On Monday’s edition of the MMA Plus Podcast hosts Andreas Georgiou (@AGeorgiouMMA), Jorden Curran (@onejcurran), and Roberto Reid (@MMAPLUSRob), joined by guest host Ally Hendrie (@allyh84) discussed candidates and voted on the winners of 2014’s MMA Plus Awards for UKMMA.
The winners included:
Submission of the year: Paddy Pimblett vs. Conrad Hayes (flying triangle/arm-bar) – CWFC 68
Defending a high-crotch takedown with his back against the fence, Cage Warriors featherweight Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett (7-1) scaled his opponent with a flying triangle. Hayes attempted to free himself with a slam; however, Pimblett’s clutch remained strong and the Liverpool native completed the submission with an arm-bar (Watch HERE).
Knockout of the year: Paul Daley vs. Marinho Moreira da Rocha (KO-body shot) – BAMMA 16
Having re-signed with Bellator MMA earlier this year, top British welterweight Paul ‘Semtex’ Daley bid farewell to BAMMA in clinical fashion when he dissected Brazilian Marinho Moreira da Rocha. The KO specialist finished his opponent by faking a right hand before launching a crippling left hook to the body (watch HERE).
Upset of the year: Lewis Long vs. Matt Inman – CWFC 73
Welsh underdog Lewis ‘The Foot’ Long (9-3) took on welterweight title hopeful Matt Inman at Cage Warriors 73, and trumped the SBG Manchester fighter with a superb performance to snatch victory in the first round by rear-naked-choke submission (Watch HERE).
UK fighter of the year: Steven Ray
Scotland’s Stevie ‘Braveheart’ Ray (16-5) narrowly edged Ed Arthur to take ‘UK fighter of the year’. The Cage Warriors lightweight champion fought twice in 2014, and reigned victorious in one of the most competitive rivalries in UKMMA history as the Dinky Ninja fighter twice defeated Curt Warburton following an initial loss to the UFC veteran in 2013 (watch Stevie Ray’s rubber match with Curt Warburton HERE).
International fighter of the year: Pannie Kianzad
Another close category, alongside her Rumble Sports team mate and Cage Warriors welterweight champ Nicolas Dalby, as well as CWFC bantamweight champion Toni Tauru; Swedish bantamweight Pannie ‘Banzai’ Kianzad (7-0) made UKMMA history when she claimed the first ever CWFC women’s bantamweight title (watch Pannie Kianzad claim her first world title HERE).
Young fighter of the year (under 21): Arnold Allen
Having been widely considered one of UKMMA’s ‘ones to watch’ for the past few years, 20-year-old featherweight Arnold ‘Almighty’ Allen (9-1) edged Wolfslair prodigy Jack McGann to be named ‘young fighter of the year’. Despite experiencing the first loss of his career in 2014, the BKK fighter went 3-1 overall and stepped in on extremely late notice to claim the Made 4 the Cage featherweight title by forcing a doctor stoppage against Paul Cook.
Fight of the year: Alex Enlund vs. Nad Narimani – CWFC 73
In the MMA Plus ‘fight of the year 2014’ Alex Enlund (11-2-1NC) and Nad Narimani (7-2) clashed for the vacant CWFC featherweight title at Cage Warriors 73. Both fighters went the distance in a highly competitive bout; Enlund won the first half of the contest but was taken beyond the first round for just the second time in his career as Narimani rallied in the final two rounds to force a close yet unanimous decision from the judges in favor of Enlund.
Listen to the full MMA Plus Podcast episode 9 below
