By TXMMA Staff
Texas MMA Community chooses People’s Choice Award Winners for 2014 TXMMA Awards
The 2014 TXMMA Awards People’s Choice Voting wrapped up recently with over 5,000 fans of Texas MMA and BJJ voting in this past year’s annual polls.
On the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) side there were 29 awards up for grabs with the goal of highlighting the top grapplers, performances, and contributors for 2014.
Though the finalists were decided based on statistical merit following our nomination period along with our own subsequent research, the TXMMA People’s Choice Awards were 100% decided by popular vote. Yes this was a popularity contest, and it serves a very important purpose – helping promote the achievements of those in our Texas MMA community. The show of support for these individuals has been tremendous, and prospective sponsors, matchmakers, media outlets, etc. should take note.
The results for the Official TXMMA Awards – MMA Edition are also forthcoming soon so rest assured that the appropriate parties will be recognized based on their 2014 competition success as well.
Congratulations to everyone who participated in this annual endeavor. We sincerely thank you for helping us recognize the most deserving and visible in our community.
Now let’s get on with the winners!
2014 TXMMA Awards – MMA Edition People’s Choice Winners
Professional MMA – Men’s Individual Categories
Carlos Diego Ferreira leads off our big winners in the men’s pro categories, winning the fan vote over Johny Hendricks who won the UFC 170 lbs. title last year. It was closer on the regional side with Jamall Emmers and his 3-0 2014 record winning a close race over the resurgent Derrick Krantz along with Chris Gutierrez and Alex Black.
Rookie of the Year honors went to Team Takedown’s Mark Delarosa while Levi Mowles and Adrian Yanez took the people’s choice for FOTY over a field that included barnburners like Domingo Pilarte vs. Caio Machado. Danny Salinas took the KOTY for his big head kick KO at STFC 29 while the aforementioned Derrick Krantz took SOTY with his Von Flue choke over UFC vet Daniel Roberts at Legacy FC 35.
- Texas UFC Fighter of the Year – Carlos Diego Ferreira (Team Ferreira)
- Regional Fighter of the Year – Jamall Emmers (Pinnacle MMA)
- Rookie of the Year – Mark Delarosa (Team Takedown)
- Fight of the Year – Levi Mowles vs. Adrian Yanez at Legacy FC 37
- Knockout of the Year – Danny Salinas vs. Booker Arthur at STFC 29
- Submission of the Year – Derrick Krantz vs. Daniel Roberts at LFC 35
Professional MMA – Women’s Individual Categories
On the women’s side it was Invicta title contender Tonya Evinger winning Fighter of the year honors in her first recognized year as a Texan. Stephanie Alba won Rookie of the Year honors after going 2-0 in her first year as a pro while Amber Stautzenberger took fight of the year honors along with her opponent Kathina Catron from their fight at XKO 23. Halleigh Haak wins sub of the year honors for her efforts at Triple A MMA IV.
- Fighter of the Year – Tonya Evinger (GB Champion’s Forrest)
- Rookie of the Year – Stephanie Alba (GB Champion’s Forrest)
- Fight of the Year – Amber Stautzenberger vs. Kathina Catron at XKO 23
- Knockout of the Year – NONE
- Submission of the Year – Halleigh Haak vs. Lynae Lovato at Triple A MMA IV
Amateur MMA – Individual Categories
It was a close race for amateur fighter of the year with Levi Mowles and Ulyses Aguila TIED at 116 votes a piece when we counted at midnight. With undefeated campaigns in 2014, both have a bright future ahead of them. Likewise for Katherine Roy who won on the female’s side. Jason Laubach-Lents and Dayron Vasquez take the honors for knockout and sub of the year respectfully. Jason won handedly Dayron narrowly edged out Damion Oranday at midnight to take his category at the very end.
Tyler Pacheco vs. Casey Ware and Brandi Narvaez vs. Laurie Ashby highlight the fan votes for Fight of the Year with plenty of support for their efforts.
- Fighter of the Year (M) – (TIE) Levi Mowles (BQuick) and Ulyses Aguila (T.Takedown)
- Fighter of the Year (F) – Katherine Roy (BooJitsu MMA)
- Fight of the Year M) – Tyler Pacheco vs. Casey Ware at 24/7 XIII : Welcome To Texas
- Fight of the Year (F) – Brandi Narvaez vs. Laurie Ashby at PCG 20
- Knockout of the Year – Jason Laubach-Lents vs. Jonah Gomez at Rocks XFN IX
- Submission of the Year – Dayron Vasquez vs. Nicholas Ortiz at SCC VIII
Team and Additional Awards
The biggest surprise for the rest of the awards included a big win for Billy Buch and his team over at Boojitsu MMA as the New Braunfels / San Marcos based crew came out in droves to take the Team and Coach of the Year People’s Choice Categories over a crowded field that included more established teams like Octagon MMA and 4OZ Fight Club, both of which boast UFC fighters and plenty of other talent on the roster. While new as a team and with most of their talent still fighter amateur, it looks like things are on the up-and-up for the hill country based group.
Check out the rest of the people’s choice winners below:
- Team of the Year – Boojitsu MMA (New Braunfels, TX)
- MMA Coach of the Year – Billy Buch (Boojitsu MMA)
- Striking Coach of the Year – Arjan Carlos Moreno (Siam Star Muay Thai)
- Comeback Fighter of the Year – John Charo (Tier 1)
- Breakthrough Fighter of the Year – Brandon Farran (Revolutionary Fitness)
- Ironman Fighter of the Year – Ryan Hollis (4OZ Fight Club)
- Pro Event of the Year – Legacy Fighting Championship 37 (11 fights, 9 finishes)
- Amateur Event of the Year – (TIE) Rocks Xtreme MMA VII and Cage Combat 16
- Story of the Year – Legacy FC announces Kickboxing expansion
- Promoter of the Year – Mick Maynard (Legacy FC / Legacy Amateur Series)
- State Official (Referee/Judge) of the Year – Jake Montalvo
- MMA Brand / Sponsor of the Year – War Tribe Gear
Additional Awards Upcoming in the Official Edition Only This Year
- Lifetime Achievement / TXMMA Hall of Fame
- 2014 Community Service Award