Leading Male UFC Fighters Recognized for Outstanding Performances in 2021
Check out the Top 5 UFC Warriors of 2024
Cruise through the bloodbath as these five fighters rule the Octagon, standing victorious after a pile of opponents, says Quintin van Jaarsveld.
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5: Diego Lopes
The Brazilian wrecking machine shook things up with an impressive year, grabbing three significant victories to extend his win streak to five and climb up to No. 3 in the featherweight rankings.
Lopes (26-6) ignited his 2024 campaign with a knockout of Sodiq Yusuff in April, stepped up to face Dan Ige on short notice in June and emerged victorious, and then broke into the 145-pound elite by brutalizing former title challenger Brian Ortega in September.
4: Merab Dvalishvili
Dvalishvili’s (18-4) journey to bantamweight gold was no walk in the park. He took down 10 consecutive opponents before snagging a title shot in a battle against Henry Cejudo. This fearsome Georgian made easy work of Cejudo, outgrappling the Olympic gold medallist wrestler and former two-division UFC titleholder. In September at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Dvalishvili proved his worth by dominating Sean O’Malley for five rounds.
3: Dricus du Plessis
Du Plessis (22-2) made history in 2024 as South Africa's first UFC champion. The ferocious fighter stunned the UFC world since his debut in 2020, securing six straight victories, setting him up for a middleweight title shot.
On January 21, he delivered an epic performance in the main event of UFC 297 in Toronto, Canada, defeating Sean Strickland via split decision to capture the title. His battles with all-time great Israel Adesanya became the hottest rivalry of the year, culminating in August at UFC 305 in Perth, Australia, where he forced Adesanya to submit for the first time in his career.
2: Alex Pereira
Having already held the middleweight title, Pereira (12-2) entered the history books as a two-division UFC champion in record time last November. A relentless striker, he toppled Jiri Prochazka, defeated Prochazka a second time, and incinerated Khalil Rountree Jr, establishing the fastest three title defenses in UFC history.
The merciless kickboxing savant captivated the MMA world due to his ominous aura, thrilling walkouts, brutal performances inside the Octagon, and eagerness to face any opponent, anywhere, anytime.
1: Ilia Topuria
Topuria (16-0) dominates the featherweight division after shattering the legacies of the two greatest featherweights of all time. Coming from Georgia and Spain, Topuria emerged as the commander of the upcoming generation of mixed martial artists, seizing the throne in awe-inspiring fashion.
In their main event bout at UFC 298 in February, Topuria knocked out long-time king Alexander Volkanovski to secure the crown, and in an even more impressive feat, he became the first man to knock out Max Holloway just eight months later. With an undefeated record and a dominant ruling, the skies are the limit for this extraordinary legend slayer.
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Quintin Van Jaarsveld, a former MDDA-Sanlam SA Local Sports Journalist of the Year and a three-time Vodacom KwaZulu-Natal Sports Journalist of the Year, boasts over 15 years of experience in the world of sports. Formerly the sports editor and Outstanding Journalist of the Year award winner at The Fever Media Group, deputy editor at eHowzit, editor at SARugby.com, and senior staff writer at Rugby365.com, he currently works as a freelance sports writer.
[1] Quintin van Jaarsveld's fight predictions and commentaries, Source 1
[2] Quintin van Jaarsveld's fight predictions and commentaries, Source 2
[3] Quintin van Jaarsveld's fight predictions and commentaries, Source 3
- Dieogo Lopes, a middleweight contender, has shown prowess in rugby-like athleticism during his UFC matches, often manhandling opponents and securing victories.
- In the sports world, Ilia Topuria is recognized for his dominance in mixed martial arts, particularly in the featherweight division, with an impressive undefeated record that rivals rugby legends.
- Diego Lopes' featherweight victories in 2024 include a notable win against middleweight Brian Ortega, demonstrating his versatility in sports.
- Quintin van Jaarsveld, a seasoned sports journalist with experience in rugby journalism, offers insightful fight predictions and commentaries for various sports events, including UFC matches.
