We’re at the midpoint of the year, and the UFC has taken a look back at what’s happened so far in 2024.
The promotion has had 22 events so far this year, including seven pay-per-views, and there has been no shortage of thrilling moments.
It’s hard to forget Max Holloway throwing down with Justin Gaethje to produce a finish straight out of a fairy tale – for $600,000 in bonus money alone at the historic UFC 300. And light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira seems to do nothing but produce highlight-reel finishes.
To be certain, the high points have been great so far. Take a look back at them in the video above ahead of the start of the second half of the UFC’s 2024 schedule – and relive them through photos and more below.
Max Holloway def. Justin Gaethje, UFC 300
Max Holloway def. Justin Gaethje via knockout (punch) – Round 5, 4:59 – to win “BMF” title
In a career filled with epic performances, Max Holloway topped all of them when he told Justin Gaethje to swing for the fences with him in the final 10 seconds of their 25-minute fight – and then face-planted the “BMF” titleholder with just one second left. He took the “BMF” belt and elevated his legend status.
Alex Pereira def. Jamahal Hill, UFC 300
Alex Pereira def. Jamahal Hill via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 3:14
Alex Pereira got kicked in the cup by Jamahal Hill, and though the referee started to give him a chance to recover, Pereira motioned him to get out of the way and let him continue. A few seconds later, Hill was out cold against the fence while his cornermen wondered what happened.
Dustin Poirier def. Benoit Saint Denis, UFC 299
Dustin Poirier def. Benoit Saint-Denis via knockout (punches) – Round 2, 2:32
Dustin Poirier kept going after guillotine chokes against Benoit Saint Denis, to the point his corner told him to knock it off in between the first and second rounds. Poirier didn’t heed the advice much and went after another one in the second, but then drilled Saint Denis and put him out cold.
Robelis Despaigne def. Josh Parisian, UFC 299
Robelis Despaigne def. Josh Parisian via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 0:18
Robelis Despaigne came into his UFC debut with four first-round knockouts, and his three most recent were in a combined 19 seconds. It took him almost that long to put away Josh Parisian. He needed 18 seconds to knock him out for the second fastest heavyweight debut in UFC history.
Ilia Topuria def. Alexander Volkanovski, UFC 298
Ilia Topuria def. Alexander Volkanovski via knockout (punches) – Round 2, 3:32
Ilia Topuria as confident all fight week that he’d put away featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. He thought a first-round knockout would come, but it was in the second, instead. Topuria landed a clean shot to the chin that had Volkanovski out cold, and a couple shots on the canvas made sure of it. The Spaniard stayed unbeaten and ended Volkanovski’s lengthy reign at 145 pounds.
Brunno Ferreira def. Dustin Stoltzfus, UFC on ESPN 57
Brunno Ferreira def. Dustin Stoltzfus via TKO (spinning back elbow) – Round 1, 4:51
Brunno Ferreira has not been accustomed to going out of the first round much in his career, so with the clock ticking down after a wild exchange with Dustin Stoltzfus, he threw one more spinning back elbow after he landed one moments earlier – and it was on the button. It put Stoltzfus away with nine seconds left in the opening frame and was just the eighth spinning back elbow finish in UFC history.
Steve Erceg def. Matt Schnell, UFC Fight Night 238
Stephen Erceg def. Matt Schnell via knockout (punch) – Round 2, 0:26
Stephen Erceg drilled Matt Schnell early in the second round and put his lights out with one punch. Schnell was partially conscious after his head hit the canvas from the one-hitter quitter and had a typical “what just happened?” look on his face.
Dan Ige def. Andre Fili, UFC Fight Night 236
Dan Ige def. Andre Fili via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 2:43
Dan Ige wasn’t thrilled Andre Fili asked to fight him, given they’d trained together. He warned that Fili would find out what he saw in the gym was just a shell of what he’d see in the fight. He may have been right. Ige took out Fili with a perfectly placed punch, and one brutal follow-up on the canvas made sure the point was received.
Vinicius Oliveira def. Bernardo Sopaj, UFC Fight Night 238
Vinicius Oliveira def. Bernardo Sopaj via knockout (flying knee) – Round 3, 4:41
Vinicius Oliveira delivered one of the most violent flying knees in UFC history when he drilled the backpedaling and already hurt Bernardo Sopaj late in the third round of their fight, which marked the UFC debut for each of them. Sopaj looked good early, but Oliveira came on in the second and third and never stopped chasing the finish until he finally got it in absolutely devastating highlight-reel fashion.
Alex Pereira def. Jiri Prochazka, UFC 303
Alex Pereira def. Jiri Prochazka via knockout (head kick, punches) – Round 2, 0:13
Alex Pereira continued to show he may already be one of the best fighters in MMA history. He dropped former light heavyweight champ Jiri Prochazka with a single punch at the end of Round 1. Then just 13 seconds into Round 2, he put him away with an absolute vicious head kick and follow-up punches that had Prochazka a wobbly mess.
