2015 has been a huge year in the world of sport with plenty for fans to sing about, and not just in football.
So here is a list of ten of 2015’s best sporting moments…
Holly Holm knocks out Ronda Rousey
Dana White dubbed it the ‘biggest upset in UFC’ history, but it was certainly deserved.
Holly Holm took the women’s bantamweight title with a huge kick that left her opponent requiring plastic surgery to repair the damage.
2016 will likely see a rematch between the pair.
England’s Rugby League Team Won Their First International Series Since 2007
Australia and New Zealand have dominated the international rugby league scene with no one but each other as real competition for years, but finally England showed they too can challenge the men at the top.
The men in white sealed a 2-1 series victory at the DW Stadium, Wigan, after the touring Kiwi team tied the series at 1-1 after 80 minutes at London’s Olympic Stadium.
England even did it with poster boy Sam Burgess playing a different code at the time, having switched to union for the Rugby World Cup.
Japan Defeat South Africa At The Rugby World Cup
Speaking of the Rugby World Cup, it would be a travesty if Japan’s upset victory over South Africa from the opening round went unmentioned.
Well beyond the 80th minute Japan kept the ball alive and charged over the whitewash for a famous victory.
Sadly they did not make the last eight as the bonus point system saw South Africa and Scotland through, but they became the neutrals favourite side, and their effort will live long in the memory.
Britain Win First Davis Cup Since 1936
Andy Murray saw Great Britain home as he defeated David Goffin in straight sets to earn Britain a first Davis Cup since 1936.
The noise inside the stadium in Ghent was unbelievable as the Scot romped to victory.
Why don’t they allow hooters at Wimbledon? It seemed to suit the Brit’s just fine.
Conor McGregor KO’s Jose Aldo In 13 Seconds
“The first punch he threw!” @TheNotoriousMMA KOs @josealdojunior in just 13 seconds. ??? #AndNew #UFC194 https://t.co/A8wIDEIY9F
— #UFC194 (@btsportufc) December 13, 2015
Conor McGregor’s rise within the UFC has been meteoric and he banished all doubts that he wasn’t top of the featherweight division with a devastating left hook to Jose Aldo’s chin on December 12.
The fight had been due on July 11 but Aldo pulled out through injury, and boy did McGregor use that to his advantage in promotion, suggesting the former champ was running scared.
Well he backed up the trash-talk with yet another successful fight prediction and is right. 2015 was McGregor’s year.
England’s Ashes Victory
England played host to Australia having been well and truly embarrassed by a 5-0 series whitewash the year previous.
The pressure was well and truly on but Alistair Cook’s England certainly delivered, taking an unassailable 3-1 series lead at Trent Bridge to confirm victory.
The Urn was back in English hands.
‘Serena Slam’ Falls Short
It was meant to be Serena William’s season, and she came desperately close.
Serena Williams was on for the ‘Serena Slam’ having already secured the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon, but at the US Open the wheels came off.
Williams fell to Italian Roberta Vinci, and given how irresistible the American’s form had been, the loss was as big news as it would have been had she held succeeded in holding all four Grand Slam titles.
Djokovic’s 2015 Season
Ok a season is longer than a moment, but frankly Novak Djokovic cannot be overlooked in this list.
Labeled as the greatest ever season in tennis by some, 2015 was certainly an incredible year for Djokovic.
The Serbian World No. 1 bagged three majors and six Masters 1000 titles, taking home roughly $21,646,145 (about £14,400,00).
The only low point for Djokovic came in the final of the French Open where Stan Wawrinka massively upset the odds to end the Serb’s 28 match winning streak.
Lewis Hamilton Claimed His Third F1 World Championship
The 2015 season was a great success for Lewis Hamilton who successfully defended his 2014 title and became only the second Briton to win three World Championships.
Hamilton also surpassed his hero Ayrton Senna for career victories. 2015 took the Mercedes driver to 43, overtaking the Brazilian who had 41 when he died.
Tyson Fury Beats Wladimir Klitschko By Unanimous Decision
On the final Saturday of November Tyson Fury ended Wladimir Klitschko’s nine-year reign as WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight champion.
The build up was dogged by Fury’s unpredictable antics, including dressing as Batman for a press conference, and just hours before the first bell in Dusseldorf the fight was thrown into jeopardy due to the canvas being deemed to soft by the Briton’s camp.
But the fight did go ahead, there is a new champion, and we got to witness the evening’s real highlight as Fury serenaded the capacity crowd post-fight.
Good press has been hard for Fury to come by following the victory, given his questionable worldview on women’s rights, homosexuality, and abortion, but nevertheless his taking of Klitschko’s titles was huge.
