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[Diegonightmare]

In the world of MMA, I would argue that 2007 was the year of upsets. Huge upset losses by several of the top names in the sport, and some of the most shocking upset losses in the history of the sport.

If you were to succinctly finish this sentence as regards the world of MMA:

2008 was the year of _______

How would you, and why? It can be a person, an org, a story, a headline, a fight, anything MMA related that you think succinctly sums up 2008 in MMA.

I have my thoughts, but want to allow other folks to weigh in before I answer my own thread.

Smoogy, I didn't want to start this thread in the year-end voting forum, because it is free-form rather than a poll, but you could make an argument this could go there, so feel free to move this there if you agree.

[Leucoethiops]

2008 was the year of the changing of the guard.

I say this, because a lot of legends have not had the outings they probably would've wanted (some have), and because a lot of young and up and coming talent has really grown into top competition.

The stigma of the golden ages of MMA has made it hard for a lot of mma fans to accept that their (and my) heroes of the sport have not performed at the level they once did, and that strength, speed, youth and determination are the hallmarks of the burgeoning new elites of the sport.

[Forrito Evacheck]

The year of Brock Lesnar! I can't think of it any other way...at least not in the UFC.

[slikguy]

geez this is a tough one. a lot of good fights happened and a lot of good athletes put in their heart and soul in to it the last 12 months.
if i had to narrow it down to one person it would be Gegard Moussasi.

Win Ronaldo Souza KO (Upkick) Dream 6 - Middleweight Grand Prix 2008 Final 9/23/2008 1 2:15

Win Melvin Manhoef Submission (Triangle Choke) Dream 6 - Middleweight Grand Prix 2008 Final 9/23/2008 1 1:28

Win Dong Sik Yoon Decision (Unanimous) Dream 4 - Middleweight Grand Prix 2008 Quarterfinals 6/15/2008 2 5:00

Win Denis Kang Submission (Triangle Choke) Dream 2 - Middleweight Grand Prix 2008 Opening Round 4/29/2008 1 3:10

Win Steve Mensing TKO (Punches) M-1 - Slamm 3/2/2008 1 2:44

Win Evangelista Santos TKO (Punches) HCF - Destiny 2/1/2008

+ the the k1 destruction of musashi.

a close second will be Rampage. imo he never lost to forrest but hey, you should never leave it to the judges.

rashad evens deserves a honorable mention as he's improved leaps and bounds.

lesnar also deserves a mention.

Alves is also on my mind but he didn't make the cut as he missed weight once and couldn't finish Kos even when he was fighting on short notice.

dissapointment of the year...

obviously chuck and wand, houston alexander, timmah, brandon vera, joe stephenson, gomi, KIMBO lol,

[rivethead]

Off the top of my head, I'd say it was the year of the passing of the torch.

We had a lot of seasoned vetrans losing to younger--and in some cases, more well-rounded--fighters.

Whether the old guard continues it's decline remains to be seen, but I think Hughes' loss to Alves, Liddell to Evans, and Couture to Lesnar represent a theme.

rh

[Bones McGee]

I am by no means a Brock fan, but I will always equate this year with him and his run at the title.

(IMO) This past year I also saw the emergence of many who could be complete fighters. Rashad, GSP, Alves, Kos, BJ etc... all showed improvement or new facets in their game. This year more than any other ushered in an era where you won't be able to rely on one discipline for success.

[knockout123]

the year of the nipple twist!!!

[matmoeb1]

The year of the Spider!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Sakara=Excitement]

Originally Posted by rivethead

Off the top of my head, I'd say it was the year of the passing of the torch.

We had a lot of seasoned vetrans losing to younger--and in some cases, more well-rounded--fighters.

Whether the old guard continues it's decline remains to be seen, but I think Hughes' loss to Alves, Liddell to Evans, and Couture to Lesnar represent a theme.

rh

Agreed.

[smoogy]

Year of the New Blood

Gegard Mousasi
Eddie Alvarez
Junior Dos Santos
Brock Lesnar
Thiago Alves
King Mo
Satoru Kitaoka
Jorge Santiago
Jim Miller
Demian Maia
Anthony Johnson
Mike Brown
Rashad Evans to an extent


Some of them have been toiling for a few years, but all of them rose to prominence in 2008. Its pretty amazing how the top of each division has been reshaped in just the last year