Former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is backing Ilia Topuria for 2024's Fighter of the Year accolade despite Alex Pereira's record-breaking run.
Topuria took another step toward greatness on mixed martial arts' biggest stage on Saturday night in Abu Dhabi, where he headlined the UFC 308 pay-per-view against BMF titleholder and 145-pound legend Max Holloway.
After shockingly putting Volkanovski down in Anaheim this past February, "El Matador" repeated the feat at Holloway's expense, becoming the first to knock the Hawaiian out in the process.
Just weeks ago, many saw the Fighter of the Year debate as being wrapped up after Pereira defeated Khalil Rountree at UFC 307 to record his third successful light heavyweight defense of the year.
Pre-UFC 308, though, Volkanovski outlined a strong case for Topuria were he to add Holloway's name to his growing résumé in the sport's leading promotion.
And during an appearance on Monday's episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Volkanovski said there wouldn't even be a debate about "Poatan" pipping Topuria to the post if it wasn't for the way in which his assignments came together.
The Australian pointed out that Pereira is credited with 'saving' the promotion after a struggle to find a suitable UFC 300 main event and the late-notice withdrawal of Conor McGregor weeks before UFC 303.
A few things come into play when you’re saving cards. Put it this way, if it wasn’t Pereira saving cards and putting his belt on the line while saving cards, it would be clearly Ilia," Volkanovski said. "Yeah, you’ve had three defenses, but the two that Ilia took out and finished us both, it’s hard to pick against Ilia, to be honest.
Before this past weekend, I was like, ‘How does Pereira not get it?’ It was pretty clear," Volkanovski continued. "It's pretty impressive, man. It’s tough to say.
Pereira's victories over Jamahal Hill, Jiří Procházka, and Rountree this year came in the space of just 175 days, breaking Ronda Rousey's record for the shortest time to record three consecutive defenses.
The level of competition Topuria has faced, however — alongside the manner with which he's beaten two of the greatest of all time — has made him a popular choice for Fighter of the Year.
Beyond that discussion concluding in a couple of months' time, Volkanovski appears likely to be the one next tasked with bringing Topuria's violent run to an end.
After he entered the cage for a respectful interaction with the champ in Abu Dhabi, the Australian was confirmed as the next challenger by UFC CEO Dana White, setting the stage for a monumental rematch in 2025.
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