Jon Jones and Anderson Silva nominated for 2012 ESPY ‘Best Fighter’ award

UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones has been nominated for a 2012 ESPY Award in the category of “Best Fighter”. Jones is no stranger to awards and nominations having picked up 2011 Fighter of the Year at the World MMA Awards, he was also named 2011 Fighter of the Year by ESPN.

Jon will be joined in the category of Best Fighter by UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva, WBC Welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather, Jr., and current WBA and WBC Middleweight champion Andre Ward. Mayweather won the “Best Fighter” award in 2007, 2008 and 2010.

Here is what Jon Jones had to say about being nominated:

“It’s an honor to not only be nominated for the ESPY for Best Fighter, but to also be included in a category with some of the greatest fighters in MMA and boxing history.”

Jon Jones will be in action against Dan Henderson at UFC 151 on September 1^st in Las Vegas. He will enter that fight coming off a victory over “Suga” Rashad Evans who he defeated via unanimous decision earlier this year at UFC 145. In 2011, Jones defeated Ryan Bader, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, and Lyoto Machida to become the first fighter in UFC history to defeat three former champions in one calendar year.

Here is what Malki Kawa, President of First Round Management and Jones’ agent had to say:

“Jon had possibly the greatest year of any MMA competitor in history in 2011, and he has carried that over to 2012 so far. This is a well-earned nomination, and it is our hope that the MMA community can help Jon to win his first ESPY Award by voting frequently”

The 20^th ESPYS are live on Wednesday, July 11^th at the Nokia Theater in downtown Los Angeles with host Rob Riggle. The event is the one night where the sports world joins together to celebrate the best moments of the year. Fans will have the chance to select the winners by voting online or by mobile device at ESPN.com/ESPYS. Additionally, fans can follow the official ESPYS Twitter page: @ESPYS. The ESPYS and related events benefit the V Foundation for Cancer Research in memory of the late Jim Valvano.