With the top of the UFC’s featherweight division featuring a slew of names that range from the reigning champ Ilia Topuria to the streaking Diego Lopes, it’s not hard to make a case for multiple 145ers on the come-up when it comes to awarding 2024’s Under-the-Radar Fighter of the Year. Although fighters like Lerone Murphy and Sean Woodson were under consideration, I found it hard to deny Steve Garcia given his current form and winning streak. Despite technically competing just twice this year, Garcia was able to accrue violent, bonus-winning stoppages each time out. STEVE GARCIA IN ROUND ONE #UFCVegas94 pic.twitter.com/hFd7rOkgZ6 — ESPN MMA (@espnmma) July 21, 2024 Not only is Garcia riding a five-fight winning streak, but the “Mean Machine” currently finds himself tied for the fourth most consecutive knockouts in UFC history (5). All his wins on this run are finishes. These hellbows from Steve Garcia pic.twitter.com/n6KXPWFqrQ — caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) December 10, 2023 For those who’ve been following him since his days on the Bellator prelims, Garcia has always been an action-first fighter with a propensity for violence.
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MMA Junkie’s 2024 Under the Radar Fighter of the Year: Steve Garcia – MMA Junkie