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

The MMA All-Star Crew is again!

2024 is within the books, and it was a reasonably nice 12 months 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 have fun the 36 fighters who contributed most to our enjoyment this 12 months.

The idea is easy: The three fighters in every weight class who had the very best 12 months based mostly on pleasure, exercise, and accomplishment. We’re not simply speaking about who’re the very best fighters, however which fighters delivered probably the most leisure all year long. Losses aren’t essentially disqualifying (as long as the struggle was nice), and neither are choices (as long as they weren’t boring).

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

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

Heavyweight

First Crew: Denis Goltsov.

Fairly presumably my favourite fighter I get to have fun this 12 months. 3 times earlier than this 12 months, Goltsov made it to the PFL heavyweight match solely to lose in heartbreaking trend, 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 fashion, with 4 finishes this 12 months, three within the first spherical. Congrats and well-deserved!

Second Crew: Marcin Tybura.

And after Goltsov, the standard undeniably drops off. Merely put, loads of heavyweights (and staples of this record) weren’t very lively in 2024, preventing solely a couple of 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 in your buck when the large man fought this 12 months.

Third Crew: Kennedy Nzechukwu.

Nzechukwu made his heavyweight debut this 12 months, 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 dwelling Third-Crew honors in a down 12 months.

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

Gentle heavyweight

First Crew: Alex Pereira.

That is Pereira’s second time as a First-Crew All-Star, and he turns into the primary two-weight All-Star, as “Poatan” was the middleweight First-Teamer in 2022. And actually, may there be another alternative for this 12 months?

Pereira was very practically the general Fighter of the 12 months in 2024, and with three profitable title defenses, three knockouts (together with a few Knockout of the 12 months contenders), a Efficiency of the Night time, and a Combat of the Night time, Pereira was computerized.

Second Crew: 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 12 months and delivered. Two first-round knockouts, two Efficiency of the Night time bonuses, what extra may you ask for from “Mountain Tiger”?

Third Crew: Dominick Reyes.

Welcome again, Mr. Reyes!

Heading into 2024, Reyes was a cautionary story in MMA about how one dangerous break may upend a complete profession. On a four-fight shedding skid, Reyes gave the impression to be carried out as a fighter, a tragic ending for the person who ought to have overwhelmed Jon Jones. However “The Devastator” discovered a method to flip again the clock this 12 months, and with back-to-back stoppage wins over Dustin Jacoby and Anthony Smith, he grabs the Third-Crew 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 Crew: Dricus du Plessis.

“DDP” was No. 3 in our Fighter of the 12 months rankings, and it’s simple to see why: taking the middleweight title from Sean Strickland in a Combat of the Night time efficiency after which submitting Israel Adesanya in his first title protection (the No. 3 Submission of the 12 months) is a rattling high quality 2024 run.

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

Second Crew: Shara “Bullet” Magomedov.

Whereas du Plessis obtained the nod for First Crew 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 Combat of the Night time, and the most effective knockouts of the 12 months, Bullet was must-see TV each time he stepped within the cage in 2024.

Third Crew: 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 12 months (Borralho a Efficiency and a Combat of the Night time, Hernandez two Efficiency bonuses), however Borralho’s win over Jared Cannonier is the very best 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 Crew: Carlos Prates.

One other computerized alternative. It’s wild to assume that 2024 was Prates’s UFC debut as a result of he did a lot this 12 months. 4 fights, 4 finishes, 4 Efficiency bonuses, and a UFC rating is how you place collectively the most effective rookie years of all-time and cement your self as some of the thrilling fighters within the sport.

Second Crew: Joaquin Buckley.

In another 12 months, Buckley is the runaway winner for First-Crew honors. 4 wins, three finishes (throughout ranked opposition), and one Efficiency of the Night time bonus is an unimaginable 12 months. If the minimize 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 Crew: Shamil Musaev.

Musaev made his PFL debut in 2024 and instantly proved why many take into account him to be the most effective 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 12 months 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 Crew: Renato Moicano.

Moicano broke out as a star each for his in-cage performances and his post-fight interviews. However the in-cage is admittedly 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 obtained no bonuses, he completely dominated superb opposition in 2024.

Second Crew: Esteban Ribovics.

Ribovics was a hair away from taking First-Crew honors this 12 months, however there’s nothing mistaken with Second-Crew once we’re speaking in regards to the light-weight division. In 2024, Ribovics scored a 37-second head kick knockout of 2022 All-Star Terrance McKinney (that by some means didn’t earn him a Efficiency bonus), after which he adopted it up by successful a call over Daniel Zellhuber at UFC 306 in the most effective fights of the 12 months. An unbelievable 12 months.

Third Crew: Dustin Poirier.

Some of the thrilling fighters in MMA historical past, that is Poirier’s first All-Star staff solely as a result of we haven’t carried out them lengthy sufficient. And if “The Diamond” actually is near hanging up the gloves, I’m comfortable to have him make it this 12 months as a result of he undoubtedly earned it.

Poirier was one-half of two of the very best fights of the 12 months (towards Benoit Saint Denis and Islam Makhachev), for which he received two Combat of the Night time awards, plus his comeback KO over Saint Denis was the most effective knockouts of the 12 months. 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 Crew: Ilia Topuria.

As with Pereira, this was computerized. 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 changing into the primary particular person to complete Max Holloway with strikes had been each A+ knockouts. A merely preposterous run from “El Matador.”

Second Crew: Diego Lopes

A 2023 All-Star First-Teamer, Lopes’s 2024 was equally as spectacular, with three spectacular wins. First, Lopes ran by way of Sodiq Yusuff in April, then he fought Dan Ige on about 4 hours’ discover and took a call earlier than he ended the 12 months 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 12 months.

Third Crew: Youssef Zalal.

Zalal narrowly edges out Jean Silva for Third-Crew honors as each males had sensational 2024 campaigns, however Zalal’s happened completely at 145 kilos, whereas Silva missed weight and fought up a weight class one time. So whereas Silva’s rookie 12 months was unbelievable, 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 Crew: Merab Dvalishvili.

Maybe a controversial alternative as a result of Dvalishvili not solely did not discover a end in 2024, however he very hardly ever finishes folks in any respect. Regardless of that, it’s laborious to argue towards Dvalishvili as an All-Star this 12 months given his two extremely dominant performances towards top-level opponents. Dvalishvili was one of many 10 greatest fighters of 2024, and so, in a reasonably weak 12 months for Violence contenders, “The Machine” did sufficient to assert his spot.

Second Crew: Deiveson Figueiredo.

“Figgy Smalls” didn’t finish 2024 how he wished — shedding 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 an important begin, after which wailing on Marlon Vera in August put Figueiredo in prime place for a title run. And whereas he fell quick towards Yan, it was a hell of a struggle, and so Figueiredo earns Second-Crew honors.

Third Crew: Payton Talbott.

It seems like there’s a very good likelihood that Talbott goes to be a repeat buyer on these lists. He formally made his UFC debut final 12 months, however Talbott started to really 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 might nicely 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 Crew: Alexandre Pantoja.

One other candidate for 2024’s Fighter of the 12 months, this was the time when Pantoja lastly established himself as an plain power. 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 dangerous.

Additionally essential to notice, Pantoja is the one repeat First-Crew All-Star this 12 months and the primary fighter to ever repeat as a First-Teamer in back-to-back years. Are you able to say dynasty?

Second Crew: Charles Johnson.

I’ve obtained to be sincere with you; I by no means noticed this one coming. Johnson’s early UFC profession was removed from promising with regards to pleasure, however in 2024, “InnerG” flipped the script utterly. 4 fights, 4 wins, one Combat of the Night time, and one Efficiency of the Night time has Johnson within the top-15, and abruptly, he’s a fighter you need to see step into the cage. Unbelievable turnaround and an unimaginable 12 months.

Third Crew: 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 enjoyable 12 months, however it might have been his greatest as he upset Brandon Moreno in a really enjoyable scrap to kick issues off, then took dwelling the win and Combat 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 Crew: Macy Chiasson.

You received’t discover a girls’s 135er who had a greater 12 months than Chiasson. The previous Final Fighter winner had a breakout 12 months in 2024, scoring two stoppage wins over ranked opponents and taking dwelling two Efficiency of the Night time bonuses for her troubles.

Second Crew: Kayla Harrison.

Ladies’s bantamweight is all the time a troublesome 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 staff, shifting from an At-Massive bid to divisional Second-Teamer.

Third Crew: Raquel Pennington.

“Rocky” began 2024 off scorching by lastly successful the bantamweight title, however sadly for Pennington, a questionable scorecard led to her shedding the belt to Julianna Peña in her first protection. Had Pennington rightfully received 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 Crew in a weak division.

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

Ladies’s Flyweight

First Crew: Dakota Ditcheva.

If we gave out a girls’s Fighter of the 12 months, 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 12 months, incomes her spot among the many greatest pound-for-pound girls within the sport. It was a monster 12 months for the budding star.

Additionally value 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 12 months, so whereas Pantoja has the back-to-back firsts on her, Ditcheva can also be doing one thing particular.

Second Crew: Jasmine Jasudavicius.

Since becoming a member of the UFC from The Contender Sequence, 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 observe heading into 2025.

Third Crew: Gabriella Fernandes.

Arduous 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 12 months she utterly modified issues up, successful a cut up determination and Combat of the Night time honors towards Carli Judice in June earlier than placing Cong Wang to sleep in one of many largest 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 Crew: Gillian Robertson.

In a surprisingly quiet 12 months 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 Crew: Jacqueline Amorim.

Amorim made her UFC debut final 12 months, going simply 1-1, however 2024 proved to be a happier 12 months for her as “Jacque” picked up two first-round armbar wins over Cory McKenna and Vanessa Demopoulos, the previous of which received her a Efficiency of the Night time bonus.

Third Crew: Virna Jandiroba.

There’s an argument that Jandiroba deserves to be greater on the record as her wins had been extra significant, however Third-Crew nonetheless isn’t dangerous, and it’s definitely 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 towards Tatiana Suarez at UFC 310, just for that to get taken away from her when Suarez obtained a title shot as an alternative.

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

At-Massive Bids

First Crew: Max Holloway.

This part is generally reserved for a mix of ladies’s atomweight and featherweights, however I’m making an exception this 12 months. For one, there aren’t loads of nice choices in both weight class, and for 2, take a look at that picture and inform me I’m mistaken.

Holloway fought at each light-weight and featherweight this 12 months, and his light-weight struggle was the most effective, most memorable of all time. The 24-minute and 59-second conflict he had with Justin Gaethje offered the most effective 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 Crew: Seika Izawa.

Merely put, Izawa is the very best atomweight on Earth and the most effective 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 12 months’s First-Teamer drops to the Second-Crew due to Holloway’s insane ‘BMF’ efficiency.

Third Crew: Cris Cyborg.

I hardly ever embrace 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 biggest feminine fighters ever take Third-Crew honors.

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

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