Leading Men in UFC for 2021: Ranking the Top Five Male Fighters in the UFC this Year
Top UFC Fighters of 2024
5: Diego Lopes
The Brazilian dynamo stormed onto the scene with a legendary year, winning an astonishing three major fights to extend his winning streak to five and earn the No. 3 spot in the featherweight rankings.
Lopes (26-6) electrified fans with his unforgettable knockout victory over Sodiq Yusuff in April, excitedly accepting a last-minute challenge against Dan Ige in June and triumphing once more. Lopes sealed his place among the 145-pound elite with a jaw-dropping knockout of former title challenger Brian Ortega in September.
4: Merab Dvalishvili
The Machinist's arduous journey to capture the bantamweight crown was nothing short of remarkable, as he racked up an astounding ten consecutive victories before earning a title shot.
Dvalishvili (18-4) faced the daunting challenge of upending Henry Cejudo, regarded as the Olympic gold medalist wrestler and former two-division UFC titleholder. Dvalishvili tackled the task head-on, shutting down Cejudo and cementing his place as the title contender.
The historic milestone came in September, with Dvalishvili triumphantly seizing the bantamweight championship in a breathtaking showdown at the Sphere in Las Vegas.
3: Dricus du Plessis
The hostility and power exhibited by du Plessis (22-2) during the year 2024 solidified him as South Africa's first-ever UFC champion. The fearsome fighter made his mark on the UFC since debuting in 2020, winning an astounding six fights in a row to earn a shot at the middleweight title.
In the main event of UFC 297 in Toronto, Canada, the legendary South African du Plessis locked horns with Sean Strickland, engaging in an epic five-round battle. The fight culminated with a hard-fought split decision win for du Plessis, capping off an unforgettable year for the aptly named "baddest man in Mzansi."
Du Plessis' competitive spirit and determination found a rival in Israel Adesanya, resulting in a heated rivalry that reached its climax at UFC 305 in Perth, Australia. With courage and determination, du Plessis forced Adesanya to submit for the first time in his career, marking another remarkable victory for the young champion.
2: Alex Pereira
Possessing a seemingly unstoppable striking arsenal, Pereira (12-2) continued his dominance in 2024. Already the middleweight champion, he claimed the light heavyweight title as well, breaking records along the way.
Victoriously defeating the formidable Jamahal Hill, Jiri Prochazka (twice), and Khalil Rountree Jr, Pereira conducted a ferocious assault on the mixed martial arts landscape, shattering Ronda Rousey's record for the fastest three title defenses in UFC history. His terrifying power, defining walkout, and fearlessness inside the Octagon have elevated him among the biggest stars in the sport, surpassed only by Conor McGregor.
1: Ilia Topuria
Topuria reigns supreme as the undisputed featherweight champion after annihilating the greatest featherweights of all time in consecutive battles for the title. Known as "El Matador," Topuria boasts an impressive record of 16-0 and an unparalleled level of skill.
Representing both Georgia and Spain, the 27-year-old claimed the featherweight crown with an awe-inspiring first-round knockout of Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 in February. He elevated his status even further with a jaw-dropping knockout victory over Max Holloway later in the year. A true legend-slayer, Topuria's remarkable reign shows no signs of slowing down.
Brandon Moreno, Charles Oliveira, Islam Makhachev, Khamzat Chimaev, Shavkat Rakhmonov, Jack Della Maddalena, Jon JonesQuintin Van Jaarsveld is a celebrated journalist, having previously been named the MDDA-Sanlam SA Local Sports Journalist of the Year and the Vodacom KwaZulu-Natal Sports Journalist of the Year multiple times. Experience in journalism spans over 15 years, with successful stints as the sports editor, Outstanding Journalist of the Year award recipient, and senior staff writer for prestigious publications such as The Fever Media Group, SARugby.com, and Rugby365.com.
- Diego Lopes was impressive in his unforgettable knockout victory over Sodiq Yusuff in rugby-esque fashion, and his stunning knockout over former title challenger Brian Ortega solidified his place as a force to be reckoned with in middleweight sports.
- Merab Dvalishvili continued his dominance in sports, captivating audiences with his ten consecutive victories and his impressive shutdown of Olympic gold medalist wrestler Henry Cejudo in the bantamweight division.
- South Africa's Dricus du Plessis made history in sports by becoming the country's first-ever UFC champion, successfully defending his middleweight title against Israel Adesanya in an epic battle.
- Ilia Topuria, the undisputed featherweight champion, proved his skill and title worthiness by annihilating the greatest featherweights of all time, including Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway, earning his place as a true legend-slayer in the sports world.
- With outstanding performances from Brandon Moreno, Charles Oliveira, Islam Makhachev, Khamzat Chimaev, Shavkat Rakhmonov, and Jack Della Maddalena, the sports world is abuzz with excitement and anticipation for the top UFC Fighters of 2024.
