With 'Fighting Nerds' in the spotlight, SUPER LUTAS chooses the biggest MMA revelations in 2024

Fighting Nerds revealed talents in 2024 (Photo: Montage/SUPER LUTAS)

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The year 2024 is for fighting nerds. Named 'Academy of the Year' at the 'MMA Oscars', the Brazilian team Fighting Nerds has spent the last few months revealing some of the most exciting talents from the new generation of mixed martial arts.

The SUPER LUTAS team met to vote on the biggest up-and-coming MMA fighters in the world in 2024. The voting process was as follows: each team member created an individual top 5, knowing that first place would be worth 5 points, second place 4 points, and so on. With all the votes tallied, the points were added up to determine the final SUPER LUTAS top 5. Let's get to the list!

Honorable Mentions

Before revealing the five biggest revelations of the year, honorable mentions are due to those who had brilliant years, were remembered by part of our team in the voting, but did not achieve enough points for the top 5.

First mention goes to Brazilian flyweight (up to 56,7 kg) André Mascote , with 3 points. Co-protagonist of the most unusual moment of the season, when he was bitten on the arm by compatriot Igor Severino, the Bahia native from Feira de Santana finished 2024 with three wins in three fights, remaining undefeated in his professional career.

The only foreigner mentioned in the SUPER LUTAS voting , the 'Welsh Gangster' Oban Elliott also racked up three wins throughout the year and was remembered by two of the voters, totaling 5 points.

5) Felipe Lima (6 points)

Felipe Lima defeated Miles Johns at UFC Tampa . Photo: UFC News

With one more point than Oban Elliott , flyweight (up to 56,7 kg) Felipe Lima opens the top 5 of SUPER LUTAS ' revelations in 2024. The 26-year-old 'Jungle Boy' from Amazonas impressed fans with victories over Muhammadjon Naimov in June and Miles Johns in December.

4) Vinicius LokDog (11 points)

Vinicius LokDog during his UFC presentation. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

Owner of one of the most spectacular knockouts of the year, Vinicius LokDog finished in fourth place. The bantamweight (up to 61,2 kg) from Rio Grande do Sul knocked out Bernardo Sopaj with a flying knee in his debut in March and dominated Ricky Simon by unanimous decision in June.

3) Mauricio Ruffy (16 points)

Mauricio Ruffy knocks out Jamie Mullarkey at UFC 301 (Photo: Instagram/UFC)

Starting the Fighting Nerds' 'hat trick' on the podium, lightweight (up to 70,3 kg) Mauricio Ruffy delivered a spectacular performance in his debut against Jamie Mullarkey in Rio de Janeiro in May, and followed it up with a victory over heavier James Llontop at UFC 309 in November.

2) Jean Silva (24 points)

Jean Silva defeated Charles Jourdain at UFC 303. Photo: Reproduction/Twitter UFC News

Representing Fighting Nerds in the featherweight division (up to 65,7 kg), Jean Silva secured the 'silver medal' at SUPER LUTAS with knockouts over Westin Wilson, Charles Jourdain , and Drew Dober , the latter two within a two-week period and in different weight classes.

1) Carlos Prates (35 points)

Carlos Prates earned bonuses in all of his UFC fights. Photo: Instagram/UFC.

Unanimously ranked first in the SUPER LUTAS voting , Carlos Prates was the logical choice for the Breakthrough Fighter of the Year award. Ruthless, Carlos Prates racked up four consecutive knockouts and finished his first year in the UFC ranked 13th in the welterweight division (up to 77,1 kg).

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