The UFC is on its way to cap off another successful year. 2024 has produced numerous memorable moments across pay-per-views and Fight Nights. We’re now in the tenth month of the year, and the final quarter of 2024 has a lot in store for UFC fans.
Notable moments this year include the milestone UFC 300 fight card, which was stacked from top to bottom. The world’s premier MMA promotion also put on a spectacular show at the Sphere in Las Vegas on Mexican Independence Day.
With the first three quarters of 2024 now in the rear-view mirror, there are still three big pay-per-views and some fight nights to look forward to. What are the most anticipated fights for the rest of the year? Let’s take a look.
#5. Petr Yan vs. Deiveson Figueiredo – UFC Macau main event
The bantamweight division has a new king, Merab Dvalishvili. While the champion is expected to face Umar Nurmagomedov next, the battle for the next contender is heating up, making Petr Yan vs. Deiveson Figueiredo a crucial fight in the 135-pound title mix.
With Sean O’Malley out of action till 2025 and Cory Sandhagen coming off a loss, Yan and Figueiredo will be looking to make a strong case for the next title shot. The collision between the Russian’s crisp boxing and the Brazilian’s heavy hands will also be a sight to behold, and both 135-pounders are high in confidence coming off wins.
Two highly skilled former champions, ‘No Mercy’ and ‘Deus Da Guerra’ are eager to return to championship glory. An impressive performance in Macau, China, could see the victor take on the winner of Dvalishvili vs. Nurmagomedov.
#4. Movsar Evloev vs. Aljamain Sterling – UFC 310
Aljamain Sterling had a strong debut in the featherweight division when he got the better of Calvin Kattar. A fight with divisional dark horse Movsar Evloev and a win against the unbeaten phenom puts Sterling in title contention, especially with his championship accolades.
On the other hand, Evloev is riding an eight-fight win streak in the promotion. All his UFC fights have gone to a decision, which has slowed his ascent, but a win over ‘Funk Master’ would make his case for a title shot very strong. Moreover, the grappling exchanges alone between the Russian wrestling savant and the American jiu jitsu ace make this one of the most anticipated non-title fights of the year.
Featherweight champion Ilia Topuria is taking on Max Holloway later this month, with former titleholder Alexander Volkanovski potentially next in line. Evloev extending his perfect record to 19-0 with a win over the former bantamweight champion will only boost his title aspirations, especially if he gets his first finish in the UFC octagon.
#3. Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic – UFC 309 main event
Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic is a fight that probably shouldn’t be happening at all. Miocic has not fought since Francis Ngannou brutally knocked him out at UFC 260 in 2021. At 42 years of age, coming off a massive layoff, many are questioning Miocic’s chances against the Hall of Famer.
Moreover, interim champion Tom Aspinall is waiting in the wings. Nevertheless, this matchup still holds value, pitting two legends against one another. Jones is undeniably the greatest light heavyweight and arguably the best fighter of all time, while Miocic’s championship credentials at heavyweight are unmatched.
Notably, this could be the last time both men step inside the octagon. UFC CEO Dana White believes that Miocic will retire, win or lose, after UFC 309. Additionally, Jones has hinted that this upcoming fight will be his last.
Stylistically, it’s an intriguing matchup, as both fighters have a solid wrestling base. The critical factor is the stand-up, where ‘Bones’ is more damaging and efficient with his kicks, while Miocic’s inside-boxing could prove to be effective if he closes the distance.
It’s always a big occasion when two legends lock horns, and with the undisputed heavyweight championship on the line, this is as high stakes as it gets.
#2. Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev – UFC 308 co-main event
After a scintillating start to his UFC career, the hype behind Khamzat Chimaev has seemingly fizzled out. This is largely thanks to repeated health issues that have forced him to pull out of fights and subject him to lengthy stints on the sidelines.
After rag-dolling his first four opponents, Chimaev edged out a hard-fought win over Gilbert Burns to enter the welterweight title picture. However, he’s now seemingly abandoned that division but could vault himself into the 185-pound championship with a win at UFC 308.
Chimaev is coming off a narrow win over Kamaru Usman and hasn’t fought in a year. He was slated to fight Whittaker in Saudi Arabia earlier this year but was forced to pull out, and ‘The Reaper’ subsequently made light work of Ikram Aliskerov. While Dana White has confirmed that Sean Strickland will fight for gold next, the winner of Whittaker vs. Chimaev is likely next in line.
Whittaker is famously among the best anti-wrestlers in the sport and has precision striking, as seen in his latest outing. If Chimaev can dominate the Australian on the mat as he’s done with previous opponents, it’ll serve as a real statement of intent. However, he’ll need to find the finish early, as he tends to gas out, and this is a five-round bout with a seasoned counterpart.
#1. Ilia Topuria vs Max Holloway – UFC 308 main event
Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway will headline the stacked UFC 308 pay-per-view in arguably the most exciting matchup to look forward to in 2024. Topuria is fresh off his shocking knockout win over Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 to win the belt, while Holloway took his stardom to astronomical heights with his BMF title-winning last-second KO at UFC 300.
Topuria’s confidence is as high as it can be, having never tasted defeat in his professional career. However, Holloway is coming off back-to-back knockout wins and has never looked better. His distance management and kicks looked on point against Justin Gaethje earlier this year, effectively dealing with his opponent’s explosive power.
It remains to be seen how ‘Blessed’ deals with Topuria’s power, especially considering he’s returning to 145 pounds. Holloway’s chin is legendary, but ‘El Matador’s’ technique and precision could surprise the Hawaiian.
Holloway has been yearning for the featherweight strap since his first loss to Volkanovski in 2019. After going 15 rounds with ‘The Great’ and coming up empty, he now has the chance to re-claim UFC gold against the man who needed just two rounds to dispatch the former pound-for-pound king.
This matchup represents the highest level of MMA, making it the top entry on our list of the most anticipated fights on the horizon.
