Photo | Jeff Bottari Zuffa
Fighter of the Year Curse: UFC’s Streak Continues
In the world of mixed martial arts, patterns and superstitions emerge in unexpected ways. One such eerie trend has caught the attention of fight fans—the so-called “Fighter of the Year Curse.” The last five recipients of the Fighter of the Year award at the World MMA Awards have all suffered a major setback in their following bout.
This bizarre streak has now extended into 2025, with Alex Pereira being the latest victim. Here’s a look at the timeline of this peculiar pattern:
- 2020: Israel Adesanya wins Fighter of the Year but loses to Jan Blachowicz in his very next fight.
- 2021: Kamaru Usman claims the award, only to lose to Leon Edwards the following year.
- 2022: Charles Oliveira takes the honor but suffers a defeat to Islam Makhachev.
- 2023: Leon Edwards wins the award, then falls to Belal Muhammad in his first fight of 2024.
- 2024: Alex Pereira, after winning the 2024 Fighter of the Year award, loses to Magomed Ankalaev in his first fight of 2025.
The trend is undeniable. Each time a fighter has been recognized as the best in the sport, they’ve been unable to carry that momentum into the new year. While it may be easy to dismiss this as mere coincidence, the pattern has persisted across weight classes and different levels of dominance.
Photo | Jeff Bottari Zuffa
Why Does This Keep Happening?
There are several possible explanations for this odd phenomenon. One theory suggests that fighters who win such prestigious awards might experience a dip in motivation or struggle with the pressure that comes with high expectations. Another argument is that the award simply coincides with a period when champions and elite contenders are most active—eventually leading them into fights against the toughest competition available.
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