'INSIDE MMA' Recognized the Best in MMA, Announcing Nominees for the 2015 Bazzie Awards

(PRESS RELEASE) -- LOS ANGELES – The 2015 Bazzie Awards, INSIDE MMA’s annual awards show honoring the best fights, fighters and moments in mixed martial arts this year, are just around the corner and AXS TV today announced this year’s nominees. Hosted by Kenny Rice and Bas Rutten, the eighth annual Bazzies will air Friday, Dec. 18 at 9:30 p.m. PT/12:30 a.m. ET on AXS TV.

INSIDE MMA, the longest running and only independent MMA news show on television, has handed out these awards, named after series host and UFC Hall of Famer Bas Rutten, since 2008. The winners are voted on by Rutten, Rice, correspondent Ron Kruck and the INSIDE MMA news team.

This year’s awards will honor fighters in the following categories: Male and Female Fighters of the Year; Fight, Submission and Knockout of the Year; Breakthrough Fighter of the Year; Comeback of the Year; and AXS TV FIGHTS Rising Star.

The complete list of nominees is as follows (subject to change):

MALE FIGHTER OF THE YEAR:

Donald Cerrone

Daniel Cormier

Justin Gaethje

Demetrious Johnson

Liam McGeary

Conor McGregor

FEMALE FIGHTER OF THE YEAR:

Holly Holm

Joanna Jedrzejczyk

Cristiane Justino

Ronda Rousey

Miesha Tate

FIGHT OF THE YEAR:

Andrei Arlovski vs. Travis Browne - UFC 187

Vitaly Bigdash vs. Igor Svirid - One Championship 32

Daniel Cormier vs. Alexander Gustafsson - UFC 192

Justin Gaethje vs. Luis Palomino - WSOF 19

Robbie Lawler vs. Rory MacDonald II - UFC 189

SUBMISSION OF THE YEAR:

Dylan Ashburn vs. Donis Francois - Legacy Fighting Championship 38

Braden Crowell vs. Darren Romkee - Summit FC 11

Tyrone Henderson vs. Hong Young-Gi - Road FC 21

Liam McGeary vs. Tito Ortiz - Bellator 142

Ronda Rousey vs. Cat Zingano - UFC 184

Fabricio Werdum vs. Cain Velasquez - UFC 188

KO OF THE YEAR:

Harris Bonfiglio vs. BJ Prak - Reality Fighting

Jay-ar Campos vs. Michael Vojantic - Clan Wars 21

Paul Felder vs. Danny Castillo - UFC 182

Chris Gardner vs. Chris Henderson - VCFC

Holly Holm vs. Ronda Rousey - UFC 193

Hisaki Kato vs. Joe Schilling - Bellator 139

Frank Mir vs. Todd Duffee - UFC Fight Night 71

Alex Morono vs. Valdir Araujo - Legacy Fighting Championship 44

AXS TV FIGHTS RISING STAR:

Gaston Bolanos - Lion Fight

Ricardo Ramos - Legacy Fighting Championship

Andrew Sanchez – Resurrection Fighting Alliance

Luke Sanders - Resurrection Fighting Alliance

Valentina Schevchenko - Legacy Fighting Championship/Legacy Kickboxing

Eric Spicely - CES MMA

BREAKTHROUGH FIGHTER:

Thomas Almeida

Max Holloway

Henry Cejudo

Liam McGeary

Joanna Jedrzejczyk

Donald Cerrone

COMEBACK OF THE YEAR:

Thiago Alves vs. Jordan Mein - UFC 183

Vitaly Bigdash vs. Igor Svirid - One Championship 32

David Burrow vs. Anthony Njokuani - Legacy Fighting Championship 38

Thales Leites vs. Tim Boetsch – UFC 183

Patricio Pitbull vs. Daniel Weichel - Bellator 138

ABOUT AXS TV FIGHTS

AXS TV Fights presents more LIVE mixed martial arts and kickboxing events than any other television network with 40+ LIVE world-class fight cards each year. "The Voice" Michael Schiavello and UFC Hall of Famer Pat Miletich call all the action as champions, challengers, and top prospects take center stage every Friday night at 10pE/7pP. AXS TV Fights can be found online, on Facebook and on Twitter. AXS TV is widely distributed in the U.S. via AT&T U-verse, Charter, Comcast/Xfinity, DIRECTV, DISH, Suddenlink, Verizon FiOS, and other cable, satellite and telco providers. The network is also carried in Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.