2011 Mid-Year UFC Awards: Top 5 Gyms of the Year

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

This installment will focus on the Gym of the Year, which will be handed out to the gym with the most successful UFC fighters in 2011. There were plenty of options for the award, but we had to narrow it down to five nominees.

Here are the top five gyms from the first half of 2011.

5. Xtreme Couture MMA

Xtreme Couture's founder, Randy Couture, didn't exactly have his best year in 2011, as he retired following a knockout loss to Lyoto Machida. However, Couture's gym did have some bright moments in the first half of the year.

First, Gray Maynard nearly dethroned UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar in a Fight of the Year candidate. Despite the fight ending in a draw, Maynard showed why he is considered one of the best lightweights in the world.

Also, Xtreme Couture's Tyson Griffin resurrected his career with a successful move to the featherweight division. After losing three straight fights, Griffin decided to drop to 145 pounds, after which he earned a huge win over a contender in Manvel Gamburyan.

4. Alliance MMA

Alliance MMA has risen rapidly in 2011, as the gym is home to two of the brightest young fighters in the sport. UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz and light heavyweight contender Phil Davis both call Alliance Training Center their primary gym.

In 2011, Cruz made history by becoming the first bantamweight to defend a belt under the UFC banner. In the process, Cruz avenged the only loss of his career, which came against Urijah Faber.

Earlier in the year, Phil Davis picked up the biggest win of his young career by defeating Antonio Rogerio Noguiera in a split decision. The win moved Davis into the mix of contenders in the 205-pound division.

3. Tristar Gym

In recent years, Greg Jackson had received most of the coaching credit for Georges St-Pierre's success. However, St-Pierre has been a long-time member of Firas Zahabi's Tristar Gym.

Tristar has finally been getting a piece of St-Pierre's glory, but the gym also has a boatload of other talented fighters. The Canadian gym is currently developing two extremely promising young fighters in Rory MacDonald and John Makdessi.

Also, Kenny Florian spent the bulk of his most recent training camp at Tristar Gym in prepartion for his fight with Diego Nunes. Florian proceeded to win that fight, which has earned him the third title shot of his UFC career.

2. Black House MMA

In what is turning out to be another great year for Black House MMA, the gym has been a part of two UFC title defenses in 2011. Two of the gym's most talented fighters, UFC Middelweight Champion Anderson Silva and UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo, came away with big wins in the first half of the year.

Additionally, Lyoto Machida and Junior dos Santos picked up impressive victories while training under the Black House banner in 2011. Machida sent Randy Couture into retirement with a jumping front kick, while dos Santos earned a title shot with a dominant victory over Shane Carwin.

The second half of 2011 could be even bigger for Black House, as its fighters are expected to compete in at least three UFC title fights.

1. Jackson-Winkeljohn MMA

As great as Black House MMA's best fighters have been in 2011, the Brazilian gym just cannot compare with the depth of talent that currently trains under Greg Jackson in Albuquerque, N.M.

In 2011, Jackson-Winkeljohn MMA has helped multiple fighters rise to near the top of their respective divisions. Clay Guida and Melvin Guillard have won multiple fights to become serious contenders at lightweight, while Brian Stann has picked up two of the biggest wins of his career and shown much improvement in his run up the middleweight ladder.

Also, there's this guy named Jon Jones you might have heard about.

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 @SeanSmithMMA.