The George Tragos Award is presented to an exceptionally competitive wrestler who adapted his or her wrestling skills and competitive nature to excel in mixed martial arts.

Shamrock won the inaugural UFC Superfight Championship, which later became the UFC Heavyweight Championship, by defeating Dan Severn at UFC 6. He became the first foreign MMA Champion in Japan when he won the King of Pancrase title in 1994 and he captured the Grand Prix Finals in 2000.

He also held numerous professional wrestling titles, including the NWA World Title and the WWE Intercontinental Championship.

Tragos was one of the most feared submission wrestlers during the 1920's and 1930's. He wrestled and threw discus for the Greek Olympic team in 1920 and 1924 and was the AAU freestyle champion at 158 pounds in 1919, wrestling for the Gary, Indiana YMCA. He worked with Don Faurot to revitalize the University of Missouri wrestling program in 1944.