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5 of the most shocking combat sports moments in of 2024, so far

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5 of the most shocking combat sports moments in of 2024, so far

As a longtime MMA enthusiast, I’ve seen my fair share of shocking moments in the octagon. However, the events of 2024 truly stood out. The year was filled with unexpected turns and unforgettable performances that left us fans on the edge of our seats.

As we approach the last three months of the year, it’s high time to review some of the most astonishing events that have unfolded in the world of combat sports this year. Yet again, 2024 has been a remarkable year for Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and boxing, with several unexpected victories that have left their mark on both sports. In this article, we will delve into what we consider to be the most jaw-dropping moments in combat sports from the first nine months of 2024.

5. Anthony Joshua flatlining Francis Ngannou

2023 witnessed an exciting match-up between Francis Ngannou and Tyson Fury, a highly discussed event of the year. As the previous UFC heavyweight champion, Ngannou managed to push the champion Fury all the way to points, even knocking him down in the process. However, Ngannou’s victory was not to be as he lost the split decision in a close and contentious call. Following his impressive performance against Fury, there were high expectations for Ngannou’s return to boxing. In March 2024, Ngannou stepped into the ring with former world champion Anthony Joshua. The anticipation surrounding this fight grew rapidly due to its unique nature, pitting two massive heavyweights with formidable knockout abilities against each other. Given his success in the Fury fight, many spectators were convinced that Ngannou could defeat Joshua.

The actual result of the fight could not have been more different to Ngannou’s first boxing match. Ngannou would go on to lose to Joshua second-round knockout, while Joshua winning was not exactly extremely shocking given he was the boxer out of the pair. The shocking part was how brutal the knockout was and how easily Joshua managed to dispatch Ngannou. Fury, who was the world champion at the time, struggled to solve the Ngannou puzzle. Joshua ran straight through Ngannou with little to no trouble. This result made people question the ability of Fury and whether or not he took Ngannou seriously.

4. Belal Muhammad’s one-sided victory over Leon Edwards

In July, the UFC came back to the UK, featuring a lineup headlined by a repeat bout between Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad. Notably, their initial encounter ended as a no-contest because Edwards unintentionally jabbed Muhammad’s eye with his finger. Nevertheless, prior to the eye poke, Edwards was dominating the fight, even knocking Muhammad off balance with an impressive high kick.

In the context of their initial bout, spectators generally predicted that Edwards would emerge victorious over Muhammad. Fresh from impressive victories against Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington, Edwarda seemed invincible, boasting a significant wave of momentum heading into UFC 304. However, Muhammad was also on a remarkable run, but his fighting approach wasn’t particularly captivating to the audience.

3. Ilia Topuria knocks out Alexander Volkanovski

In February 2024, UFC 298 occurred, featuring Alexander Volkanovski facing Ilia Topuria as the main event. On paper, their style of fighting made for an exciting matchup. However, some fans felt that it was too soon for Volkanovski to return to the ring given his knockout loss to Islam Mahkachev in his previous fight at UFC 284 on October 21, 2023.

Fans were worried about the rapid comeback due to how quickly Volkanovski was knocked out by Makhachev, marking his first career loss via knockout. Moreover, concerns arose when, during the UFC 284 post-fight press conference, Volkanovski shared candid insights about his mental health struggles outside of fighting. This disclosure led some fans to believe that he might have been hastily returning to the ring and may not have been mentally prepared for another fight.

At UFC 294, Topuria knocked out Volkanovski in the first round. This unfortunate event extended Volkanovski’s losing streak due to knockouts to two fights. What surprised many MMA enthusiasts was that a former dominant champion who has triumphed over Max Holloway three times had been defeated by knockout in consecutive bouts, with both defeats being particularly violent.

2. Dan Ige saves the day

At UFC 303, an exciting featherweight match-up was planned between Brian Ortega and Diego Lopes. Ortega had just scored a big victory against Yair Rodriguez in his previous bout, while Lopes was one of the promising newcomers in the division who had been on a winning spree.

Leading up to the match, Ortega appeared out of sorts in media appearances, and it was evident to fans that he wasn’t quite himself. Everything was set for the fight until fight night when Ortega became severely ill and had to withdraw from competition. Instead of turning into a disappointing night for Lopes, things took an unexpected turn as Dan Ige stepped up with only three hours’ notice to fill in. The Nevada State Athletic Commission permitted both fighters to weigh-in at the arena at a catchweight of 165 pounds. The fight lived up to expectations and was a hit among spectators, culminating in a Lopes decision victory. However, Ige received massive praise for his bravery and determination not only for saving the fight but also for providing Lopes with a challenging adversary.

1. Max Holloway’s crazy UFC 300 knockout

2024 has seen many surprising moments, but none more so than Max Holloway’s jaw-dropping knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300. This event was in need of a spark as it didn’t have the star power typically associated with such events. To create buzz, the UFC arranged an exceptionally compelling matchup for the BMF title. The anticipation and excitement among fans were high due to the popularity of both fighters, who are known for their electrifying bouts.

Some spectators wondered if Holloway would perform well in the match because he had fought at lightweight before in UFC 236 and didn’t seem to be at his peak. Additionally, since Holloway was no longer the featherweight champion, fans were unsure about his chances against Gaethje. However, the fight turned out to be exactly as promised – a fast-paced, intense battle. The first round was fairly balanced, but in the second round, Holloway delivered a massive spinning back kick to Gaethje’s nose just before time ran out. After this powerful move, Holloway dominated for most of the remaining fight.

As a gamer, here’s my take: In that intense battle against Holloway, Gaethje showcased his grit by coming back from adversity, even dropping Holloway for the first time in his career during the fourth round. As the fight neared its end, it seemed like Holloway was dominating, but then, in a flash of recklessness and courage, he beckoned me to meet him squarely in the Octagon with just 10 seconds remaining. Intrigued by the challenge, I accepted and we exchanged heavy blows, culminating in what Joe Rogan hailed as the greatest knockout of all time. In a stunning turn of events, Holloway landed a devastating right hook at the very last second, sending me sprawling face-first onto the mat, making him the new BMF champion.

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2024-08-31 02:13

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