UFC 2011 Mid-Year Awards: Top 5 Nominees for Robbery of the Year

After a long stretch of major MMA events ended with UFC 132, we are now mid-way through the calender year. As we wait for the MMA schedule to pick back up, Bleacher Report will be taking a look a several different mid-year awards.

This installment will focus on the UFC Robbery of the Year, which will be handed out to the fight that ended in the most questionable decision of 2011. Already, there have been plenty of options for the award, but we had to narrow it down to five nominees.

Here are the top-five UFC robberies from the first half of 2011.

5. Demian Maia vs. Mark Munoz

Official scoring: Mark Munoz defeats Demian Maia by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28).

Since this fight was so closely contested, its spot on this list shows that judges actually do make the right decision in most cases. The real robbery in this situation was judge Nelson Hamilton's scoring of this bout, which awarded Munoz every round.

In the eyes of nearly everyone except Hamilton, Maia's much-improved striking was enough to earn him a fairly clear advantage in the first round.

A close third round was the difference in the fight. Maia was able to avoid his opponent's takedowns, but Munoz's ability to pressure Maia against the fence appeared to be the deciding factor in the fight.

Media Scoring

Bleacher Report scored the fight 29-28 for Munoz.

MMA Junkie scored the fight 29-28 for Munoz.

Sherdog scored the fight a split decision for Maia (29-28 Maia, 29-28 Maia, 29-28 Munoz).

4. Will Campuzano vs. Chris Cariaso

Official scoring: Chris Cariaso defeats Will Campuzano by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).

In a close bout at UFC Fight for the Troops 2, Chris Cariaso picked up a unanimous decision victory in his UFC debut against Will Campuzano.

Cariaso came on strong in the third round, but Campuzano's counter-striking in the first two rounds appeared to be enough to earn him a narrow decision. However, a close decision in his opponent's favor resulted in Campuzano's release from the UFC.

Media Scoring

Bleacher Report scored the fight 29-28 for Campuzano.

MMA Junkie scored the fight 29-28 for Campuzano.

Sherdog scored the fight 29-28 for Cariaso.

3. Martin Kampmann vs. Diego Sanchez

Official scoring: Diego Sanchez defeats Martin Kampmann by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).

At UFC on Versus 3, Kampmann and Sanchez met in what has been one of the best fights through the midway point of 2011. However, the great bout was overshadowed by a controversial decision that handed Sanchez a unanimous decision victory. 

Although it isn't always the tell-all of a fight, many pointed to Sanchez's severely swollen face as evidence that Kampmann should have been awarded the decision. Escalating the anger surrounding the situation even more was the fact that Kampmann had also lost his previous fight to Jake Shields via a controversial decision.

Media Scoring

Bleacher Report scored the fight 29-28 for Sanchez.

MMA Junkie scored the fight 29-28 for Kampmann.

Sherdog scored the fight a majority decision for Kampmann (30-28, 29-28, 29-29).

2. Riki Fukuda vs. Nick Ring

Official scoring: Nick Ring defeats Riki Fukuda by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).

After having difficulty in getting the fight to the ground in the first round, Fukuda made the adjustments needed to secure multiple takedowns in the second and third rounds. Fukuda's ability to control the latter rounds appeared to have earned him a clear decision win, but the judges did not see it that way.

The decision spoiled a strong performance from Fukuda in his UFC debut. However, UFC President Dana White announced that Fukuda would be paid his win bonus for his efforts.

Media Scoring

Bleacher Report scored the fight 29-28 for Fukuda.

MMA Junkie scored the fight 29-28 for Fukuda.

Sherdog scored the fight a unanimous decision for Fukuda (30-28, 30-28, 29-28).

1. Michihiro Omigawa vs. Darren Elkins

Official scoring: Darren Elkins defeats Michihiro Omigawa by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28).

After a slow start, Omigawa came on strong in the second and third rounds. Despite appearing to do enough to earn the come-from-behind victory, Omigawa, along the audience in attendance, was shocked by a unanimous decision in Elkins' favor.

The most shocking score was a 30-27 tally from judge Dave Hagen, who appeared in Bleacher Report's 2011 Mid-Year Award nominations for Disgrace of the Year.

Omigawa was awarded his win bonus despite the extremely questionable decision.

Media Scoring

Bleacher Report scored the fight 29-28 for Omigawa.

MMA Junkie scored the fight 29-28 for Omigawa.

Sherdog scored the fight a unanimous decision for Omigawa (30-27, 29-28, 29-28).

Sean Smith is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA. For the latest insight and updates on everything MMA, you can follow Sean on Twitter here.