Who Should Be Awarded Fighter of the Year, Ilia Topuria or Alex Pereiria?

By Tim Burke October 28, 2024 12:54

AP Photo/Altaf Qadri

UFC 308 is in the books, and Ilia Topuria delivered on his promise to be the first man to knock out Max Holloway.
The 27-year-old champion's terrific footwork and constant application of pressure finally paid off in round 3.
Topuria hurt Max, forced his back to the cage, and let his hands go, landing shots to the head and body before landing a massive shot to knock out the iron-chinned Max Holloway.
This caps off a tremendous year for Topuria, who defeated Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 earlier this year to become champion. Topuria's knockout victory over Max Holloway at UFC 308 has ignited a fascinating debate. Who is the 2024 fighter of the year, Alex Pereira or Ilia Topuria?

In 2024, Alex Pereira broke Ronda Rousey's record of most title defenses in the fewest days, which stood for a decade, with three defenses of the light heavyweight title in just 175 days. Pereira went 3-0 with three knockouts, headlined UFC 300, and stepped up on two weeks' notice with multiple broken toes to save International Fight Week and defend his belt against Jiri Procházka.

This isn't a conversation in any other year, but what Ilia Topuria accomplished this year felt impossible on January 1st.
Topuria defeated two ranked pound-for-pound fighters, Volkanovski and Max Holloway, who were ranked #4 and #11 on the UFC pound-for-pound ranking lists before their losses to Topuria.
Pereira had an incredible year, illustrating elite levels of toughness and action-packed fights. Nonetheless, Topuria defeated two of the greatest featherweights in the UFC's history.

"I get it, dude; Alex has done some tremendous things. That victory, just one of those victories, is a singular bigger fight than any of Alex's victories this year. He knocked out Max. He knocked Volk in one year. It'd be like Alex fighting me and Jon Jones in the same year and knocking us both out." Daniel Cormier stated on the UFC broadcast following the fight.

When put in that perspective, it is not a conversation. Ilia Topuria ended an era this year by defeating both Volkanovski and Holloway.

Pereira had an incredible year, defeated two former champions, and was more active. Still, Topuria knocked out two of the greatest featherweights and two of the greatest fighters in the UFC. Topuria came into the UFC with a Roman-Greco wrestling background but has shown he is the best technical boxer on the UFC roster. At UFC 308, Topuria out-boxed and knocked out the best boxer the UFC had ever seen to this point. There is another style Topuria has under his belt that we have not seen at the championship level. He could out-grapple and Holloway, but he beat them in their own game. The UFC has never seen a fighter quite like Ilia Topuria.
His 2024 calendar year has been historic. We have never seen a fighter defeat tougher competition, display more skill, and explode onto the championship-level scene like this before. Ilia Topuria has to be awarded Fighter of the Year.