Happy New Year! I will soon be getting back to regular posts here on My MMA Training but we still have a few best of 2011 posts left, up next is Comeback of the Year. Comebacks are what makes the sport of Mixed Martial Arts so fantastic. Watching a fighter snatch victory from the jaws of defeat creates an excitement in fans that is unrivalled in other forms of entertainment.

My comeback of the year award goes to Diego Brandao for his The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale match against Dennis Bermudez. Featherweights really know how to put on an exciting fights and this match was no exception.

Diego Brandao was in control of the fight until Bermudez landed a short right hand that changed proceedings completely. In the blink of an eye Brandao was dazed, flat on his back and desperately trying to survive. Suddenly just when it looked like Bermudez had taken the round and quite possible the fight the Brazilian slapped on a fantastic armbar from guard that won him the fight.

Bermudez left his left arm open and extended, Brandao grabbed on and the rest is history as they say. At 4:51 of the first round, Brandao submitted Bermudez with an armbar to become the Season 14 featherweight winner of The Ultimate Fighter – in arguably the greatest single round in TUF Finale history.

Brandao reportedly wanted to win The Ultimate Fighter to provide a better life for his family in Brazil. The $80,000 in bonus money alone should give him a great head start (not to mention the legions of new fans he will now have after demonstrating how much heart he has).

Who got your pick for comeback of the year? Leave me a comment and let me know in the replies. As always thanks for reading.