Ilia Topuria or Alex Pereira? The debate over who should be crowned Fighter of the Year is heating up, and it’s more contentious than the classic Midoriya vs. Bakugo argument. Topuria made a resounding statement in 2024, establishing himself as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters and a burgeoning superstar. His back-to-back knockouts against all-time greats like Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski have not only solidified his status but have also put him in prime contention for the honor. With two months of UFC action still on the horizon, the spotlight is firmly on Topuria and Pereira.

Former champion Henry Cejudo weighed in during the Pound 4 Pound podcast, asserting, “It would be silly not to give Fighter of the Year to Alex Pereira.” However, he quickly acknowledged Topuria’s achievements, emphasizing that “Ilia Topuria beat two first-ballot Hall of Famers. Alexander Volkanovski, a former pound-for-pound king, and Max Holloway, a legend in his own right.” Cejudo ultimately declared, “Alex Pereira can step aside; there’s a BMF and Fighter of the Year in Ilia Topuria.”

Topuria’s victory over Holloway marked a historic moment, making him the first fighter to knock out the Hawaiian. On the other hand, Alex Pereira has been on a relentless knockout campaign of his own, shattering records and achieving three title defenses in a remarkably short span of just 157 days. For the unversed, this is a company record! Moreover, he’s earned highlight reels against notable opponents like Jiri Prochazka, Khalil Rountree Jr., and Jamahal Hill.

Even UFC CEO Dana White was on the fence about this topic. He said during the UFC 308 presser, “Yeah, that’s a good question, I don’t know, that’s a tough one… I’d have to look at the numbers and stats, but you know, you can’t take it away from either one of them for what they’ve done this year.” On the other hand, Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen have their verdicts.

Chael Sonnen and Daniel Cormier make their call on who should be FOTY

Daniel Cormier was unequivocal during the UFC 308 broadcast, making it clear that there was no room for any sort of debate. He stated, “Honestly, I think UFC 308 ends the conversation, in my opinion. I understand that Alex has accomplished some tremendous feats this year, but either one of Topuria’s victories is bigger than any of Alex’s wins. To put it in perspective, it would be like Alex fighting both me and Jon Jones in the same year and knocking us both out.”

Chael Sonnen echoed Cormier’s sentiments, acknowledging Pereira’s impressive year but suggesting that Topuria’s triumphs may have overshadowed him. On his YouTube channel, he remarked, “What Ilia Topuria just did is he ended an era. Topuria has put a bow on that era.” Meanwhile, the 145lbs king chose to take the high road, opting not to weigh in on the discussion. He expressed his preference to let the veterans and fans decide the outcome while focusing on his achievements.

With both fighters having compelling cases, the discussion on who deserves the Fighter of the Year title is anything but straightforward. Will Topuria’s remarkable feats against elite featherweights edge out Pereira’s explosive run in the light heavyweight division? As the year draws to a close, fans and analysts alike are left to ponder who will ultimately claim the prestigious honor. What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below!