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This was popular last year, so I did it again.

Damn, really tough call here. I'll have to think about it more before I vote.

Weidman doesn't quite belong in the group, but he's as good a prospect as any of them.

I was hoping for Ben Henderson on the poll. Around this time last year he lost the WEC LW title, and now he's going to be main eventing a UFC PPV card fighting for the LW title. I suppose being WEC champ disqualifies him to some extent, but he's made a huge leap.

Chandler and Cormier jump out at me as choices, but the stage matters, especially for a "breakthrough" award.

Ellenberger doing what no one else did in 11 years- finishing Jake Shields. In the time between KO losses for Shields, Ellenberger learned to drive, graduated high school, went to college, and had 30 professional fights.

Ellenberger

Michael Chandler went from having zero quality wins, to 3-4, one over around a top 5 fighter in his division, and seized the lightweight strap.

Cormier is the only legitimate competitor for him, but:

Alvarez > Big Foot
Patricky > 40-year old Monson
Woodard + Held > Cole

Chandler deserves this award.

i would argue Ben Henderson should be on this list. He has emerged as a top level fighter, absolutely dominating great guys.

Posey H8er wrote:i would argue Ben Henderson should be on this list. He has emerged as a top level fighter, absolutely dominating great guys.

Yeah, but that's thanks to people who won't recognize the quality of your wins until they happen before their eyes in the octagon. He had already beaten Cerrone twice, Tirloni, Varner, Njokuani, and Roller prior to 2011 and his arrival in the UFC. He had already broken through.

that is true. i already knew he was great but he has beaten top ufc level guys when the naysayers said the wec had nothing to offer. he has broken through in the mainstream.

Ben Henderson was already a WEC champion and a big name in MMA before 2011 started. He is up for fighter of the year after all.

well he should get the most respect gained award for a guy already with talent. he's blowing through guys better than before.

This seems to be the tightest race.

Cormier for me, but it's a close call...

I went with Ellenberger. He destroyed Shields, who's arguably a top 5 guy at WW or MW.

Went with Cormier but yeah this voting group is quite close. The KO of Silva was pretty good. However almost went with Chandler.

Dan Henderson should be an option.

I love Cormier's boxing. So beautiful. And MacDonald might have the highest ceiling. But gotta go with Ellenberger - he's an immediate force. It's not out of the realm that he has the title in 2012.