The year 2024 in the UFC was filled with exceptional performances and highly talked-about moments. As the year comes to a close, several prominent individuals in the community have been discussing their favorite highlights. Recently, UFC legend and Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier spoke up to share his favorite moment featuring two of the superstars on the roster.
The UFC 300 PPV event in April 2024 showcased some of the best fighters in the promotion. One of the undercard fights featured Max Holloway facing off against Justin Gaethje in a lightweight bout. Surprisingly, Holloway dominated the seasoned lightweight veteran Gaethje in the match. This unexpected victory also surprised Daniel Cormier, who later described it as his favorite moment of the year.
The Max Holloway-Justin Gaethje moment, I don’t do this right? I did this when I saw him because it was a combination of Max Holloway, the guy that people say ‘can’t punch’, doing that to Justin Gaethje, who everybody knows is one of the toughest human beings walking the planet. That combination made me go (rest his hands on his head), as I watched, so yeah, nothing’s gonna top that for me.
Daniel Cormier to Mike Bohn on The Bohnfire (EP13)
Gaethje is known for being one of the toughest fighters in UFC, as well as one of the hardest-hitting punchers. This reputation was acknowledged by former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov after their fight. Cormier notably emphasized Gaethje’s formidable reputation, and he mentioned that the way Holloway was able to neutralize “The Highlight” was something no one had anticipated.
⚡️ Daniel Cormier named Max Holloway knocking out Justin Gaethje as the moment of the year:
“I don’t usually do this [rest his head in his hands], but I did when I saw it… Nothing gonna top that for me.”
🎥 @MikeBohn ▫️ pic.twitter.com/v31TShGP8Z
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) December 25, 2024
Although Holloway’s victory over Gaethje opened up greater possibilities for him, he was unable to capitalize in his next UFC fight. The Hawaiian fighter squared off against reigning UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria, but he could not replicate his dominant performance against Gaethje. As a result, Daniel Cormier may have excluded him from the list of contenders for UFC Male Fighter of the Year.
Daniel Cormier picks his Male Fighter of the Year
Daniel Cormier has been at the forefront of every action in the promotion. This year, many standout performers and fighters have emerged. Notably, UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira and UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria have made a significant impact. Their performances have impressed numerous analysts and veterans, including Chael Sonnen and Cormier himself.
Ilia Topuria’s last UFC outing (Image via UFC)In a recent episode of Good Guy/Bad Guy on ESPN MMA, Chael Sonnen and Daniel Cormier discussed the Male Fighter of the Year. Interestingly, Sonnen chose Alex Pereira, while Cormier argued in favor of Ilia Topuria. Cormier even provided reasons for selecting Topuria as the Male Fighter of the Year.
Here’s my choice, Ilia Topuria and I’m gonna tell you why…. Ilia Topuria beat Alexander Volkanovski, considered one of the greatest featherweights of all time, he’s no. 2 to Jose Aldo… He (Topuria) beat Max Holloway, the third best featherweight of all time. In terms of importance, he literally went in one year Chael and did away with last eight years of the division. He went and took care of everybody from 2015 to 2024, all in one year.
Daniel Cormier via ESPN MMA (Check from 2:45)
Topuria’s exceptional dominance in the promotion has caught the attention of fellow competitors on the roster as well. UFC lightweight veteran Dustin Poirier even described Topuria’s knockout win over Max Holloway as the UFC Knockout of the Year. This highlights Topuria’s remarkable rise within the promotion. Consequently, Cormier expressed confidence in naming Topuria as the Male Fighter of the Year.
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