All nominees for each award has been voted by the Admins of MMA Outsiders to decide the winner of each for 2015.
Fighter of the Year 2015: Conor McGregor
Conor McGregor, now the UFC Featherweight Champion is 7-0 inside the UFC defeating: Max Holloway, Diego Brandao, Dustin Poirier, Dennis Siver, Chad Mendes, and now Jose Aldo. With His charismatic bravado, trash-talking attitude, and exciting fighting style, he has captured the attention of all fans who love him or hate him, but in the end he has backed up every word he said.
Knockout of the Year 2015: Conor McGregor KOing Jose Aldo
After Conor won the Interm Featherweight Championship after defeating Chad Mendes, he faced Jose Aldo at UFC 194. Before the bout Aldo was the Featherweight Champion for 6 years in the UFC/WEC, unbeaten in 10 years, and never has been knocked out. 13 seconds in the fight, Conor became the first fighter to KO Aldo, ending his unbeaten streak, and now holds the fastest finish in a Championship fight. Holm vs Rousey was a close second, but ending a 6 year reign and setting an all time record gives him the edge.
Fight of the Year 2015: Robbie Lawler vs Rory Macdonald 2
After winning the UFC Welterweight Belt from previous champion-Johnny Hendricks, Lawler would defend his title against Rory in a 5 Round Fight that left Rory bloody throughout the fight. Despite being down on the scorecards, Lawler would finish Rory in the 5th round to defend his title in an epic fight.
Submission of the Year 2015: Ronda Rousey
At UFC 184, Ronda would defend her title against the Number 1 Contender in Cat Zingano. Zingano defeated Miesha Tate and Amanda Nunes to earn her place as the number 1 contender for the title. Zingano would rush Ronda but she rolled over and secured the armbar in the first 14 seconds of Round 1 making it the fastest finish in a UFC Title fight, until it was broken by Conor McGregor at UFC 194. It still stands as the fastest submission in a UFC title fight.
Comeback Fighter of the Year 2015: Andrei Arlovski
Andrei Arlovski fell from grace when he lost 4 in a row from 2009-2011, he wasn’t the same fighter who won the UFC heavyweight Championship. Since rejoining the UFC in 2014, he would go on a streak against top Heavyweight fighters in Antonio Silva, Frank Mir, and Travis Browne. With fans supporting his Cinderella story, his hope of fighting for the UFC Title could come to fruition later in 2016, but after sadly for this Cinderella story, Arlovski’s 7 fight UFC win streak was broken in Jan 2016, losing by first round KO to Stipe Miocic.
Breakthrough Fighter of 2015: Holly Holm
Holly Holm was a Boxing champion in her early career, and now is the UFC Bantamweight Champion, making her the first fighter to ever hold both titles from different combat sports. She won the Womens Bantamweight Championship at UFC 193 by headkicking Ronda Rousey in a massive upset. She previously won her fights in her first two UFC bouts, but ended in a decision, thus making many people doubting her ability to beat Ronda. However she blew all expectations by finishing the previously-undefeated Ronda Rousey and capture the Gold to end 2015.
Chris Chung/ Edited by Eric Scott