Alex Pereira and Ilia Topuria have set the sport alight over the last twelve months, with the pair of icons, knocking unconscious every opponent who’s dared set foot in the cage with them.
With both men having had such a fantastic 2024, selecting the Bloody Elbow Fighter of the Year, certainly wasn’t an easy task.
Alex Pereira and Ilia Topuria have destroyed their opposition this year
Alex Pereira and Ilia Topuria have both made waves in 2024, with each man proving themselves as genuine superstars.
With devastating power and tremendous fight IQs, the world champions have proved themselves beyond doubt.
The Brazilian sprung into action in April, competing in his first of three world title fights in just six months. Firstly, with the UFC desperate to find a main-event for their historic 300th numbered card, ‘Poatan’ answered the call, stepping up to the plate to take-on Jamahal Hill, whom he finished with a vicious left hook.
Rolling into June, Pereira hit the fight capital of the world, settling his feud with Jiri Prochazka once and for all, with a thunderous head kick in the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
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To conclude 2024, he gave the world one last show, completely outclassing Khalil Rountree, in a magnificent display en route to a fourth-round stoppage.
In any normal year, that may have been enough to walk away with the award at a canter. However, Topuria had his eyes on the prize in equal measure.
In his first fight, ‘El Matador’ demolished a pound-for-pound legend of the sport, in the form of Alexander Volkanovski, rendering him unconscious with a lethal combination, before later doing the exact same thing to Max Holloway, in a match-up where he adapted and overcame, downloading the data in front of him, before obliterating an opponent who’d never previously been knocked out. And it’s for that reason…
Ilia Topuria is the Bloody Elbow 2024 Fighter of the Year
While it was very tough, Topuria received three of the five votes, making him our winner.
This is what we all had to say:
James Sweetnam: “While Alex Pereira may have won more fights, based on the quality of opposition, I have to go with Ilia Topuria. The Spanish-Georgian wrecking machine has proven his talent beyond doubt, brutally knocking out two of the best the featherweight division has ever seen.
“He started the year with a magnificent stoppage victory over Alexander Volkanovski, before taking on Max Holloway in a brilliant contest at UFC 308. Overcoming adversity, the brawler downloaded the data, before becoming the first man to stop ‘Blessed’ in a performance that captured the attention of fight fans around the world.”
Winner: Ilia Topuria
Jordan Ellis: “It’s a toss-up between two men. While Ilia Topuria’s KO wins over Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski’s are very impressive, you could argue that he’s beaten two legends reaching the end of their careers.
“Alex Pereira has three KO wins against former champions. A relative-newcomer to the sport, he’s made it look so easy that people are saying he’s been giving favorable matchups when it’s downright bizarre he’s able to operate at such a high level so early into his MMA run.”
Winner: Alex Pereira
Jamie Theodosi: “Ilia Topuria. Although Alex Pereira has had a phenomenal year as champion, being the most active at that, I think the fact that ‘El Matador’ has KO’d two of the greatest featherweights of all time arguably in their primes trumps that.”
Winner: Ilia Topuria
Donagh Corby: “Alex Pereira defended his belt three times this year, and perhaps the only thing hurting him in other votes is his own success. He knocked out the renowned striker Jamahal Hill after saving UFC 300, and did the same to Jiri Prochazka a few weeks later at UFC 303. Khalil Rountree Jr was simultaneously a tougher ask and a name with less perceived value, but it was still a great win at UFC 307, and a run like we haven’t seen before continues into 2025.”
Winner: Alex Pereira
Tom Llewellyn:
“The argument between Ilia Topuria and Alex Pereira comes down to one factor and one factor only: the quality of their opponents in 2024.
“No offense to Prochazka, Hill and Roundtree, but the difference between those names compared to Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway is night-and-day.
“Topuria not only finished the two-consensus greatest featherweight of all time back-to-back, but he called it from the outset and if that doesn’t earn you ‘Fighter of the Year’, the world’s gone insane.”
Winner: Ilia Topuria
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