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2011 represented a changing of the guard for contenders in the world of Mixed Martial Arts.

Top contenders such as Jon Fitch, Gray Maynard, Lyoto Machida, and Kenny Florian had solidified their spot near title contention for years, but as these top fighters started to pile on losses, it opened doors for new prospects to enter the title picture.

The men (and woman) on this list either started to make their claim as one of the top fighters in the sport or fully entrenched themselves into the top of their respective divisions in the last 12 months, and have quickly become some of the best and most dangerous fighters in MMA.