It’s been a fantastic year for Scottish MMA, and here is the best of the best in 2011…

Professional Fighter of the Year:

Winner - Steven Ray

(Steven Ray - Scottish fighter of the year 2011)

The 21-year-old Edge MMA fighter gained a gigantic 44% of the vote, ahead of very worthy candidates in Paul McVeigh, Brian Hyslop and Graham Turner.

The highlight of McVeigh’s MMA year was appearing on TUF 14, although he also defended his Cage Warriors title. Hyslop and Turner both rose to 3rd in the UK rankings and went undefeated throughout 2011.

Ray started the year by winning the Total Combat European belt, before following that with a phenomenal performance at SFC 4, winning another title by defeating Scott Ward. The On Top 2 welterweight tournament saw him defeat Mervyn Mullholland, only to lose in the final to Swede Nico Musoke. He capped off his year with a win over Scotland’s long-time no.1 welterweight John Quinn, and making it past the grappling and striking stage of the TUF interviews.

Breakthrough Professional Fighter of the Year:

Winner - Brian Hyslop

(Brian Hyslop - Breakthrough fighter of the year 2011)

Hyslop only made his pro debut in May, but has already cemented his place as Scotland’s top flyweight, and gained 3rd place in the UK rankings. On his way to a perfect pro record of 4-0, he has beaten two top 10 flyweights in Ian Malone and Sham Haque. Next up is his toughest test yet - Mark Platts at On Top 4 on February 25th.

Second place went to Rab Truesdale, who built a 5-1-1 record this year after making his debut in April. His only loss came to top 20 ranked UK heavyweight, Dayman Lake, and he is set to continue his career at light heavyweight after beating Thomas Denham on Supremacy. The other candidates were all of the highest calibre, with Ray in third followed by 5-0 Martin Delaney, 4-0-1 Alan Johnston and 6-1 Robert Whiteford.

Semi Professional Fighter of the Year:

Winner - Craig McIntosh

The contest was very close in this category, reflecting the quality of the nominees. Featherweight Craig ‘Mop’ McIntosh of Hostile Territory was the eventual victor over Lycans flyweight prospect Iain Poslethwaite.

Throughout the year, Mop showcased skills in every department. At SFC 4, he knocked out Chris McDougal in brutal fashion win a head kick that earned him KO of the Year too. He also won the Battle in the Glen featherweight title, beating Darren Clark and Jonny Goodall on the same night, both via D’arce choke. His recent win over William McCurdy likely sealed his award victory, as McCurdy is highly regarded.

Poslethwaite deserves great credit for a tremendous year where he pulled off two remarkable submissions that were both nominated for Submission of the Year.

Fight of the Year:

Winner - Jason Woods v Kelson Duffy, Hostile Territory Fight Night 10

A very strong field was won by a recent semi-pro fight between Jason Woods and Kelson Duffy, who slugged it out like warriors for three full rounds until Woods earned the decision win.

Second place went to Jordan McColl v Steven McGhee, from SFC 4, a fight that displayed plenty of ability from both guys, particularly an enziguri headkick from McColl to McGhee. Third place went to the remarkable back-and-forth fight, also at SFC 4, between Steven Ray and Scott Ward. Paul McVeigh earned fourth place for his battle with Louis Gaudinot at the TUF trials. Fifth went to McVeigh’s fellow Griphouse Ninja, James Doolan, for his technical fight with Spaniard David Aranda at On Top 3.

Performance of the Year:

Winner - Steven Ray v Scott Ward, SFC 4

(Ray and Ward battle it out at SFC 4)

Over 1000 votes were cast in this category alone, yet the top three places were split by only 30 votes. Steven Ray took first place with 20% of votes for his display against Scott Ward, where he took a vicious beating in round one and looked to have lost, only to win in the third round.

Ray also took second for his dominating win over John Quinn. Third went to Kieran Malone for his one-sided victory over Adam Stevenson, fourth to Graham Turner for beating highly rated Ashleigh Grimshaw, and fifth to Paul Reed for his win over TUF 14 participant Akira Corassani.

Knockout of the Year:

Winner- Craig McIntosh (Head Kick) v Chris McDougall, SFC 4

26% of votes went to Craig McIntosh, winning his second award this year, for his head kick against Chris McDougall at SFC 4. I could try and poetically describe it, or you could watch this video.

Second place went to another semi-pro fighter, Lukasz Szarafiniak of Headhunters, who connected clean with a spinning back fist at Sportfight Scotland 14. Steven Ray claimed third place for his quick finish of John Quinn. Fourth was Alan McCauley for his clinical combination finish at SFC 5, and fifth went to Robert Whiteford.

Although it came in last out of the great knockouts shortlisted, special mention goes to Whiteford’s KO, because it showed some of the most brutal ground and pound I’ve ever seen in the flesh.

Submission of the Year

Winner - Rossco Greig (Flying/Standing rear naked choke) v Anthony Corrigan, Hostile Territory Fight Night 10

A remarkable submission from semi-pro Rossco Greig opened Hostile Territory Fight Night 10 on December 18th.

His effort edged out semi-pro Calum Murrie, who gained second place for his keylock victory at SFC 5, which he finished with his legs against excellent grappler Paul Lopez. Third and fourth were both won by beautifully set-up guillotine chokes, but in very different ways. Third went to James Doolan for his guillotine of Dino Gambatesa, set up standing against the cage, and fourth to Bobby McVitie, who dropped to the floor at On Top 3 with what seemed like a vice grip on Scott Jansen’s neck. Fifth went to Doni Miller for his triangle choke, also at On Top 3.

Entrance of the Year:

Winner - Doni Miller (Sexy and I Know It)

This category was incredibly close, with Doni Miller’s effort edging Rab Truesdale’s Bare Necessities by a mere 14 votes. Miller’s entrance at On Top 3 saw him excite/appall the females in attendance by walking out dancing to LMFAO’s ‘Sexy and I Know It’, clad with a white shirt and geeky glasses.

Truesdale’s entrance is a regular crowd favourite. Third place went to Andy Hillhouse for his masked chainsaw appearance at SFC 4. Fourth was Calum Hunter for ‘coming out’ while stripping to ‘It’s Raining Men’.

Fight Team of the Year:

Winner - Dinky Ninjas

No real surprise here as Scotland’s top team amassed 35% of the vote. Within Scotland they dominate the rankings, and in the UK they have several highly rated fighters in McVeigh, Doolan, Hyslop and Turner, plus several more within the top 20 such as John Cullen, Allan Love and John Quinn.

Second place went to Hostile Territory, who produced fighters like Craig McIntosh, Rab Truesdale and Adam Stevenson. Third went to Edge, the team behind Steven Ray. Fourth went to Lycans, producing fighters such as Rob McCrum, Iain Poslethwaite and Shaun Taylor. Fifth went to Mataleon, producing fighters like Dean Caldwell, Graham Armstrong and Jamie Nolan.

Coach of the Year:

Winner - John Nicholson

The three Dinky Ninja coaches swapped the lead many times throughout, but the eventual winner was John Nicholson, head coach at the D-Unit branch of the Ninjas. John has brought through fighters like John Cullen, John Quinn, Alan Johnston, the Ward brothers & more.

Promotion of the Year:

Winner - On Top

What an inaugural year it has been for On Top, holding three events with some of the best fight cards ever seen in Scotland. They’ve progressed from a dinner show at Celtic Park with around 400 in attendance to packing the Kelvin Hall with over 1000 people.

Voting was incredibly tight with SFC, who have also had a great year. SFC held two events, one with an incredible atmosphere at the Albert Halls in Stirling, and the other with around 1400 people at the Kelvin Hall in Glasgow.

Event of the Year:

Winner - SFC 4

(Bobby McVitie celebrates his victory at SFC 4)

SFC 5 and On Top 3 were at a bigger and more illustrious venue, but what SFC 4 lacked in size and grandeur, it made up for in exciting fights and a brilliant atmosphere. Excellent fights took place, like Ray versus Ward and McColl versus McGhee, alongside awesome KO’s and submissions, like Craig McIntosh’s headkick KO (which won KO of the Year) and Stephen Cusick’s armbar on Aidan Stephen.

SFC 5, which came in second place, had bigger fights on a European level, and On Top 3, which came in third, had an unbelievably stacked full pro card. But neither could quite match the atmosphere and excitement throughout the SFC 4 card.

Ally McCrae Personality of the Year:

This award is going to be named after ‘McCrazy’, who tragically lost his life earlier this year. I didn’t know him very well, but every time I met him he was really friendly, funny and welcoming. I think naming this award after him is a fitting tribute, given how nice a bloke he was. RIP Ally.
 

Thanks for all of the votes on this year's awards. To keep up to date with all the Scottish and UK MMA news, follow @SFBMag and @YourMMA on Twitter.