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 12 months. It wasn’t a landslide, however one scrap from the highly-entertaining Noche UFC card this September took 50% of the vote— sufficient to provide 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 unbelievable 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 powerful 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 trustworthy, nonetheless, I used to be most invested in Holloway vs. Gaethje. Like many, I feared for Max transferring 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 instances uncomfortable matters within the pre-fight construct up, it was a tall order to dwell 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 combat had the whole lot a fan might need. Ribovics and Zellhuber placed on a considered one of a form combat at considered one of a form present, Noche UFC. The combat was backwards and forwards all the 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 return.
Patrick McCorry: Zellhuber vs. Ribovics. Had the pleasure of watching this combat alongside Eddie Regulation. We had been on the sting of our seats all the time. The UFC nailed this matchmaking.
Cade Morehouse: Combat of the yr needs to be Esteban Ribovics vs Daniel Zellhuber. Anybody that wishes to get into MMA watch that combat. The pictures these guys took and the guts these guys confirmed was loopy. They had been the true 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 evening!
Brett Cagle: Kenneth Cross vs Emmanuel Sanchez. A lot of my colleagues will greater than seemingly 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 combat 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 speculated to be a formality. Poirier got here in as a four-to-one betting underdog in a title shot he received because of timing and availability greater than something. However ‘The Diamond’ gave the whole lot he had and bloodied up Makhachev greater than we had ever seen earlier than. Spherical 1 performed out the way in which most anticipated, however the back-and-forth battle that ensued after was one for the ages.
Finish end result: Daniel Zellhuber vs. Esteban Ribovics earns our Combat of the 12 months award for 2024 with 50% of the votes.
