Mid-Year MMA Awards: Celebrating 2024’s Ultimate Warriors So Far
With the octagon still smoking from some incredible battles in the first half of 2024, it’s time to hand out some well-deserved hardware. Who’s dominated the cage? Which fights had us on the edge of our seats? Let’s dive into theScore’s mid-year MMA awards and celebrate the warriors who’ve been bringing the heat!
Male Fighter of the Half-Year: The Kings of Combat
Six months in, and we’ve already witnessed some absolutely jaw-dropping performances from the men’s divisions. From championship defenses that left us speechless to rising stars announcing their presence with authority, this category was STACKED.
The frontrunners have separated themselves through consistency, dominance, and that special “wow factor” that makes fans rewatch their highlights on repeat. We’re talking about fighters who haven’t just won—they’ve made statements.
Who’s Leading the Pack?
I’m looking at guys like Islam Makhachev, whose technical brilliance continues to suffocate the lightweight division. Then there’s Dricus Du Plessis, shocking critics with each middleweight appearance. And how about Sean O’Malley’s star power combined with that devastating precision striking?
But the beauty of MMA in 2024 has been seeing some unexpected names crash the party. Fighters who weren’t on many people’s radar in January are now firmly in the conversation.
Female Fighter of the Half-Year: Queens of the Cage
The women’s divisions have delivered some of the most technical, thrilling, and downright brutal performances of 2024 so far. From dominant champions reinforcing their legacy to hungry contenders changing the landscape, female fighters continue to elevate the sport.
Names like Alexa Grasso, Zhang Weili, and the ever-impressive Valentina Shevchenko have given us masterclasses in mixed martial arts. But it’s not just about the established stars—we’ve seen breakthrough performances that have shifted the power dynamics across multiple weight classes.
The New Generation Rising
What makes this year special is watching the evolution of women’s MMA in real-time. The technical improvements, the strategic depth, and the overall athleticism have reached new heights. These aren’t just great female fighters—they’re great fighters, period.
Fight of the Half-Year: War Rooms
There’s something magical about those fights where you forget to breathe. Where you’re screaming at your TV at 1 AM while your neighbors wonder if everything’s okay. The first half of 2024 has blessed us with several such moments.
From technical chess matches to all-out brawls, the criteria here is simple: which fights had us rewinding, rewatching, and reliving every second?
| Fight Contenders | What Made It Special |
|---|---|
| Holloway vs. Topuria | Technical brilliance meets explosive power |
| Figueiredo vs. O’Malley | Championship heart and dramatic swings |
| Namajunas vs. Grasso | Elite scrambles and constant danger |
What I love about great fights is how they tell a story. The momentum shifts, the adjustments, the heart shown when athletes dig deep—these are the moments that remind us why we love this sport.
Knockout of the Half-Year: Sleep Inducers
You know those KOs where you involuntarily yell “OHHH!” and immediately reach for your phone to text friends who might have missed it? Yeah, we’ve had plenty of those already.
From flying knees to counter hooks that seemed to defy physics, the art of the knockout remains MMA’s most electrifying moment. These aren’t just finishes—they’re highlight reel staples for years to come.
The Science Behind the Spectacle
What makes a truly great knockout isn’t just the result—it’s the setup, the timing, and sometimes the sheer unexpectedness of it all. Whether it came from established knockout artists or fighters not known for their power, these moments defined cards and created instant celebrities.
Submission of the Half-Year: The Tap Masters
While knockouts get the casual fans jumping, true MMA aficionados know there’s something beautiful about a perfectly executed submission. The chess match that leads to that moment of inevitability when one fighter realizes they have no escape.
From innovative new techniques to classics executed with perfect precision, the submission game continues to evolve. We’ve seen fighters escape positions once thought inescapable, only to fall into even more creative traps.
Technical Brilliance on Display
What stands out in 2024’s submission game is the increasing technical depth across all divisions. It’s not just specialists hitting submissions anymore—it’s well-rounded fighters showing that the ground game remains MMA’s great equalizer.
Looking Ahead: What Will the Second Half Bring?
With major cards stacked for the remainder of 2024, these awards could look completely different by year’s end. That’s the beautiful unpredictability of MMA—tonight’s contender could be tomorrow’s cautionary tale, and an unknown fighter could deliver the performance of a lifetime on any given Saturday.
Who are your picks for the mid-year awards? Which performances stood out to you? The conversation continues as we prepare for what promises to be an explosive second half of the fighting year.
One thing’s for certain—if the next six months deliver half the excitement of what we’ve already witnessed, we’re in for a legendary year in the sport’s history.
Source: theScore