A year that was badly disrupted by Covid-19 saw a reduced schedule of events in Asia. In some countries, like the Philippines, the local MMA scene has completely shut down but there are still events happening regularly in places like Singapore, Japan, Abu Dhabi and Thailand.
ONE Championship finished the year with a busy schedule that included multiple events in Bangkok and Singapore. The UFC used Abu Dhabi as a base for some of its biggest fight cards while Japanese promotions Pancrase, Shooto Deep and Rizin have been putting on regular shows.
These are the official 2020 Asian MMA Awards. If you click on the links you will be able to see relevant write ups, features, videos and reports that our team has published during the course of the year.
Event of the year
ONE: ‘Inside the Matrix’
Other contenders
Rizin 26
UFC 251
UFC 242
Fighter of the Year (Male)
Thanh Le
Other contenders
Yutaka Saito
Naoki Inoue
Reinier de Ridder
Fighter of the Year (Female)
Denice Zamboanga
Other contenders
Xiaonan Yan
Ayaka Hamasaki
Mina Kurobe
KO of the Year
Bokang Masunyane KO (Head Kick) of Rene Catalan at ONE: ‘Big Bang’
Other contenders
Joaquin Buckley KO (Spinning back kick) of Impa Kasanganay at UFC Fight Island 5
Thanh Le KO (Punches) of Ryogo Takahashi at ONE: ‘A New Tomorrow’
Kai Asakura KO (Soccer Kick) of Hiromasa Ougikubo at Rizin 23
Submission of the year
Eko Roni Saputra Submission (Modified Americana) of Murugan Silvarajoo at ONE: ‘Reign of Dynasties’
Other contenders
Khabib Nurmagomedov Submission (Triangle Choke) of Justin Gaethje at UFC 254
Lito Adiwang Submission (Kimura) of Pongsiri Mitsatit at ONE: ‘Fire & Fury’
Reinier de Ridder Submission (Rear Naked Choke) of Aung La Nsang at ONE: ‘Inside the Matrix’
Fight of the year
Rama Supandhi vs. Wardi Suwardi at One Pride MMA 36
Other contenders
Maurício Rua vs. Antonio Nogueira at UFC Fight Island 7
Christian Lee vs. Iuri Lapicus at ONE: ‘Inside the Matrix’
Joshua Pacio vs. Alex Silva at ONE: ‘Fire & Fury’
Newcomer of the year
Rui Imura
Other contenders
Haojie Li
Pengzhao Feng
Makoto Takahashi
Kickboxer of the year
Gonnapar Weerasakreck
Other contenders
Minoru Kimura
Roman Kryklia
Hideaki Yamazaki
Nak Muay of the year
Captain Petchyindee
Other contenders
Nong-O Gaiyanghadao
Rodtang Jitmuangnon
Kongklai AnnyMuayThai
Boxer of the year
Petchmanee CP Freshmart
Other contenders
Sangarthit Looksaikongdin
Ryosuke Nishida
Chainoi Worawut
