Conor McGregor made history in 2016 (Photo: Getty Images)
The year 2016 for the UFC was marked in several ways: we had the first simultaneous champion in two categories, new owners, pay-per-view records, great upsets, the biggest event in the history of Brazil and many other moments.
However, no one shone more than the show's protagonists: the fighters. Once again, they were responsible for providing excitement (inside and outside the Octagon) to fans around the world. From now on, the SUPER LUTAS retrospective details the five best UFC athletes of the year and discusses their biggest moments in 2016.
See the best fighters of the year:
Conor McGregor
The then featherweight champion's year started in the worst possible way: he was scheduled to fight for the lightweight belt against Rafael Dos Anjos, the Irishman was forced to accept a fight against Nate diaz, just days away from UFC 196. Result: unexpected and humiliating defeat by submission. He, in fact, is the only one on the list with a setback this year.
McGregor, however, showed why he became the biggest name in world MMA by insisting on the rematch on his terms and beating Diaz in August. Three months later, he secured his name in history: he beat the new champion Eddie Alvarez and became the first fighter to be champion in two different categories simultaneously. Despite having started badly, 2016 was definitely a year of Conor McGregor.
Amanda nunes
The Brazilian opened her 2016 with a very difficult victory against the tough Valentina Shevchenko. Amanda's triumph gained even more value after “Bullet” completely dominated the former champion Holly holm months later.
Meanwhile, the Lioness got a shot at the belt at the historic UFC 200. The day before the event, her duel with the belt owner Miesha Tate was promoted to main event. And Amanda shined in the spotlight, crushing Tate and submitting her in the first round. Brazil had its first world champion and MMA had its first openly homosexual champion.
At the end of 2016, Nunes did even more: he humiliated the legendary Ronda Rousey in 48 seconds guaranteeing his place on the list of best fighters of the year.
Michael Bisping
One of the symbols of the UFC, Bisping seemed destined to never come close to the title. This year, everything changed. The Englishman opened 2016 with a controversial victory, but a victory nonetheless, over the legendary Anderson Silva, In London. And then luck finally smiled on the Count.
UFC 199's main fight would be a rematch between Chris Weidman and the then owner of the belt Luke Rockhold. The former champion was injured and the spot to face Rockhold fell into Bisping's lap. However, he had been so dominated in his first encounter with the champion that few people gave him a chance in the new duel.
It was there that the Englishman showed why he deserves to be among the best fighters of 2016. With a devastating knockout, Michael Bisping dethroned Luke Rockhold and became middleweight world champion. In October, he took revenge on another former tormentor, winning Dan Henderson by decision. 2016 was very good for Bisping.
cody garbrandt
It is impossible to leave out the list of best fighters of 2016, an athlete who, in 365 days, went from unranked to world champion. cody garbrandt and his four victories (including three knockouts in the first round) deserve the title.
“No Love” opened the year with an easy triumph over Augusto Tanquinho. In his first main fight, another knockout, this time over the Brazilian promise Thomas almeida. In August, the victim was Takeya Mizugaki.
After the triumph over the Japanese, Garbrandt began to provoke Dominick Cruz. The champion took the bait and the fight was scheduled for UFC 207, the last event of 2016. With a historic performance, Cody completely nullified Cruz and unquestionably won the title.
Stipe Miocic
The heavyweight champion spent 2016 on a rollercoaster of emotions, winning three fights, including one away from home, with 45 fans rooting against, and then one at home, with another 18 fans in favor.
Miocic opened 2016 in the first event of the year, knocking out the former champion Andrei Arlovski. The victory qualified him to compete for the title against the Brazilian Fabricio Werdum at the historic UFC 198, the biggest Ultimate event in Brazil. In May, the North American silenced 45 thousand Brazilians, knocking out “Vai Cavalo” in the first round.
This was also how Miocic defended his title in September. But this time, the deafening chorus was behind him. UFC 203 was held in Cleveland, his hometown, and his opponent was alistair overeem. After suffering suffocation, the champion defended his title with another knockout, also guaranteeing his place among the fighters of the year.
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