MMA Junkie's 2024 Fight of the Year: Esteban Ribovics vs. Daniel Zellhuber at UFC 306

With another action-packed year of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie takes a look at the best fights from January to December 2024.

As voted on by our entire staff, here are the top five and winner of MMA Junkie’s Fight of the Year.

* * * *

Honorable mentions

Max Holloway def. Justin Gaethje at UFC 300

Max Holloway added to the history of the BMF title in the most remarkable way possible, and in the biggest way possible, when he captured the belt from Justin Gaethje.

Holloway once again lived ups to the philosophy behind the BMF in calling for Gaethje to step to the middle of the octagon in the final 10 seconds of a lightweight war he was clearly winning. He landed a clean shot with one second left on the clock that sent Gaethje face-first into the canvas in what Joe Rogan called the "greatest knockout of all time."

Lewis McGrillen def. Dean Garnett at 2024 PFL Europe 3

Lewis McGrillen and Dean Garnett embraced the definition of slugfest in one of the wildest bantamweight bouts in PFL history.

According to PFL statistics, McGrillen and Garnett combined for 14 knockdowns landed in less than 12 minutes of action. The final one is what mattered most, because McGrillen shut the lights off Garnett in a violent fashion less than two minutes into the final round.

Mateusz Rebecki def. Myktybek Orolbai at UFC 308

Some fighters will go their entire careers without experiencing a bloody battle like lightweights Mateusz Rebecki and Myktybek Orolbai put on at UFC 308.

It was a ridiculous display of damage, heart and determination by both ends over 15 gruesome minutes, and although they both got Fight of the Night honors, it was Rebecki who got the win by split decision.

Islam Makhachev def. Dustin Poirier at UFC 302

Dustin Poirier had 25 minutes to finish the story at UFC 302, but in the end lightweight champion Islam Makhachev wrote an alternate ending.

In an all-time thrilling title fight battle, Makhachev submitted Poirier with a D’Arce choke in the fifth round. The submission came after Makhachev swept the leg of "The Diamond" then synched up the tight choke to finish the fight.

The winner

Esteban Ribovics def. Daniel Zellhuber at UFC 306

Related

Esteban Ribovics too busy in moment to realize UFC 306 slugfest with Zellhuber was instant classic

Esteban Ribovics def. Daniel Zellhuber at UFC 306 at Sphere in Las Vegas: Best photos

The Fight of the Night scrap between Esteban Ribovics and Daniel Zellhuber at UFC 306 held up as the best fight of 2024.

The two surging lightweight prospects went to war for 15 minutes in a thrilling manner. They were both hurt multiple times in the fight and had to dig to a deep, dark place to make it to the final bell, but Ribovics and Zellhuber did just that.

Ribovics got the split decision win over Zellhuber, but both men delivered and made the most of their spot on the pay-per-view main card to bring up their value in the eyes of fans of the MMA world.

Cast Your Vote!

[opinary poll="what-was-the-best-fight-of-2024_mmajunkie" customer="mmajunkie"]

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: MMA Junkie's 2024 Fight of the Year: Esteban Ribovics vs. Daniel Zellhuber at UFC 306