Stepping into the Octagon with Max Holloway at UFC 308, Ilia Topuria took on a legend whose striking precision and endurance have tested champions and contenders alike. Holloway, riding a three-fight win streak, was coming into the fight after knocking out Justin Gaethje at UFC 300. But Topuria wasn’t fazed. In the days leading up to the fight, he confidently told MMA Junkie, “It’s gonna be a complete masterpiece. You will see.” He backed up every word.

From the moment the bell rang, Topuria took the center of the Octagon, daring Holloway to make the first move. The Hawaiian didn’t shy away, throwing up a playful imaginary red flag, teasing Topuria. But playfulness quickly turned into precision as ‘El Matador’ charged forward, seizing every inch of the canvas with ruthless intent.

By the third round, Topuria found the right hand that shifted the entire night. Holloway, for the first time in his career, stumbled, visibly shaken, and Topuria seized his moment. He followed up with a sequence so relentless that Holloway had no time to recover, and the ref had no choice but to step in. Topuria knocked Holloway out in round 3, something no one had ever done before. But here’s where things took an unexpected turn. After a big win like this, a bonus is practically a given and while UFC CEO Dana White did grant ‘El Matador’ his prize, the champion has indicated that the amount felt like a missed beat in the symphony of his success!

In an interview clip posted by the UFC on YouTube, when a reporter informed him he won the $50,000 bonus, Topuria was surprised. And not in a good way. “Only 50k? … I knocked out Max Holloway and Dana only give me 50k? I hope he’s gonna give me a little bit more. I hope so… I’m putting my hope in Dana.”

The message was clear—this wasn’t just another fight; it was a feat that had rewritten the record books. With this win, Topuria not only extended his MMA record to 16-0 but also earned 14 of his 16 career victories by stoppage.

No wonder the fighter was expecting more from Dana White and the promotion. All that said, a surprising name came out and made a case for why Ilia Topuria deserved the coveted ‘Fighter of the Year’ title as well!

‘The Great’ makes a case for Topuria in the ‘Fighter of the Year’ race

2024 has gifted MMA fans with explosive fights, jaw-dropping moments, and two titans going head-to-head for the prestigious ‘Fighter of the Year’ title. UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria and light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira both have ironclad cases. So, who really deserves the crown?

According to former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, the undefeated ‘El Matador’ might have tipped the scales in his favor with his performance at UFC 308. In a recent conversation with Ariel Helwani, ‘The Great’ confessed, “Put it this way, if it wasn’t (Alex) Pereira saving cards and putting his belt on the line while saving cards, it would be clearly Ilia. Yeah, you’ve had three (title) defenses, but the two that Ilia took out and finished us both, it’s hard to pick against Ilia, to be honest.”

This is obviously big as it came from Volkanovski. Topuria has knocked out ‘The Great’ in round 2 at UFC 298.

The other big name for ‘Fighter of the Year’ is Pereira, and rightfully so. He didn’t just defend his light heavyweight title—he broke records and carried the UFC on his back. ‘Poatan’ headlined UFC 300, then stepped up for UFC 303, and then headlined UFC 307 yet again. All the fights were title defenses, and he even broke the record for the shortest time taken for 3 title defenses with just 175 days to accomplish the feat!

But UFC 308 marked Ilia Topuria’s second record-shattering win in 2024, following his earlier victory over former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. A knockout of Volkanovski is rare enough, but Topuria managed to finish two legends in one year.

With two months left in the year, the debate over 2024’s ‘Fighter of the Year’ remains wide open. Pereira has the edge in sheer quantity, saving events and breaking records, while Topuria has delivered quality wins that will echo through featherweight history.

Who would you pick for the 2024 ‘Fighter of the Year’ award? Topuria or Pereira? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!