It’s the year of the brawl. From Conor McGregor’s prospective return to a potential Alexander Volkanovski redemption arc, there are hundreds of storylines to keep an eye on from the Octagon.
The official UFC calendar is yet to be confirmed in full, but we have more than enough to go off.
Read on to see all the best action coming up this year.
Key UFC Events – Highlighting Marquee Matchups
Here are three of the key UFC events in 2024 – we have picked out the biggest knuckle-crunching, bone-bashing, supersized-slamming set-tos on the calendar so far.
Alexander Volkanovski vs Ilia Topuria
Date: February 17th
Venue: Honda Center in Anaheim, California
Breakdown: Volkanovski is a future hall-of-famer. He came close to becoming a double-weight champion but missed out on the lightweight belt after a tough defeat to Islam Makhachev last year. He showed his title credentials with a convincing defence of his lightweight title against Yair Rodriguez in the same year. That victory means he’s unbeaten in 11 fights at 145 pounds.
However, Topuria is unbeaten too and he carries himself with the confidence of a fighter who knows he’s tough to beat. It should make for an epic night.
Sean O’Malley vs Marlon Vera 2
Date: March 9th
Venue: Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida
Breakdown: Revenge is on O’Malley’s mind – he suffered the only defeat of his career in an unusual TKO defeat to Vera last year. The incident, which O’Malley frequently labels “a fluke”, saw the American suffer a peroneal nerve injury, causing him to lose the feeling in his foot. He fell to the canvas and was finished off by Vera for what was a surprise victory.
With both men renowned for their striking abilities, fans are expecting the fight to be conducted in a toe-to-toe manner. Expect big hits and an enthralling spectacle.
Marvin Vettori vs. Brendan Allen
Date: April 6th
Venue: UFC Apex, Las Vegas
An intriguing fight rather than a headline-maker, but UFC ultras are eyeing up a potential classic in this bout, with Vettori’s granite chin facing off against the in-form Allen, who comes into the fight off a six-fight winning streak.
Title Fights and Championships – The Pinnacle of Competition
At the time of writing, we only have three title fights confirmed in 2024 – they are as follows:
- February 17th: Featherweight: Alexander Volkanovski (champion) vs Ilia Topuria (UFC 298)
- March 9th: Bantamweight: Sean O’Malley (champion) vs Marlon Vera (UFC 299)
- April 13th: Women’s Strawweight: Zhang Weili (champion) vs Yan Xiaonan (UFC 300)
Emerging Fighters to Watch – The Future Stars of the Octagon
The beauty of the UFC is there are always some new stars around the corner, ready to take the Octagon by storm. But which fledgling fists, twinkle-toed, takedown toddlers should you be looking out for?
Usman Nurmagomedov (17-0): You are likely to have heard of the Russian fighter – if only because of his most recent fight with Brent Primus. Originally ruled a unanimous victory for Nurmagomedov on the cards, it was judged a No Contest after he tested positive for a banned substance in a prescription drug. It was ruled unintentional, and meant he retained the Bellator Lightweight World Championship. Previously, only three of his wins relied on the scorecards, securing eight of his victories by knockout and six by submission. He’s one of the world’s most notable and exciting UFC talents.
Tatsuro Taira (15-0): He only signed his professional UFC contract in 2022, but Taira is tearing it up since putting ink to the paper. The highlight of his young career so far was a dominant victory over Carlos Hernandez, where furious striking and power punching secured him a second round TKO victory.
Michael Morales (16-0): An Ecuadorian sensation, he has enjoyed some convincing victories since making his debut, including his outpointing of Australian veteran Jake Matthews. With speed, power and no shortage of technical ability, Morales is one to keep an eye on over the coming weeks.
Special Events and Milestones – Celebrating UFC’s Legacy
In November 2023, the UFC celebrated its 30th anniversary. There is no doubting the incredible impact it has had on global combat sports.
In 1993, when it first came into existence, it started as an attempt to determine the most effective martial arts style by pitting practitioners of different styles against each other in no holds barred fights. However, over the span of 30 years, it has evolved into a global phenomenon and become one of the most popular and lucrative combat sports organisations in the world.
Its main achievement has been to popularise mixed martial arts (MMA) as a legitimate sport. In its early days, MMA was considered barbaric and was heavily criticised by mainstream media. But thanks to the UFC’s efforts, it has gained widespread acceptance and legitimacy as a sport
Fan Engagement – Connecting with the UFC Community
The UFC has one of the most dedicated and passionate fan bases in all of sports, but optimally keeping it engaged is no mean feat. Recognising the importance of connecting with its fan community, the organisation has embarked on several initiatives.
They include:
- Social Media: The UFC has a strong presence on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
- Reality TV Shows: The UFC produces popular reality TV shows such as The Ultimate Fighter and Dana White’s Contender Series, which not only showcase talented fighters but also provide viewers with a glimpse into their personal lives and training camps.
- Virtual Reality: The UFC is constantly exploring new technologies to enhance the fan experience. The promotion has partnered with companies like NextVR to offer virtual reality live streams of fights.
UFC and Socios.com – Enhancing Fan Interaction
Another way in which the UFC is diving headfirst into a new generation of fan interaction is by getting into the Octagon with Socios.com..
As part of the partnership, fans can access exclusive content, participate in polls, and engage with other like-minded individuals on the platform.
But what is Socios.com? Essentially, it is a blockchain-based engagement platform that enables sports fans to have a voice in their favourite teams and organisations. Through this collaboration, UFC fans can now also have a say in the decision-making process of their favourite MMA organisation.
With Socios.com, fans can purchase digital assets called Fan Tokens, which give them access to unique experiences and rewards within the UFC community. This includes voting on certain aspects of UFC events and gaining exclusive behind-the-scenes content.
