Today we continue the 2008 MMA Awards with the Upset of the Year.

Upset of the Year
1. Frank Mir defeats Antonio Nogueira – Without question, Frank Mir’s victory over Antonio Nogueira at UFC 92 was the upset victory of the year. Mir’s victory was an upset on several levels. First off, Mir is a fighter who many, including myself wrote off as even a decent heavyweight after his return from serious injury. Second, no one had ever ended a fight against Big Nog early, especially not via Knockout. For Frank Mir to regain the heavyweight title at all, much less in the fashion he accomplished the feat is remarkable and he deserves all the credit in the world.
2. Brock Lesnar defeats Randy Couture – Regardless of whether or not Brock Lesnar was the bookmakers odds-on favorite to win against Randy Couture, the fact that Lesnar won the UFC heavyweight title against Couture is a major upset. For any fighter to win the UFC heavyweight champion in only his fourth professional fight is a major upset. For Lesnar to win the title against one of the most seasoned and top MMA fighters of all time just adds to the victories upset of the year credentials.
3. Junior dos Santos defeats Fabricio Werdum – There were a few fights the competed for the third and final upset of the year spot, but in the end I think Junior dos Santos brutal KO victory over Fabricio Werdum takes the spot making it a sweep for the heavyweight division. Dos Santos was a relatively unknown fight taking on a fighter many still considered one of the top five heavyweights in the world. While a victory over Werdum in his UFC debut is impressive enough, the manner in which dos Santos KO’d Werdum made it that much more exciting. Dos Santos’ victory jump-started his UFC career while it ultimately led to Werdum’s dismissal from the UFC roster.

Check back tomorrow as we dish out the 2008 MMA HQ Award for Submission of the Year.