Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly.
Since its inception in 1993, the ESPYs have aimed to honor athletes from various sports disciplines, including the introduction of MMA fighters in the Best Fighter category in 2007, which initially encompassed boxers as well. Ronda Rousey made history in 2015 by becoming the first UFC fighter to claim the prestigious Best Fighter award, followed by Conor McGregor in 2016 and Demetrious Johnson in 2017.

Jones and Leon Edwards set their sights on further accolades.

The nominations for the prestigious ESPY awards were revealed by ESPN on Wednesday, with the ceremony scheduled for July 12 in Los Angeles. Among the nominees are UFC champions Jon Jones, Leon Edwards, and Islam Makhachev, along with the recently retired Amanda Nunes.

Both Jones and Edwards earned two nominations each. Jones secured a spot in the Best MMA Fighter category as well as Best Comeback Athlete, while Edwards was recognized for Best Championship Performance alongside his nomination for Best MMA Fighter.

                                                                                                                                               

In March's UFC 285 event, Jon Jones made a triumphant return after a three-year hiatus. He showcased his dominance by swiftly submitting Ciryl Gane in the first round, securing the vacant UFC heavyweight title. This remarkable feat added to his legacy as a two-division champion, having previously reigned as the UFC's dominant light heavyweight ruler throughout the 2010s.

Jones is no stranger to ESPY nominations, having been recognized four times consecutively in the Best Fighter category from 2011 to 2014. However, he narrowly missed out on the award to renowned boxers Manny Pacquiao (2011) and Floyd Mayweather (2012-2014). This marks Jones' first nomination in the Best MMA Fighter category, which was introduced in 2019 when the Best Fighter category was divided into Best Boxer and Best MMA Fighter.

For Edwards, the current UFC welterweight champion, these two nominations mark a significant achievement. In 2022, his status skyrocketed following a stunning fifth-round knockout victory over the previously undefeated Kamaru Usman at UFC 278. Usman had notched an impressive 15-0 record in his UFC career until that point. Edwards further solidified his reign by successfully defending his title in a highly anticipated rematch against Usman at UFC 286.

In a remarkable finale to her 15-year career, Nunes delivered a dominant performance at UFC 289 on June 10, successfully defending her bantamweight title against Irene Aldana. With this victory, the esteemed fighter known as "The Lioness" chose to retire from the octagon, leaving behind a legacy adorned with numerous records. Among her achievements are the most wins by a female fighter (16) and the most title defense wins by a female fighter (11), placing her in a tie for fourth place on the all-time list alongside the legendary Anderson Silva.