Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) might not have held any events in Asia this year, but the scene remains buoyant. ONE Championship continues to dominate Asian mixed martial arts (MMA) while smaller promotions like Road FC, Kunlun Fight, and Rizin FF also continue to thrive.
The year concluded with Mirko Filipovic claiming the Rizin FF Open Weight Grand Prix in front of a packed Saitama Super Arena (more on that here). It's been an action packed 12 months and these were some of the defining moments and major achievements.
Fight of the Year
It's rare for a fight with such historic implications to deliver in terms of entertainment and excitement but the bout between Angela Lee and Mei Yamaguchi, which had the inaugural ONE Championship women's atomweight title on the line, did just that.