Every year, ESPN honors the top athletes in the world with its annual presentation of the ESPY Awards. Thirty seven awards are handed out among thirty seven different categories. And although the ESPY’s have been around since 1993, this is a monumental year. It is the first time a mixed martial artist have ever been nominated in one of those thirty seven categories.
Prior to this year, no other fighter, event or moment in the realm of mma has ever made it to the ESPYs as a nominee, let alone a winner. The groundbreaking nominee who will be a part of history is Georges St. Pierre. He is nominated in the best fighter category going up against four boxers. Kelly Pavlik, Floyd Mayweather, Joe Calzaghe and Holly Holm will be his competition.
This past year, GSP actually lost a fight to Matt Serra. That loss could very well affect his chances of taking home an ESPY. Nevertheless, this is not solely about winning. The world of mixed martial arts has already won given the simple fact that GSP was even nominated. That alone shows that the sport of mma can no longer be ignored by mainstream America.
Arguments could be made as to whether or not GSP is a pound for pound better fighter than the four boxers who are also nominated. But this nomination is not about whether or not any of those boxers could even last a minute inside the cage. Boxing has been around for centuries and has an illustrious history, regardless of how many modern day pugilists try to tarnish its legacy. Mixed martial arts, on the other hand, is just beginning to make history.
Throughout the course of any history, many battles have been fought and won. But before those battles ever translated into victory, there was always someone who came before; someone who began to chart the path to victory. Rarely if ever does someone succeed on their first try at anything. In light of that, it is highly doubtful that GSP will hear his name announced as the winner at this year’s ESPY Awards.
That doesn’t mean St. Pierre’s nomination is all for not. His nomination among the best fighters in the world has made a statement that the ultimate fighters of the world can no longer be excluded from such a category. And that is likely to lead to a future in which more mixed martial artists could even be recognized in their own separate category. So win or lose at the ESPY Awards, GSP has already claimed a victory for his sport.
Affliction, Recent News, UFC, Videos ESPY Awards, ESPYs mma, Georges St. Pierre, Matt Serra
Floyd Mayweather defeated Georges St. Pierre, however neither man broke a sweat. Yesterday, the 2008 ESPY Awards were announced and GSP wound up on the losing end in the category of ‘Fighter of the Year’. The ESPY awards won’t take place until this Sunday, but ESPN has figured out to take the drama out of the event by letting the cat out of the bag early.
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