2013 World MMA Awards: Weidman, Belfort, & Browne Take Home Gold

 

On a slow week for actual fighting, MMA stars that shined in 2013 got to reap the benefits of their hard work. The 2013 World MMA Awards went down this weekend from the Venetian Resort, Hotel, and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The winners of the big awards weren’t shocking, as UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman won the Charles “Mask” Lewis Fighter of the Year award for his two victories over legendary former champ Anderson Silva.

Weidman is next set to defend is belt at UFC 173 against Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort, who himself took home the award for Knockout of the Year with his spinning wheel kick on Luke Rockhold at last May’s UFC on FX 8.

Recently in the news for his controversial stoppage loss to Renan Barao at UFC 169, Urijah Faber got some good news when he received Submission of the Year for his rear naked choke of Ivan Menjivar at last February’s UFC 157.

Faber’s accolades continued when his Team Alpha Male was awarded Gym of the Year while their head coach, former UFC combatant Duane “Bang” Ludwig, was awarded the Shawn Thompkins Coach of the Year trophy. And even though Herb Dean was thought to have stopped Faber a bit early at UFC 169, he still took home Referee of the Year.

Fight of the Year was almost a no-brainer, as the UFC 165 headliner between light heavyweight champ Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson was most MMA fans’ pick for best bout of 2013. UFC 166’s Gilbert Melendez vs. Diego Sanchez fight deserved consideration, as did the UFC on Fuel TV 8’s Wanderlei Silva vs. Brian Stann throwdown, but ultimately the magnitude and controversy of Jones vs. Gustafsson earned it the nod.

Gustafsson also earned the award for International Fighter of the Year for his gutsy performance against Jones. He’ll next be in action facing undefeated power striker Jimi Manuwa at UFC Fight Night 37 at London’s O2 Arena on March 8.

Despite those illustrious awards, surging heavyweight contender Travis “Hapa” Browne may have been the night’s biggest winner. Browne took home the fan-voted award for Breakthrough Fighter of the Year with his three “Knockout of the Night”-winning performances in 2013, while his UFC Fight Night 26 front kick KO of Alistair Overeem earned him Comeback of the Year. “Hapa” will face off with Fabricio Werdum for the heavyweight number one contender spot at UFC on FOX 11 in late April.

UFC pioneer Royce Gracie deservedly earned a Lifetime Achievement Award. Gracie stormed onto the MMA scene in the sport’s “dark ages,” tapping out much larger foes when there were no time limits or weight classes on his way to victories in the first, second, and fourth UFC tournaments.

Rounding out the proceedings, Ronda Rousey won Female Fighter of the Year in a landslide, as did UFC for Best Promotion and Dana White for leading man. Somehow still in the news almost every week, Chael Sonnen took home Personality of the Year. Ariel Helwani of MMA Fighting and FOX Sports won Journalist of the Year.

Here’s a complete rundown of the 2013 MMA Award winners:

Lifetime Achievement Award: Royce Gracie

Charles “Mask” Lewis Fighter of the Year: Chris Weidman

Female Fighter of the Year: Ronda Rousey

Breakthrough Fighter of the Year: Travis Browne

International Fighter of the Year: Alexander Gustafsson

Fight of the Year:? Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson (UFC 165)?

Knockout of the Year: ?Vitor Belfort, vs. Luke Rockhold (UFC on FX 8)?

Submission of the Year: Urijah Faber, vs. Ivan Menjivar (UFC 157)?

Comeback of the Year:? Travis Browne vs. Alistair Overeem (UFC Fight Night 26)?

Shawn Tompkins Coach of the Year: Duane “Bang” Ludwig ?

Gym of the Year:? Team Alpha Male

Trainer of the Year:? Mike Dolce

Referee of the Year: Herb Dean

Ringcard Girl of the Year: Brittany Palmer ?

Leading Man: Dana White

Personality of the Year: Chael Sonnen

Best Promotion: UFC

Best Lifestyle Clothing: Bad Boy ?

Best Technical Clothing: Venum

Best Technical Equipment: Bad Boy?

Media Source of the Year:? MMA Fighting?

Journalist of the Year: ?Ariel Helwani (MMA Fighting/FOX Sports)

Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea for USA TODAY Sports