MMA Fighting’s 2024 Fighter of the Year: Ilia Topuria

Ilia Topuria. Alex Pereira. That’s it, that’s your race for 2024 Fighter of the Year.

And it’s as close as they come.

Let’s start with Topuria, MMA Fighting’s choice for the best performer of the past calendar year, and let’s be frank, the owner of one of the best two-fight runs in MMA history. Topuria didn’t just claim a UFC championship this year; he’s already put himself on track to be the best featherweight fighter of all-time.