Put your mouthguard on and prepare for the hottest MMA events in 2024. There are plenty of UFC and MMA challenges to look for. More than 300 million fans around the world watch MMA events yearly. This year seems quite promising for aficionados, and you’ll learn all about the hottest events here.
Following Every Move
It’s difficult to talk about MMA fights without instantly mentioning UFC. However, UFC aren’t the only thing going on within the octagon. Indeed, UFC remains the most popular MMA competition, but there’s also PFL, ONE, and others. Millennials are the most excited about UFC, who make up to 40% of its fanbase. It’s also the most famous MMA event in the United States, Canada, Germany, Austria, and the UK.
The 2024 calendar is busy, with several events going on every month. You can easily check MMA UFC betting odds in real time with a simple search in your favorite browser, and join a legion of fans. Here are some of the unmissable events this year.
Sean O’Malley vs. Marlon Vera II
The last time Sean O’Malley and Marlon Vera II met, things ended up badly for the first. The Chilean fighter inflicted the first TKO defeat in O’Malley’s career. The last fight happened in 2020, but Sugar will surely seek his revenge in March. This means we can expect a breathtaking show.
Alexander Volkanovski vs. Ilia Topuria
The challenge winner between Alexander “The Great” and Ilia “El Matador” Topuria will bring the Featherweight Gold Belt. El Matador comes from a successful fight against Josh Emmett, while Alexander lost to Islam Makhachev. Volkanovski was defeated in his last fight by a killing head kick. Topuria is famous for his takedowns, finishings, and heavy hands. This unmissable fight will take place in the UFC 298.
Brandon Moreno vs. Brandon Royval 2
Brandon Moreno will face Brandon Royval in his homeland, Mexico, and everyone expects a welcome worthy of a hero. Both Brandons come from losses in their previous challenges against Alexandre Pantoja, UFC’s Flyweight champion. Moreno, fondly nicknamed “The Assassin Baby”, has been out of the cage ever since.
Yair Rodriguez vs Brian Ortega
Brian Ortega is back to business after a time out for personal reasons. His “rebirth” is scheduled for UFC Night 237 against Yair Rodriguez. Both fighters lost against Alexander Volkanovski, the current featherweight champion. Ortega and Rodriguez fought for the last time in 2022, resulting in a TKO when Ortega injured his shoulder.
Probable Events
The matchups below haven’t been announced yet but are likely to happen due to their history. Here are some of the surprises we can expect.
Conor McGregor vs Michael Chandler
“The Notorious” Conor McGregor has been out of combat for over two years after breaking his leg. Many speculate he’ll be back in April for the UFC 300 against Michael Chandler. Yet, McGregor’s coach, John Kavanagh, “The Notorious” won’t be back in the cage until this summer.
Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic
The fight between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic should have happened last November. However, “Bones” suffered an injury, so the interim gold was disputed between Sergei Pavlovich and Tom Aspinall.
Cris Cyborg vs. Kayla Harrison
It’s the first time two of the best women MMA fighters meet. Kayla Harrison is among the top fighters outside the UFC universe. The first loss in Harrison’s career came only last year, but it was promptly topped by a dominant performance against Aspen Ladd recently. Undoubtedly, she earned the right to challenge one of the most accomplished UFC women fighters, Cris Cyborg.
The Final Countdown
MMA is among the top five most-watched sports in the United States, along with football, basketball and baseball. There are plenty of pay-per-view services out there, so there’s no reason to miss your favourite event. Alternatively, you can choose one of the many free UFC streaming platforms available.