MVP of the Year:
Alex Pereira
Alex "Poatan" Pereira is the Full Violence 2024 MVP of the Year, the ultimate company man who risked his legacy to deliver when the UFC needed him most. In a year that demanded both activity and excellence, Pereira stepped up not once, not twice, but three times to defend his light heavyweight crown, all with devastating KO's. In April, he opened the year with a thunderous & viral first round finish of Jamahal Hill at UFC 300, proving his power is undeniable at any weight class of his choice. In June, he answered the call on short notice to headline UFC 303, once again using his magic on Jiří Procházka with a head kick that left fans hypnotized. And in October, he closed the year by picking apart Khalil Rountree Jr. with a beautiful body-head combination, fourth-round TKO and his third title defense in six months. He stepped up time and time again; he proved he is the true UFC company man, willing to stand across from anybody the UFC puts in front of him, proving he is the true MVP of the UFC.
Fighter of the Year:
Ilia Topuria
Ilia "El Matador" Topuria is the Full Violence 2024 Fighter of the Year. Quality over quantity was taken into account here. In February, he entered the Octagon as the challenger with the aura of a pre-crowned champion, strategically folding Alexander Volkanovski, one of the sport’s and division’s all time greats, to claim the featherweight crown at UFC 298. In October, he returned to do the unthinkable, cracking Max Holloway’s legendary chin and becoming the first to send the division’s beloved son to the canvas in his entire incredible career. Two legends, two knockouts, back-to-back, His year was one of individual brilliance. He conquered legends of the sport, and in doing so, he etched his name into the history books and is likely bringing the octagon to his home of Spain in 2025.
Most Violent Fighter of the Year:
Dustin Poirier
Dustin Poirier IS Full Violence. He gets the Most Violent Fighter of the Year 2024, an absolute dawg who guarantees blood and violence every time he steps into the cage. In 2024, he showed why he’s one of the most beloved fighters in the UFC, a true legend and hero of the sport. He walked through the Frenchman's first round fire at UFC 299 to secure a violent second round KO and then went on to push the dominant Dagestani champ to his limits in a 5 round war that ultimately ended with a moment of brilliance from Islam. However, violence isn't determined by a win or a loss, and that's why Dustin wins this award, hands down, a true modern-day gladiator. Thank you for your service.
Fight of the Year:
Daniel Zellhuber vs. Esteban Ribovics
In a year packed with absolute bangers, Ribovics vs. Zellhuber at UFC 306 stood out as a pure embodiment of "Full Violence". The Sphere promised magic, but few had this fight pinned as the one to deliver it. What unfolded when these 2 entered the cage that night was nothing short of legendary. For 15 relentless minutes, both men brought constant pressure and two gas tanks that seemingly defied logic. Zellhuber ate 50 unanswered shots, got rocked, stumbled, and still managed to bob, weave, and throw back. Round 3 was where it truly erupted, a "round of the decade" contender and the kind of bout that fans will point to for years when introducing someone to the insanity of MMA. Truly, a fight for the ages and now the official Full Violence 2024 Fight of the Year.
KO of the Year:
Max Holloway
Max Holloway’s last-second, mind-blowing knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 might not be KO of the Year... it might be KO of the decade. With 10 seconds left on the clock in a fight he was already winning handily, "Blessed" pointed to the ground. With Gaethje not one to back down from a challenge, the two men swung like men possessed for approximately nine seconds. As the clock hit 0:01, Max connected cleanly on the chin with a perfectly timed right hand that turned "The Highlight" into a highlight. It was the audacity of Holloway to risk everything to deliver a finish for the fans under the brightest lights and grandest stage of UFC 300 that won him the Full Violence 2024 KO of the Year.
Submission of the Year:
Islam Makhachev
Of course, KOs dominated the headlines in 2024, but there were some great nominees for Submission of the Year nonetheless, and it’s no surprise to MMA fans that a Dagestani took the honor. Islam Makhachev proved the timeless brilliance of his grappling with a masterful D’arce choke on Dustin Poirier at UFC 302. Dustin, known for his grit and ability to bite down on his mouthpiece and grind his way through fights, had survived Islam for longer than anybody before him. The way Islam chases the takedown in the finishing sequence though, is just unreal. Experienced Dustin stuffed the single, Islam stands up with the leg into a high single, then goes into a sweeping ankle pick and chases for top position, showing incredible chain wrestling, and eventually baited Poirier with a guillotine, forcing him to react, and then locked in the modified D’arce choke, a variation that kept the dagestani prodigy in a dominant position while applying a freakishly strong grip. It was a display of grappling perfection, blending pure takedown pressure with a submission that showed off Makhachev’s unmatched understanding of weight, angles, and positioning.This is why it stands as the Submission of the Year.
Breakthrough Fighter of the Year:
Carlos Prates
Get a cigarette ready, because this year’s Breakthrough Star is the smoking Muay Thai king himself, Carlos "The Nightmare" Prates, who lit up the welterweight division with 4 fights, 4 walk-off KOs, and 4 performance bonuses in just nine months, leaving a trail of ash behind him. Tall, rangy, and with slick head movement, he announced himself with a crisp 1-2 finish of Trevin Giles in February in his UFC debut, followed by a gut-wrenching knee-to-the-body finish of Charles Radtke in June. The "unfinishable" Li Jingliang was next in August, crumbling under left hands that seemed to descend from Poatan himself, leaving "The Leech" staring up at the lights. Prates closed the year in November by sending Neil Magny, the division’s veteran gatekeeper, into the shadow realm with a ghost punch that even slow-mo struggled to catch. A one-man wrecking ball with Muay Thai in his soul, Prates delivered one of the best debut years in UFC history and is a massive problem for anyone at welterweight. Could we see the first Brazilian WW champ in 2025?
Coach of the Year:
Pablo Sucupira
Pablo Sucupira’s coaching methodology, fighting is a problem needing to be solved. A former professional turned elite MMA coach, he brings a strong understanding and knowledge of stand-up fundamentals and fight IQ to his fighters' game. His strategic focus on crafting bespoke game plans for each fight is something all of his fighters have spoken about, instilling in fighters like Caio Borralho, Mauricio Ruffy, Jean Silva, and Carlos Prates a mentality of fighting smarter, not harder and leading them to go 11-0 undefeated in 2024. This year, he guided his athletes to execute their game plans perfectly, resulting in technical masterclasses, higher rankings, and setting them up for great things in 2025, making him the standout coach of 2024.
Gym of the Year:
Fighting Nerds
The Fighting Nerds, under the leadership of Pablo Sucupira, has built an incredible roster of UFC and potential UFC talent, earning the Full Violence title of Gym of the Year 2024. Based in São Paulo, Brazil, they achieved a remarkable 11-0 record in the UFC in 2024 and rose to prominence through their exceptional fighter roster and clever marketing identity. Carlos Prates stands out with a perfect 4-0 UFC run, finishing all his opponents, while Jean Silva added three victories, all by finish. The team’s leader, Caio Borralho, secured two wins, and Bruna Brasil rebounded from a shaky start with an impressive victory over the experienced Molly McCann. Rounding out the lineup, flashy striker Mauricio “One Shot” Ruffy added two UFC wins, capping off an incredible year for the gym.