It’s hard to remember a year, at least in recent times, where the choices for Fighter of the Year whether male or female were so obvious. So persuasive a campaign did our Female Fighter of the Year have that there was only one other name even in the running, and it wasn’t close. As for the men’s side, it was a two-horse race featuring two fighters who had phenomenal 2024s.
Fighter of the Year 2024: Male
Eddie Law: Ilia Topuria. Hard to beat ‘El Matador’ even if you’re Alex Pereira. Pereira had a hell of a year with three KO finishes in three PPVs in a span of a six months. Topuria finished two world champions in Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway and might be making a case as top star in the UFC
Jay Anderson: I consider this a two-horse race between Alex Pereira and Ilia Topuria. As good a year as Diego Lopes had, those two had phenomenal campaigns. Now the question becomes, how to distinguish between the two? Topuria defeated a pair of former champs, both of whom are among the greatest featherweights to ever compete. Light heavyweight Pereira also defeated a pair of former champions, as well as Khalil Rountree Jr., headlined the two biggest cards of the year, and repeatedly stepped up on short notice to save events. All while hitting a level of stardom that Topuria has yet to achieve. It’s a pretty slight edge, and there’s no wrong answer here, but I’m siding with “Poatan.”
Gabriel Gonzalez: Alex Pereira. Pereira had it all in 2024. He stepped up on short notice when he didn’t have to, twice. He earned style points, stopping all three of his opponents. Finally, he broke through as a personality that the fans have gotten behind whether it be with the Easter Island expression, his tribal war paint, his walkout, or just one word: Chama.
Bryson Hester: Alex Pereira. Pereira beats out Ilia Topuria by the narrowest of margins. Pereira defended his light heavyweight belt three times this year. Pereira stopped Jamahal Hill in one round in April. He then turned around and stopped Jiri Prochazka again in their rematch with a spectacular head kick. Alex finished off his year with a fourth round finish over Khalil Rountree Jr. in an absolute war. Alex entered each of these fights compromised yet still found a way to deliver on the largest stage.
Patrick McCorry: Alex Pereira. Three fights, three KOs, saved multiple cards.
Cade Morehouse: My male fighter of the year has to be Illia Topuria. Topuria knocked out Alexander Volkanovski in February to become the undisputed featherweight champion of the world. Later on this year he did what no one thought was possible to this point and knocked out the great Max Holloway to defend his title. He beat two of or if not the two greatest featherweights to walk the face of this earth and that is enough to earn male fighter of the year.
Brett Cagle: Alex Pereira. Since moving up to 205 pounds Alex Pereira has brought excitement back to the Light Heavyweight division. With knockout wins over Khalil Rountree, Jamahal Hill, and Jiri Prochazka the male Fighter of the Year is a runaway selection. Pereira headlined UFC 300 and is quickly becoming one of the biggest stars in the sport. The former professional kickboxer is must-see television every time he fights and could be a legitimate threat to become the UFC’s first three-weight champion if given the opportunity.
Mathis Desjardins: Ilia Topuria. Alex Pereira has a great argument for ‘MVP of the Year’, saving the UFC on multiple occasions and becoming the first champion to defend his title three times within a 179-day span. However, the level of competition at light-heavyweight simply doesn’t compare to what Ilia Topuria pulled off this year. The Spaniard arguably recorded the greatest back-to-back wins in the history of the sport. No one accomplished more in 2024 than El Matador.
End result: Alex “Poatan” Pereira is our 2024 Fighter of the Year, with Ilia Topuria a close second. The former middleweight and current light heavyweight champion of the UFC secured three title defenses, headlined the two biggest cards of the year, and arguably saved all three events he appeared on.
