There's many more that could be included but everyone should be able to agree on the ones listed.
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The Winners:
1.) Miguel Cotto - After getting beat beyond recognition in their first bout, the classy Miguel Cotto put his stamp on Antonio Margarito in their rematch. More specifically, Margarito's right eye which was previously broken by 'Pacman'. Unfortunately for Margarito, the outcome this time around solidifies what many already thought. Plaster wraps and tainted legacy. Watch for Cotto to continue the momentum into 2012 as likely will face Jose Luis Castillo.
2.) Jon "Bones" Jones - 'Bones' is on the cusp of becoming a household name after blowing up the MMA scene in 2010. Not only is Jones one of the top two fighters on the planet, but he is also a guy that MMA and the UFC can be proud promote. Jones was finally tested to some degree by Loyto Machida but the end result was the same. At the time of this post, Jones had moved past GSP to the #2 best fighter in the world. It looks like Silva and Jones are on a collision course in a fight that might make some forget about Pacman vs. Mayweather.
3.) Andre Ward - Olympic gold medalist Andre Ward shocked most when he won Showtime's 'Super Six' tournament against the tough Carl Froch. He was considered one of the bigger underdogs by most boxing pundits but rose to the occasion after nearly 24 months from the start of the tourney. Ward will likely face the tough Sergio Martinez next which would be a great fight. With the strong performance, Ward is going to end up as the boxer of the year.
4.) Bellator Fighting Championships - In spite of the full court press the UFC has employed against the competition, 'Bellator Fighting Championships' has been a bright spot for the non-UFC related promotions that are still standing. With many top fighters like Eddie Alvarez, Ben Askren, Hector Lombard, and Joe Warren in the stable, Bellator looks to be in good hands for the short term future. Lets hope they can keep their market foothold in the coming year.
5.) MMA Fans - With new TV deals for the UFC with Fox, Versus, FX, and now FuelTV, there has been no better time in history for MMA fans to get FREE fights. Although Cain vs. Dos Santos on Fox's UFC debut was a short fight, it was explosive. One of those "did you see that?" moments. That's huge for gaining attention from those that just happened to be tuned in to check it out. Hard to quantify the numbers but the sport no doubt gained new fans as a result.
The Losers:
1.) Chael Sonnen - You can't talk that much trash, get beat by Silva in the final seconds, then pop for juice without making the list. Sonnen is well on his way to being a heck of a politician like he wants to be. Great wrestler, joke of a person. It would be OK with me if we never heard from him again. Not likely though as he is set to take on another standout wrestler in Mark Munoz in 2012. Let's hope Munoz is able further knock him down the division rankings.
2.) Antonio Margarito - As much as I respected Margarito prior to the rematch with Cotto, I now believe he used illegal wraps like the ones found prior to the Mosley fight before in his career. Everybody that saw Cotto's mug after both fights has to agree that there was an obvious difference that doesn't add up. Cotto was clearly able to absorb the same punches in the second fight. Watch for Margarito to start going off the radar after the embarrassing loss.
3.) Boxing Fans - In spite of the success of Showtime's 'Super Six' tournament format, boxing fans consistently get screwed. Everything from too many divisions and belts to the fact that there has not been an American heavyweight champion in years. And don't forget the bickering promoters and organizations. But if you truly follow the sport you know about some of the surging talent including Amir Khan, Andre Ward, Nonito Donaire, and Sergio Martinez to name a few. Let's hope the sport continues to look at ways to improve in the new year.
4.) New York - Although Mixed Martial Arts continues to be the world's fastest growing sport, New York is still left unsanctioned. They did move one step closer in 2011 but still not to the finish line. With the rich history of NY in terms of sports let alone big fights, it's hard to believe this political battle has lasted this long. It's really only just a matter of time though as everything gets worked out. Will we see Mixed Martial Arts at 'Madison Square Garden' in 2012?
5.) Floyd Mayweather Jr. - At the time of this writing, "Money" had been sentenced to 90 days in jail for beating women. In front of the kids no less. Add him ducking 'Pacman' over the past few years and the controversial but legal ending to the Ortiz fight, and you can see why many fans are growing weary of Mayweather Jr. As the sport works to repair it's image, I don't see how all those involved could let his one slip by without turning the masses against you.
Happy New Year!
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