Over the summer I worked on compiling an accurate FOTY list going as far back as I could acknowledge. I worked really hard on this list. Some years the FOTY was clear cut, some years were close, and some I struggled finding a notable fight.
The Fights with stars next to them I consider the best of that decade.
The criteria I used varied from action, historical significance, level of class, etc.
I'm sure that some years may be incorrect I would love to get feedback and some disputes against my list. Include reason for argument. I'm always open to changing my list potentially.
Let me know what you think.
MIXED MARTIAL ARTS FIGHT OF THE YEAR
2010's
2013 Jon Jones v Alexander Gustafsson: W 5 (UFC 165)
205 lb. UFC World Light Heavyweight Championship
2012 Jim Miller v Joe Lauzon: W 3 (UFC 155)
155 lb. Lightweight Non-Title
2011 Dan Henderson v Mauricio Rua: W 5 (UFC 139)
205 lb. Light Heavyweight Non-Title
2010 Anderson Silva v Chael Sonnen 1: SUB 5 (UFC 117)
185 lb. UFC World Middleweight Championship
2000's
2009 Diego Sanchez v Clay Guida: W 3 (The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale)
155 lb. Lightweight Non-Title
2008 Cung Le v Frank Shamrock: TKO 3 (Strikeforce: Shamrock v Le)
185 lb. Strikeforce Middleweight Title
* 2007 Nick Diaz v Takanori Gomi: SUB 2 (Pride 33) *
155 lb. Lightweight Non-Title
2006 Diego Sanchez v Karo Parisyan: W 3 (UFC Fight Night 6)
170 lb. Welterweight Non-Title
2005 Mauricio Rua v Antonio Rogerio Nogueira: W 3 (Pride Critical Countdown 2005)
205 lb. Middleweight Non-Title
2004 Wanderlei Silva v Quinton Jackson 2: KO 2 (Pride 28)
205 lb. Pride World Middleweight Championship
2003 Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira v Mirko Filipovic 1: SUB 2 (Pride Final Conflict 2003)
205 lb.+ Pride Interim World Heavyweight Championship
2002 Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira v Bob Sapp: SUB 2 (Pride Shockwave Dynamite!)
Open Weight Non-Title
2001 Randy Couture v Pedro Rizzo 1: W 5 (UFC 31)
265 lb. UFC World Heavyweight Championship
2000 Kazushi Sakuraba v Royce Gracie 1: TKO 6 (Pride Grand Prix 2000 Finals)
Open Weight Non-Title
1990's
* 1999 Frank Shamrock v Tito Ortiz: TKO 4 (UFC 22) *
199 lb. UFC World Middleweight Championship
1998 Kazushi Sakuraba v Carlos Newton: SUB 2 (Pride 3)
Open Weight Non-Title
1997 Randy Couture v Vitor Belfort 1: TKO 1 (UFC 15)
200 lb.+ Heavyweight Non-Title
1996 Don Frye v David Abbott 1: SUB (UFC Ultimate Ultimate '96)
UFC Ultimate Ultimate '96 Tournament Championship
1995 Rickson Gracie v Yuki Nakai: SUB 1 (Vale Tudo Japan Open 1995)
Vale Tudo Japan Open '95 Tournament Championship
1994 Royce Gracie v Kimo Leopoldo: SUB (UFC3)
Open Weight Non-Title
1993 Kevin Rosier v Zane Frazier TKO (UFC 1)
Open Weight Non-Title
The Fights with stars next to them I consider the best of that decade.
The criteria I used varied from action, historical significance, level of class, etc.
I'm sure that some years may be incorrect I would love to get feedback and some disputes against my list. Include reason for argument. I'm always open to changing my list potentially.
Let me know what you think.
MIXED MARTIAL ARTS FIGHT OF THE YEAR
2010's
2013 Jon Jones v Alexander Gustafsson: W 5 (UFC 165)
205 lb. UFC World Light Heavyweight Championship
2012 Jim Miller v Joe Lauzon: W 3 (UFC 155)
155 lb. Lightweight Non-Title
2011 Dan Henderson v Mauricio Rua: W 5 (UFC 139)
205 lb. Light Heavyweight Non-Title
2010 Anderson Silva v Chael Sonnen 1: SUB 5 (UFC 117)
185 lb. UFC World Middleweight Championship
2000's
2009 Diego Sanchez v Clay Guida: W 3 (The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale)
155 lb. Lightweight Non-Title
2008 Cung Le v Frank Shamrock: TKO 3 (Strikeforce: Shamrock v Le)
185 lb. Strikeforce Middleweight Title
* 2007 Nick Diaz v Takanori Gomi: SUB 2 (Pride 33) *
155 lb. Lightweight Non-Title
2006 Diego Sanchez v Karo Parisyan: W 3 (UFC Fight Night 6)
170 lb. Welterweight Non-Title
2005 Mauricio Rua v Antonio Rogerio Nogueira: W 3 (Pride Critical Countdown 2005)
205 lb. Middleweight Non-Title
2004 Wanderlei Silva v Quinton Jackson 2: KO 2 (Pride 28)
205 lb. Pride World Middleweight Championship
2003 Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira v Mirko Filipovic 1: SUB 2 (Pride Final Conflict 2003)
205 lb.+ Pride Interim World Heavyweight Championship
2002 Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira v Bob Sapp: SUB 2 (Pride Shockwave Dynamite!)
Open Weight Non-Title
2001 Randy Couture v Pedro Rizzo 1: W 5 (UFC 31)
265 lb. UFC World Heavyweight Championship
2000 Kazushi Sakuraba v Royce Gracie 1: TKO 6 (Pride Grand Prix 2000 Finals)
Open Weight Non-Title
1990's
* 1999 Frank Shamrock v Tito Ortiz: TKO 4 (UFC 22) *
199 lb. UFC World Middleweight Championship
1998 Kazushi Sakuraba v Carlos Newton: SUB 2 (Pride 3)
Open Weight Non-Title
1997 Randy Couture v Vitor Belfort 1: TKO 1 (UFC 15)
200 lb.+ Heavyweight Non-Title
1996 Don Frye v David Abbott 1: SUB (UFC Ultimate Ultimate '96)
UFC Ultimate Ultimate '96 Tournament Championship
1995 Rickson Gracie v Yuki Nakai: SUB 1 (Vale Tudo Japan Open 1995)
Vale Tudo Japan Open '95 Tournament Championship
1994 Royce Gracie v Kimo Leopoldo: SUB (UFC3)
Open Weight Non-Title
1993 Kevin Rosier v Zane Frazier TKO (UFC 1)
Open Weight Non-Title