UFC Year in Review: Spotlight on the Best Fighters and Fights of 2024

For the UFC, 2024 was another banner year. At no event was this more apparent than at UFC 300. Held in April in Las Vegas, UFC 300 boasted multiple Fight of the Year candidates and saw both the men’s and women’s Fighters of the Year make statement wins.

It was an incredible event in an incredible year. Looking back on 2024, let’s learn about the best fighters and fights of the year.

Men’s Fighter of the Year: Alex Pereira

The light-heavyweight champion turned in one of the most impressive years in the history of the UFC in 2024. Two former champions and one game contender were put in front of Pereira in quick succession. He knocked out each of them. In so doing, he proved he’s one of the sport’s top stars.

Pereira’s first test of the year came in April against Jamahal Hill at UFC 300. Despite having a broken toe, “Poatan” finished the American in the first round.

Only 77 days later, after another broken toe, this one belonging to Conor McGregor, forced the Irish superstar to drop out of the main event of UFC 303, Pereira stepped in, beating Jiří Procházka in a rematch of the pair’s 2023 fight.

When UFC 307 rolled around in October, the Brazilian was ready once more, heading into the elevation of Salt Lake City to beat Khalil Roundtree Jr. in a Fight of the Year contender where the challenger had success in the first two rounds before being finished by the champion in the fourth.

For a fighter of Poatan’s level, three fights in a year is practically unheard of. The fact that he not only won all three fights, but was so willing to take on all comers makes him the men’s Fighter of the Year.

Women’s Fighter of the Year: Kayla Harrison

Some had doubts about whether the two-time Olympic gold medalist could compete in the premier MMA promotion. The fact that she had never fought at bantamweight also prompted questions.

With two wins in 2024, Kayla Harrison silenced all the skeptics. After cutting nearly 20 pounds to make the UFC bantamweight limit, the then-33-year-old stepped into the Octagon for the first time to face former champion Holly Holm. Some thought Holm might be able to neutralize Harrison’s judo in the same way she did to Ronda Rousey years ago. Instead, Harrison easily handled the former champion, winning by a second-round submission.

Harrison followed her UFC debut with a victory over ranked contender Ketlen Vieira at UFC 307 in October. While she failed to submit her opponent, Harrison showed she had more than one way to succeed in the UFC, outpointing Vieira to earn a unanimous decision victory. Harrison may get a title shot next, or she could square off against the best women’s fighter in UFC history, Amanda Nunes, who may come out of retirement to face her.

Men’s Fight of the Year: Esteban Ribovics vs. Daniel Zellhuber

These up-and-coming lightweights left everything they had in the Octagon at UFC 300. Throughout this three-round contest, the pair landed as many as 100 significant blows, giving fans a a slugfest they won’t soon forget.

With each employing a kickboxing style, both fighters remained upright for most of the bout. Over the first two rounds, Zellhuber looked to use his range to time his Argentine opponent with counters as Ribovics came in. Ribovics, for his part, looked to attack from angles and land combinations.

The bout appeared even headed into the third round. That’s when the fireworks happened. After Zellhuber floored Ribovics with an elbow early in the round, Ribovics got up and not only stayed in the fight, but staggered his Mexican opponent. Zellhuber regained his composure, and as the fight neared its end, both combatants unloaded on each other. It was a small miracle that each was still standing as the final horn sounded

Ribovics scored a split-decision win on the judges’ scorecards, but there were no losers here. At what was the year’s most stacked card, Ribovics and Zellhuber stole the show.

Women’s Fight of the Year: Zhang Weili vs. Yan Xiaonan

The UFC’s first all-Chinese fight was a big moment for the promotion. Fortunately for everyone involved, it did not disappoint.

Zhang Weili came into UFC 300 looking to make her second strawweight title defense. For Yan Xiaonan, it was an opportunity to prove herself against one of the best fighters in the sport.

Zhang appeared to be headed for an early submission victory when, in the first round, she locked in what was surely a fight-ending rear-naked choke. Yan was saved by the bell, however, and after groggily making her way to her corner, she was dominated in the second round, with Zhang continuing to hunt for a fight-ending submission.

Yan fought off those attempts well, and as Zhang tired, the tide turned as the challenger knocked down the champion in the both the third and fourth rounds. By the end of the fourth, however, Zhang had regained controlled by keeping Yan on the canvas, where she landed short shots for the rest of the contest.

Zhang prevailed by a unanimous decision, with each judge turning in a 49-45 scorecard. The win proved that Zhang was still the top dog in the featherweight division, as well as one of the best women fighters on the planet.