MACAU, CHINA – NOVEMBER 23: (L-R) Gabriella Fernandes of Brazil punches Wang Cong of Chinain their ladies’s flyweight struggle throughout the UFC Combat Evening occasion at Galaxy Area on November 23, 2024 in Macau, China. (Picture by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
The tightest race of our year-end awards for 2024 got here within the Upset of the Yr class. Given MMA is a sport the place one punch can change every thing, that’s under no circumstances shocking. Upsets can and do occur, and there have been loads of them this yr. As to who was within the operating, properly, learn on.
Upset of the Yr 2024
Eddie Regulation: Duben KO’s Clark at DWCS 70. Loads of candidates in an precise official UFC bout, however the win should go to Yuneisy Duben who was a canine in her struggle towards Shannon Clark at DWCS 70 the place Clark was a -700 favourite on the books. Add on high of that the truth that Duben confirmed as much as Las Vegas with practically nothing, nearly didn’t make the journey for the struggle, and nonetheless got here out with the most important “holy sh*t” second on DWCS this season.
Jay Anderson: Reug Reug vs. Malykhin. Oumar Kane shouldn’t have had an opportunity towards MMA’s first triple-champ, Anatoly Malykhin. “Reug Reug” was extra of a spectacle, a hulking preventing who seemed like a beast however had confirmed to tire in fights with all that muscle on his body. At the least, that was the overall consensus. But he managed to say a cut up choice victory over the beforehand undefeated Malykhin, who additionally held middleweight and lightweight heavyweight gold for ONE Championship.
Gabriel Gonzalez: Gabriella Fernandes vs Wang Cong. It was very clear what was “supposed” to occur. Wang, at house in China and coming off a fairly vicious KO victory in her UFC debut was set as much as maintain the ball rolling proceed a possible quick monitor towards former foe Valentina Shevchenko not not like Alex Pereira did to Israel Adesanya. As an alternative, Fernandes wrote her personal script in gorgeous vogue, stopping Cong for a ravishing end that confirmed precisely why fights are received within the cage and never on paper.
Bryson Hester: Gabriella Fernandez vs. Wang Cong. A whole lot of shut fights for one however one of many largest statistical upsets of the yr got here at UFC Macau on the finish of November. Cong, a UFC newcomer with in depth kickboxing expertise and even a win over UFC flyweight champion, Valentina Schevchenko, entered the struggle as a heavy favourite. After some preliminary bother Gabriella did the seemingly unimaginable not solely dropping her opponent, however sinking in a submission and incomes a huge victory and a bonus as properly.
Patrick McCorry: Wang vs. Fernandes. Possibly recency bias, however who doesn’t love an enormous underdog like Fernandes pulling off that type of win. Then the post-fight interview on high of that as properly. Superb.
Cade Morehouse: Upset of the yr goes to Nikolas Motta defeating high prospect Tom Nolan by knockout! That struggle and efficiency stands out to me due to how massive of an underdog Motta was; nobody picked him to win that struggle or thought he stood an opportunity. Not solely that nevertheless it was a serious tough stretch for Motta having a No Contest versus Trey Ogden and getting knocked out by Manuel Torres. So this bounce again towards a extremely touted prospect stands out essentially the most for me!
Brett Cagle: Belal Muhammad defeats Leon Edwards to seize UFC gold. Chicago’s personal Belal Muhammad was in a position to seize championship gold in his opponent’s yard. On the time Leon Edwards was on a 12-fight successful streak that spanned over eight years. As a (+190) betting underdog Muhammad managed your entire struggle from the opening bell incomes a Unanimous choice win. Touring to England and fully dismantling a confirmed champion on his own residence soil earns Muhammad upset of the yr for me.
Mathis Desjardins: Oumar Kane def. Anatoly Malykhin [ONE 169]. Anatoly Malykhin got here in as an undefeated, seven-to-one betting favorite with two stoppage wins over Reinier de Ridder and was in conversations about whether or not or not he might defeat Francis Ngannou. Whereas Malykhin arguably received, and the struggle going down in a hoop as a substitute of a cage may need had an impact on its end result, ‘Reug Reug’ wasn’t even imagined to be remotely aggressive with him. This was by far essentially the most shocked I used to be at a outcome this yr.
Finish outcome: It was an in depth one, however Gabriella Fernandes’ upset of Wang Cong stands as our 2024 Upset of the Yr!
