2014 World MMA Awards winners: Lawler, Rousey, Gastelum, McGregor, UFC, MMAjunkie

Robbie Lawler

The 2014 World MMA Awards winners were unveiled during a Friday ceremony, and newly crowned UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler was the big winner after taking home the Charles “Mask” Lewis Fighter of the Year award.

The awards, organized by Fighters Only magazine and recognizing achievements from this past year, concluded with Friday’s untelevised ceremony at the Venetian Theatre at The Venetian Las Vegas.

Lawler, who avenged a narrow early-2014 title loss to Johny Hendricks with a belt-clinching win in December, beat out the other Fighter of the Year finalists who includes Donald Cerrone, T.J. Dillashaw, Emanual Newton and Luke Rockhold.

Other winners included UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey (Female Fighter of the Year), Kelvin Gastelum (Breakthrough Fighter of the Year), Conor McGregor (International Fighter of the Year), UFC (Best Promotion) and Team Alpha Male (Gym of the Year). UFC site coordinator Burt Watson also earned a Lifetime Achievement award.

Additionally, MMAjunkie picked up Media Source of the Year honors, though staff columnist Ben Fowlkes came up short for Journalist of the Year.

The full list of winners included:

• Fighter of the Year: Robbie Lawler
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Burt Watson
• Female Fighter of the Year: Ronda Rousey
• Breakthrough Fighter of the Year: Kelvin Gastelum
• International Fight of the Year: Conor McGregor
• Fight of the Year: Jose Aldo def. Chad Mendes at UFC 179
• Knockout of the Year: Mark Hunt vs. Roy Nelson at UFC Fight Night 52
• Submission of the Year: Ben Saunders def. Chris Heatherly at UFC Fight Night 49
• Comeback of the Year: Dominick Cruz (career)
• Upset of the Year: T.J. Dillashaw def. Renan Barao at UFC 173
• Shawn Tompkins Coach of the Year: Duane Ludwig
• Gym of the Year: Team Alpha Male
• Trainer of the Year: Mike Dolce
• Referee of the Year: Herb Dean
• Ring Card Girl of the Year: Arianny Celeste
• Leading Man of the Year: Dana White
• Personality of the Year: Joe Rogan
• Best Promotion: UFC
• Best Lifestyle Clothing Brand: Bad Boy
• Best Technical Clothing Brand: Venum
• Best Technical Equipment: Everlast
• Media Source of the Year: MMAjunkie
• Journalist of the Year: Ariel Helwani