2024 MMA All-Star Team: Who were the most violent fighters in each weight class this year?

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4 months ago

2024 MMA All-Star Team: Who were the most violent fighters in each weight class this year?

The MMA All-Star Staff is again!

2024 is within the books, and it was a fairly nice yr when it comes to MMA. Tons of violent knockouts, slick submissions, and back-and-forth wars made up the previous 12 months, and so, as we’ve taken to doing the previous few years, it’s time to rejoice the 36 fighters who contributed most to our enjoyment this yr.

The idea is easy: The three fighters in every weight class who had the most effective yr based mostly on pleasure, exercise, and accomplishment. We’re not simply speaking about who’re the most effective fighters, however which fighters delivered essentially the most leisure all year long. Losses aren’t essentially disqualifying (as long as the struggle was nice), and neither are selections (as long as they weren’t boring).

As all the time, this concept was originated by the nice Jordan Breen, who used to do an “All-Violence Staff” for Sherdog. Shout out to him.

Each different main sport has an All-Professional or All-Star crew, and that is ours. Welcome to the 2024 All-Violence crew.

Picture by Cooper Neill/Getty Photographs

Heavyweight

First Staff: Denis Goltsov.

Fairly presumably my favourite fighter I get to rejoice this yr. Thrice earlier than this yr, Goltsov made it to the PFL heavyweight match solely to lose in heartbreaking style, however 2024 was totally different. Not solely did Goltsov lastly recover from the hump to win the title and the $1 million prize, however he did it in type, with 4 finishes this yr, three within the first spherical. Congrats and well-deserved!

Second Staff: Marcin Tybura.

And after Goltsov, the standard undeniably drops off. Merely put, a variety of heavyweights (and staples of this record) weren’t very lively in 2024, preventing solely a few times. Tybura was the exception although, with three fights, two wins, two finishes, and one Efficiency of the Night time bonus to his credit score. Tybura even will get just a little further love as a result of in his loss, he did get completed, which means you bought bang to your buck when the massive man fought this yr.

Third Staff: Kennedy Nzechukwu.

Nzechukwu made his heavyweight debut this yr, and whereas he didn’t precisely struggle the steepest competitors, the person I’ve affectionately dubbed “Kenny Nunchucks” did go away fairly an impression. Two fights, two first-round finishes, and a Efficiency of the Night time bonus are ok to take residence Third-Staff honors in a down yr.

Honorable Mentions: Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Mick Parkin, Oleg Popov, Phil De Fries, Tim Johnson.

Gentle heavyweight

First Staff: Alex Pereira.

That is Pereira’s second time as a First-Staff All-Star, and he turns into the primary two-weight All-Star, as “Poatan” was the middleweight First-Teamer in 2022. And actually, might there be another selection for this yr?

Pereira was very almost the general Fighter of the Yr in 2024, and with three profitable title defenses, three knockouts (together with a few Knockout of the Yr contenders), a Efficiency of the Night time, and a Battle of the Night time, Pereira was automated.

Second Staff: Zhang Mingyang.

The rarest factor in all of MMA is a real mild heavyweight prospect, however Zhang seems to be simply that. Solely 26 years outdated, Zhang made his UFC debut this yr and delivered. Two first-round knockouts, two Efficiency of the Night time bonuses, what extra might you ask for from “Mountain Tiger”?

Third Staff: Dominick Reyes.

Welcome again, Mr. Reyes!

Heading into 2024, Reyes was a cautionary story in MMA about how one unhealthy break might upend a whole profession. On a four-fight dropping skid, Reyes gave the impression to be performed as a fighter, a tragic ending for the person who ought to have crushed Jon Jones. However “The Devastator” discovered a approach to flip again the clock this yr, and with back-to-back stoppage wins over Dustin Jacoby and Anthony Smith, he grabs the Third-Staff spot.

Honorable Mentions: Artem Vakhitov, Bogdan Guskov, Bruno Lopes, Carlos Ulberg, Dovlet Yagshimuradov, Ibo Aslan, Impa Kasanganay, Magomed Ankalaev, Navajo Stirling, Oumar Sy, Rafal Haratyk.

Middleweight

First Staff: Dricus du Plessis.

“DDP” was No. 3 in our Fighter of the Yr rankings, and it’s simple to see why: taking the middleweight title from Sean Strickland in a Battle of the Night time efficiency after which submitting Israel Adesanya in his first title protection (the No. 3 Submission of the Yr) is a rattling wonderful 2024 run.

That is du Plessis’s first First-Staff inclusion and second All-Star inclusion, as he was the middleweight Second-Teamer in 2023.

Second Staff: Shara “Bullet” Magomedov.

Whereas du Plessis received the nod for First Staff based mostly on the standard of opposition and significance, Magomedov has an actual case for the highest spot. Three wins, two knockouts, two Efficiency bonuses, one Battle of the Night time, and among the finest knockouts of the yr, Bullet was must-see TV each time he stepped within the cage in 2024.

Third Staff: Caio Borralho.

The competitors was fierce at middleweight, however Borralho narrowly edges out Anthony Hernandez by advantage of superior high quality of competitors. Each males had two wins and two bonuses this yr (Borralho a Efficiency and a Battle of the Night time, Hernandez two Efficiency bonuses), however Borralho’s win over Jared Cannonier is the most effective of the bunch, and that has to depend for one thing.

Honorable Mentions: Anthony Hernandez, Bruno Ferreira, Gerald Meerschaert, Mansur Abdul-Malik, Michel Pereira, Nassourdine Imavov, Reiner de Ridder.

Welterweight

First Staff: Carlos Prates.

One other automated selection. It’s wild to assume that 2024 was Prates’s UFC debut as a result of he did a lot this yr. 4 fights, 4 finishes, 4 Efficiency bonuses, and a UFC rating is how you set collectively among the finest rookie years of all-time and cement your self as some of the thrilling fighters within the sport.

Second Staff: Joaquin Buckley.

In another yr, Buckley is the runaway winner for First-Staff honors. 4 wins, three finishes (throughout ranked opposition), and one Efficiency of the Night time bonus is an unbelievable yr. If the lower stoppage hadn’t robbed Buckley of the possibility to get a extra authoritative win over Colby Covington, perhaps that’s sufficient to get him over Prates, however alas, the MMA Gods had different concepts.

Third Staff: Shamil Musaev.

Musaev made his PFL debut in 2024 and instantly proved why many take into account him to be among the finest welterweights alive. 4 wins, three finishes, and the PFL championship (and a $1 million prize) signifies that there aren’t many 170-pounders who had a greater yr than “The Silent Murderer.”

Honorable Mentions: Carlos Leal, Charles Radtke, Lorenz Larkin, Magomed Umalatov, Michael Chiesa, Muslim Salikhov, Randy Brown, Sam Patterson, Themba Gorimbo

Light-weight

First Staff: Renato Moicano.

Moicano broke out as a star each for his in-cage performances and his post-fight interviews. However the in-cage is actually the place he shined as “Cash” was simply that, choosing up three high quality wins, together with two one-sided whoopings of top-15 lightweights. That final half is what barely places Moicano over the sting as a result of, although he received no bonuses, he completely dominated excellent opposition in 2024.

Second Staff: Esteban Ribovics.

Ribovics was a hair away from taking First-Staff honors this yr, however there’s nothing improper with Second-Staff once we’re speaking concerning the light-weight division. In 2024, Ribovics scored a 37-second head kick knockout of 2022 All-Star Terrance McKinney (that someway didn’t earn him a Efficiency bonus), after which he adopted it up by successful a call over Daniel Zellhuber at UFC 306 in among the finest fights of the yr. An unbelievable yr.

Third Staff: Dustin Poirier.

Some of the thrilling fighters in MMA historical past, that is Poirier’s first All-Star crew solely as a result of we haven’t performed them lengthy sufficient. And if “The Diamond” actually is near hanging up the gloves, I’m pleased to have him make it this yr as a result of he positively earned it.

Poirier was one-half of two of the most effective fights of the yr (in opposition to Benoit Saint Denis and Islam Makhachev), for which he gained two Battle of the Night time awards, plus his comeback KO over Saint Denis was among the finest knockouts of the yr. That’s fairly the run.

Honorable Mentions: Chase Hooper, Gadzhi Rabadanov, Ignacio Bahamondes, Jim Miller, Joel Alvarez, Ludovit Klein, Mansour Barnaoui, Paul Hughes, Salahdine Parnasse.

Featherweight

First Staff: Ilia Topuria.

As with Pereira, this was automated. Topuria deserved his flowers as a result of he had arguably the best two-fight run in MMA historical past. Not solely did he rating two knockout wins, successful the featherweight title and defending it, and incomes two bonuses, he did it by beating two of the 15 greatest fighters to ever lace up gloves. Topuria’s win over Alexander Volkanovski and turning into the primary particular person to complete Max Holloway with strikes have been each A+ knockouts. A merely preposterous run from “El Matador.”

Second Staff: Diego Lopes

A 2023 All-Star First-Teamer, Lopes’s 2024 was equally as spectacular, with three spectacular wins. First, Lopes ran via Sodiq Yusuff in April, then he fought Dan Ige on about 4 hours’ discover and took a call earlier than he ended the yr with a drubbing of Brian Ortega to place himself in line for a featherweight title shot. Sure, the bonuses and finishes weren’t the identical as he earned in 2023, however Lopes nonetheless delivered the products this yr.

Third Staff: Youssef Zalal.

Zalal narrowly edges out Jean Silva for Third-Staff honors as each males had sensational 2024 campaigns, however Zalal’s occurred solely at 145 kilos, whereas Silva missed weight and fought up a weight class one time. So whereas Silva’s rookie yr was incredible, Zalal’s three submission wins and two Efficiency bonuses are sufficient to bump “Lord” all the way down to the Honorable Mentions class.

Honorable Mentions: Aljamain Sterling, Brendan Loughnane, Doo Ho Choi, Felipe Lima, Hyder Amil, Jean Silva, Julian Erosa, Movsar Evloev, Sean Woodson, Steve Garcia, Timur Khizriev.

Bantamweight

First Staff: Merab Dvalishvili.

Maybe a controversial selection as a result of Dvalishvili not solely did not discover a end in 2024, however he very not often finishes individuals in any respect. Regardless of that, it’s exhausting to argue in opposition to Dvalishvili as an All-Star this yr given his two extremely dominant performances in opposition to top-level opponents. Dvalishvili was one of many 10 greatest fighters of 2024, and so, in a fairly weak yr for Violence contenders, “The Machine” did sufficient to say his spot.

Second Staff: Deiveson Figueiredo.

“Figgy Smalls” didn’t finish 2024 how he needed — dropping a call to Petr Yan — however that ought to solely mildly detract from what was nonetheless a stellar marketing campaign. Submitting Cody Garbrandt at UFC 300 was a fantastic begin, after which wailing on Marlon Vera in August put Figueiredo in prime place for a title run. And whereas he fell brief in opposition to Yan, it was a hell of a struggle, and so Figueiredo earns Second-Staff honors.

Third Staff: Payton Talbott.

It seems to be like there’s probability that Talbott goes to be a repeat buyer on these lists. He formally made his UFC debut final yr, however Talbott started to actually escape in 2024 with two brutal finishes that earned him two Efficiency of the Night time bonuses. Nonetheless solely 26 years outdated, if Talbott had fought as soon as extra in 2024, he could properly have discovered himself atop this record.

Honorable Mentions: Ali Taleb, Cameron Smotherman, Cody Haddon, Marcus McGhee, Petr Yan, Raul Rosas Jr., Umar Nurmagomedov, Vince Morales, Vinicius Oliveira.

Flyweight

First Staff: Alexandre Pantoja.

One other candidate for 2024’s Fighter of the Yr, this was the time when Pantoja lastly established himself as an simple pressure. Two dominant wins in each of his title defenses, one end that earned a Efficiency of the Night time bonus, and he headlined two pay-per-view playing cards, all whereas cementing himself because the second-best flyweight to ever lace up gloves. And when Demetrious Johnson is the highest man, second-best ain’t half unhealthy.

Additionally necessary to notice, Pantoja is the one repeat First-Staff All-Star this yr and the primary fighter to ever repeat as a First-Teamer in back-to-back years. Are you able to say dynasty?

Second Staff: Charles Johnson.

I’ve received to be sincere with you; I by no means noticed this one coming. Johnson’s early UFC profession was removed from promising in relation to pleasure, however in 2024, “InnerG” flipped the script utterly. 4 fights, 4 wins, one Battle of the Night time, and one Efficiency of the Night time has Johnson within the top-15, and instantly, he’s a fighter you wish to see step into the cage. Unbelievable turnaround and an unbelievable yr.

Third Staff: Brandon Royval.

This was a toss-up between Royval and Tatsuro Taira, and so the benefit went to the winner of their struggle. 2024 was not Royval’s most fun yr, however it might have been his greatest as he upset Brandon Moreno in a really enjoyable scrap to kick issues off, then took residence the win and Battle of the Night time honors when he put a beating on Taira in October.

Honorable Mentions: Andre Lima, Asu Almabayev, DongHun Choi, Joshua Van, Lone’er Kavanagh, Manel Kape, Muhammad Mokaev, Tatsuro Taira.

Ladies’s Bantamweight

First Staff: Macy Chiasson.

You gained’t discover a ladies’s 135er who had a greater yr than Chiasson. The previous Final Fighter winner had a breakout yr in 2024, scoring two stoppage wins over ranked opponents and taking residence two Efficiency of the Night time bonuses for her troubles.

Second Staff: Kayla Harrison.

Ladies’s bantamweight is all the time a tricky division, and there simply aren’t that many fights that happen. Nonetheless, with two wins in 2024 and one end (and maybe extra impressively, even making 135 kilos), Harrison makes her return to the All-Star crew, transferring from an At-Massive bid to divisional Second-Teamer.

Third Staff: Raquel Pennington.

“Rocky” began 2024 off scorching by lastly successful the bantamweight title, however sadly for Pennington, a questionable scorecard led to her dropping the belt to Julianna Peña in her first protection. Had Pennington rightfully gained the struggle, she would probably be greater on this record, however nonetheless, two title fights, one win, and strong performances throughout are sufficient to make it to the Third Staff in a weak division.

Honorable Mentions: Ailin Perez, Beatriz Mesquita, Jacqueline Cavalcanti, Jennifer Maia, Kennedy Freeman.

Ladies’s Flyweight

First Staff: Dakota Ditcheva.

If we gave out a ladies’s Fighter of the Yr, Ditcheva could be it. 4 fights, 4 wins, 4 finishes, a PFL title, and a extra importantly, dominant performances. Ditcheva beat the soul off everybody she fought this yr, incomes her spot among the many greatest pound-for-pound ladies within the sport. It was a monster yr for the budding star.

Additionally price noting, Ditcheva is the primary particular person to ever make three straight All-Star groups. She was a Third-Teamer in 2022 after which a Second-Teamer final yr, so whereas Pantoja has the back-to-back firsts on her, Ditcheva can also be doing one thing particular.

Second Staff: Jasmine Jasudavicius.

Since becoming a member of the UFC from The Contender Collection, Jasudavicius has struggled to construct momentum. Till 2024.

Three fights, three wins, and two D’Arce chokes that earned her two Efficiency of the Night time bonuses, Jasudavicius earned herself a UFC rating and has her as one to look at heading into 2025.

Third Staff: Gabriella Fernandes.

Onerous to think about an even bigger swing in momentum than Fernandes had in 2024. “Gabi” made her UFC debut in 2023 and went 0-2, however this yr she utterly modified issues up, successful a break up determination and Battle of the Night time honors in opposition to Carli Judice in June earlier than placing Cong Wang to sleep in one of many greatest upsets ever, incomes her a Efficiency of the Night time bonus.

Honorable Mentions: Cheyanne Bowers, Cong Wang, Liz Carmouche, Miranda Maverick, Natalia Silva, Paulina Wisniewska, Rin Nakai, Rose Namajunas, Taila Santos.

Strawweight

First Staff: Gillian Robertson.

In a surprisingly quiet yr for many strawweights, Robertson was the exception. Robertson fought 3 times in 2024 (plus a foray into Karate Fight), choosing up three wins, with one Efficiency of the Night time successful submission over Polyana Viana.

Second Staff: Jacqueline Amorim.

Amorim made her UFC debut final yr, going simply 1-1, however 2024 proved to be a happier yr for her as “Jacque” picked up two first-round armbar wins over Cory McKenna and Vanessa Demopoulos, the previous of which gained her a Efficiency of the Night time bonus.

Third Staff: Virna Jandiroba.

There’s an argument that Jandiroba deserves to be greater on the record as her wins have been extra significant, however Third-Staff nonetheless isn’t unhealthy, and it’s actually deserved. A transparent unanimous determination win over Crazy Godinez in March, then a Efficiency bonus successful armbar of Amanda Lemos in July, set Jandiroba up for a giant struggle in opposition to Tatiana Suarez at UFC 310, just for that to get taken away from her when Suarez received a title shot as a substitute.

Honorable Mentions: Ayaka Miura, Denise Gomes, Gabriela Fujimoto, Ketlen Souza, Ming Shi, Tabatha Ricci, Valesca Machado.

At-Massive Bids

First Staff: Max Holloway.

This part is generally reserved for a mix of ladies’s atomweight and featherweights, however I’m making an exception this yr. For one, there aren’t a variety of nice choices in both weight class, and for 2, have a look at that photograph and inform me I’m improper.

Holloway fought at each light-weight and featherweight this yr, and his light-weight struggle was among the finest, most memorable of all time. The 24-minute and 59-second battle he had with Justin Gaethje offered among the finest fights and craziest knockouts in historical past to not point out some of the iconic moments ever. That’s greater than sufficient for an All-Star allowance.

Second Staff: Seika Izawa.

Merely put, Izawa is the most effective atomweight on Earth and among the finest feminine fighters on the earth. Nonetheless solely 27, Izawa stays undefeated, and in 2024, she added to her streak with a submission win over Si Yoon Park and a call win over Kanna Asakura. Final yr’s First-Teamer drops to the Second-Staff due to Holloway’s insane ‘BMF’ efficiency.

Third Staff: Cris Cyborg.

I not often embody fighters who solely fought as soon as in these lists, however that is one other occasion the place I’m making an exception. Cyborg’s battle with Larissa Pacheco at PFL Battle of Giants was spectacular, and if we give her a small bump for 2 knockout wins in boxing, I’m snug having one of many best feminine fighters ever take Third-Staff honors.

Honorable Mentions: Ana Palacios, Michelle Montague, Moeri Suda, Rena Kabuto, Saori Oshima,

And that’s it! Congratulations to all of the picks, and hopefully 2025 might be simply nearly as good!