a wonderful person and a great fighter

    Reply
  35. Pingback: Karolina Kowalkiewicz i Marta Chojnoska nominowane do nagrody 2012 WMMA Awards | FIGHT24.PL - MMA i K-1, UFC

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