Daniel Zellhuber and Esteban Ribovics, UFC 306 ceremonial weigh-in Credit score: Gabriel Gonzalez/Cageside Press
We wrap up our year-end awards for 2024 with our decide for Combat of the Yr. It wasn’t a landslide, however one scrap from the highly-entertaining Noche UFC card this September took 50% of the vote— sufficient to offer it the win.
Eddie Regulation: Zellhuber vs. Ribovics. One of many fights on UFC 306 that I used to be insanely hyped for was Daniel Zellhuber and Esteban Ribovics. A firefight certainly, each males confirmed unimaginable coronary heart and approach. Zellhuber dropped Ribovics early, however it was a flurry by Ribovics that lasted over one minute that had the group on it’s toes and earned him a really shut split-decision victory.
Jay Anderson: Max Holloway vs. Justin Gaethje at UFC 300. There’s a robust argument to be made for Daniel Zellhuber vs. Esteban Ribovics right here. Brandon Royval vs. Tatsuro Taira also needs to get a point out. If I’m being sincere, nevertheless, I used to be most invested in Holloway vs. Gaethje. Like many, I feared for Max shifting up in opposition to an innovator of violence (with apologies to Tommy Dreamer) like Gaethje. But it turned out to be a basic Holloway efficiency with a mind-blowing end.
Gabriel Gonzalez: Dricus Du Plessis vs Israel Adesanya. Contemplating the historical past between the 2, hitting at occasions uncomfortable subjects within the pre-fight construct up, it was a tall order to stay as much as the hype. However these two delivered, with Adesanya delivering a efficiency that was a return to kind after an extended layoff. To the victor goes the spoils although, and Du Plessis rallied to cease a formidable foe and cement himself as an all-time nice middleweight behind his present marketing campaign.
Bryson Hester: Esteban Ribovics vs Daniel Zellhuber. This struggle had every little thing a fan may need. Ribovics and Zellhuber placed on a one among a form struggle at one among a form present, Noche UFC. The struggle was backwards and forwards the whole time and was near being stopped on an event or two. The rise up placing battle between these two tenacious fighters was positive to be one which followers will watch on repeat for years to come back.
Patrick McCorry: Zellhuber vs. Ribovics. Had the pleasure of watching this struggle alongside Eddie Regulation. We had been on the sting of our seats the whole time. The UFC nailed this matchmaking.
Cade Morehouse: Combat of the 12 months must be Esteban Ribovics vs Daniel Zellhuber. Anybody that wishes to get into MMA watch that struggle. The pictures these guys took and the guts these guys confirmed was loopy. They had been the actual most important occasion in presumably the most important manufacturing occasion you’ll ever see in MMA historical past. These two are each little bit of what the followers come to see each Saturday night time!
Brett Cagle: Kenneth Cross vs Emmanuel Sanchez. A lot of my colleagues will greater than probably decide Max Holloway vs Justin Gaethje, which is a deserving and high quality choice. Nonetheless, what I witnessed at XFC 51 from Michigan native Kenneth Cross and former Bellator title challenger Emmanuel Sanchez was the best singular struggle I’ve ever seen in particular person. Sanchez and Cross went toe to toe in a blood and guts-affair that left nobody sitting contained in the Baird Middle in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Electrifying the followers in attendance for quarter-hour “The Boss” Kenneth Cross picked up the most important win of his profession after a back-and-forth battle within the Midwest.
Mathis Desjardins: Islam Makhachev vs Dustin Poirier [UFC 302]. This was imagined to be a formality. Poirier got here in as a four-to-one betting underdog in a title shot he acquired on account of timing and availability greater than something. However ‘The Diamond’ gave every little thing he had and bloodied up Makhachev greater than we had ever seen earlier than. Spherical 1 performed out the best way most anticipated, however the back-and-forth warfare that ensued after was one for the ages.
Finish end result: Daniel Zellhuber vs. Esteban Ribovics earns our Combat of the Yr award for 2024 with 50% of the votes.
