MACAU, CHINA – NOVEMBER 23: (L-R) Gabriella Fernandes of Brazil punches Wang Cong of Chinain their girls’s flyweight struggle through the UFC Combat Evening occasion at Galaxy Enviornment on November 23, 2024 in Macau, China. (Photograph by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
The tightest race of our year-end awards for 2024 got here within the Upset of the 12 months class. Given MMA is a sport the place one punch can change all the things, that’s by no means stunning. 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 12 months 2024
Eddie Legislation: 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 in opposition to 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 largest “holy sh*t” second on DWCS this season.
Jay Anderson: Reug Reug vs. Malykhin. Oumar Kane shouldn’t have had an opportunity in opposition to MMA’s first triple-champ, Anatoly Malykhin. “Reug Reug” was extra of a spectacle, a hulking preventing who regarded 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 break up determination victory over the beforehand undefeated Malykhin, who additionally held middleweight and light-weight 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 hold the ball rolling proceed a possible quick observe towards former foe Valentina Shevchenko not not like Alex Pereira did to Israel Adesanya. As a substitute, Fernandes wrote her personal script in gorgeous vogue, stopping Cong for a phenomenal end that confirmed precisely why fights are received within the cage and never on paper.
Bryson Hester: Gabriella Fernandez vs. Wang Cong. A variety 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 hassle Gabriella did the seemingly inconceivable not solely dropping her opponent, however sinking in a submission and incomes a big victory and a bonus as properly.
Patrick McCorry: Wang vs. Fernandes. Possibly recency bias, however who doesn’t love a large underdog like Fernandes pulling off that form of win. Then the post-fight interview on high of that as properly. Wonderful.
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 significant tough stretch for Motta having a No Contest versus Trey Ogden and getting knocked out by Manuel Torres. So this bounce again in opposition to a extremely touted prospect stands out probably 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 profitable streak that spanned over eight years. As a (+190) betting underdog Muhammad managed your entire struggle from the opening bell incomes a Unanimous determination win. Touring to England and utterly 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 may defeat Francis Ngannou. Whereas Malykhin arguably received, and the struggle happening in a hoop as a substitute of a cage might need had an impact on its end result, ‘Reug Reug’ wasn’t even presupposed to be remotely aggressive with him. This was by far probably 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 12 months!
