Merab Dvalishvili just added another shiny thing to the shelf, because the UFC bantamweight machine was named Male Fighter of the Year at the 17th Annual World MMA Awards in Las Vegas. In a week already stuffed with UFC 329 noise, the awards gave MMA fans a clean reminder of who owned the last eligibility window.
The Fighter of the Year announcement was shared from the ceremony below.
Charles "Mask" Lewis Fighter of the Year:
Merab Dvalishvili#WorldMMAAwards pic.twitter.com/o5pJPdHyDY— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) July 9, 2026
Heavy reported the full winners list from the July 8 ceremony. The voting window covered fights, performances, and storylines from July 1, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2025, which explains why the ballot looked like a time capsule from one of the most chaotic stretches the sport has had in years.
Dvalishvili taking the Charles “Mask” Lewis Fighter of the Year award is not exactly a robbery mystery. His pace remains a nightmare, his gas tank looks illegal in 37 states, and his name keeps orbiting every serious bantamweight conversation. Whether fans love the wrestling avalanche or just want someone to make him fight at a normal human tempo, the award fits the résumé.
UFC Owned The Big Categories
The big board leaned heavily toward the UFC. Kayla Harrison was named Female Fighter of the Year, while the UFC itself won Promotion of the Year. Dana White also took Leading Man of the Year, and Dana White’s Contender Series picked up Best MMA Programming. Subtle night, very subtle.
Joshua Van had a monster showing too. His wild win over Brandon Royval at UFC 317 was named Fight of the Year, and Van also grabbed Breakthrough Fighter of the Year. That is a pretty good receipt for anyone who was still treating him like just another fast-rising flyweight. Van has been forcing his way into the title picture, and the awards crowd clearly noticed.
Mauricio Ruffy’s spinning wheel kick against Bobby Green at UFC 313 won Knockout of the Year, which is the kind of award category where the replay usually does all the arguing. Jean Silva’s ninja choke over Bryce Mitchell at UFC 314 took Submission of the Year, giving the just-bleed crowd and the grappling nerds both something to nod at.
The lifetime achievement honor went to Duke Roufus, the late legendary coach whose fingerprints are all over modern striking in MMA. Jon Anik won Commentator of the Year, Ariel Helwani won MMA Journalist of the Year, Marc Goddard won Referee of the Year, and Syndicate MMA picked up Gym of the Year. Ben Askren also received the Fighting Spirit Award after surviving severe lung failure, a selection that hits harder than the usual trophy-season applause line.
Paddy Pimblett was named International Fighter of the Year, keeping his name hot while he marches toward his UFC 329 fight with Benoit Saint Denis. Nina Drama won MMA Personality of the Year, Brookliyn Wren won Ringcard Girl of the Year, Everton Oliveira took Trainer of the Year, and MMA Junkie was named MMA Media Source of the Year.
Like every awards list, this one will annoy somebody by breakfast. That is half the fun. But the main takeaway is pretty simple. Dvalishvili, Harrison, Van, Ruffy, and the UFC’s machine all walked out of Las Vegas with hardware, and the 17th Annual World MMA Awards ended up looking a lot like the sport itself right now: loud, UFC-heavy, and full of names who are already booked into the next argument.
