Top 10 Craziest Upsets in UFC Title Fight History
The unpredictable nature of MMA means that anything is possible when two fighters enter the Octagon. Despite the fact that champions and title contenders are usually highly rated because of their ability, experience, and impressive record, one can recall that many times underdogs emerged as winners and knocked out seemingly invincible opponents in UFC title bouts. These moments are some of the most memorable and exciting in the history of UFC, which once again demonstrates that no fighter can be considered a loser in this sport. Below are the top 10 shocking upsets in UFC title fight history where the underdog emerged victorious. 1. Matt Serra vs. Georges St-Pierre (UFC 69) Out of all the underdogs in the history of UFC, Matt Serra’s win over Georges St-Pierre in 2007 is the biggest. GSP, the welterweight champion at that time, was nearly invincible, and had just beaten another MMA star, Matt Hughes, to clinch the championship. Serra on the other hand had won the title shot by winning the Ultimate Fighter 4 and this was a season of comeback fighters. Although Serra was a huge underdog in the fight against GSP, the latter was deemed to be younger, faster and far more technically superior than Serra. But in the first round, Serra dropped the champion with a single strike, a devastating punch that left the latter on the canvas as Serra followed him to the ground to strike him down and get the TKO victory. This fight was a big surprise in the MMA world and GSP was defeated by one of the most unexpected champions in the history of the UFC. Ronda Rousey was considered the invincible women’s MMA champion as she entered the UFC 193 in 2015. Unbeaten and, apparently, untouchable, Rousey had finished all of her opponents, and most of the fights did not last longer than one minute. Her opponent Holly Holm, a former boxing champion, was a huge underdog and most of the fans and experts expected Rousey to dominate her. But Holm provided one of the greatest upsets in the history of MMA as seen by the viewers. Holm was able to use her kicks and movement to keep herself out of Rousey’s clinch and was able to land clean shots on Rousey for the duration of the fight. In the second round, Holm gave Rousey a perfect head kick knock out, and that moment is the moment that changed the course of women’s MMA for the better. Anderson Silva the middleweight champion was on a winning streak of 16 fights and had successfully defended his belt ten times before his defeat by Chris Weidman at UFC 162 in 2013. Silva’s striking was always impressive, and he was a big favorite against Weidman who was just a wrestler at the time. But Weidman had a shocking victory when he knocked down Silva in the second round. Silva who is known for his cocky attitude in the ring paid a price for his overconfidence when he began to show off. Weidman landed a perfect left hook that sent the champion down to the mat and out of his feet. This great upset marked the end of Silva’s reign and the beginning of Weidman’s reign as the new middleweight champion. Amanda Nunes was the pound for pound the best female MMA fighter before she faced Julianna Peña in the title defense bout at UFC 269 in 2021. Nunes had been defeating every fighter in her division and held both the bantamweight and featherweight championships, and had already submitted Ronda Rousey, Cris Cyborg and Valentina Shevchenko. Peña, who has been a warrior throughout her career but never a star, was not expected to beat Nunes, the undefeated champion. But in one of the most stunning upsets in recent memory, Peña managed to wear down Nunes, absorb her big blows and take the fight to Nunes in the second round. Peña took down Nunes and then got her into a rear-naked choke which forced the champion to tap out. It was a shocking win in the MMA world and Peña became the new bantamweight champion in one of the most shocking title victories ever. 5. T.J. Dillashaw vs Renan Barão (UFC 173). His opponent was Renan Barão who at that time held 32 fight winning streak and was the UFC bantamweight champion when they fought at UFC 173 in 2014. Dillashaw stepped in to face the champion Barão’s original opponent and nobody expected that he could pose any threat to the Brazilian superstar. But Dillashaw, however, gave the performance of his life. In the first round of the fight, Dillashaw using footwork, speed and different combinations of punches dominated the Brazilian Barao. He knocked down Barão in the first round and simply controlled him for the rest of the fight before finishing off the champion in the fifth round of the fight. It was the birth of Dillashaw as a top bantamweight and it snapped Barão’s winning streak. Michael Bisping’s victory over Luke Rockhold at UFC 199 in 2016 was one of the biggest upsets of the year and a dream come true for a fighter who spent a lot of time in the UFC without getting a title shot. Bisping stepped up for this fight at short notice to replace Weidman who was the champion before this fight and was also injured. Not many people gave Bisping a chance to win against Rockhold, and the latter had already defeated the former two years earlier. But Bisping knocked out Rockhold in the first round, and the MMA world was in shock as he became the new middleweight champion. This victory was down to the hard work and dedication that Bisping has put into the UFC and will always be one of the biggest upsets in the history of the sport. One of the best examples of an underdog story is the light heavyweight title fight between Forrest Griffin and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at UFC 86 in 2008. Griffin
Shocking Moments in UFC History: Unexpected Knockouts and Surprising Victories
It is highly possible to say that the UFC, being an organization with a penchant more than any other for producing some of the most high-octane entertainment and shocking moments in all of sports history, period-wise, scripted or unscripted, has seen quite many upsets on its tables, leaving people across all latitudes shattered. These are dramatic swings, the kind that shift not just fighters’s fortunes but also highlight the chaotic landscape in mixed martial arts. In revisiting some of the biggest upsets and most improbable wins, spanning over 25 years worth of events since its inception in 1993, we bring a unique light to the spirit competition that inspires us all through fighting as well as showcase an underdog quality that inspired fighters who came out on top where no one expected them to, changing not just history but our perspective. The biggest upsets in UFC history: 1.Matt Serra vs. Georges St-Pierre (UFC 69)The year 2007 will forever be remembered as the one in which the UFC created what remains the biggest upset in MMA history. The champion, Georges St-Pierre (GSP), who was one of the all-time greats and arguably the most dominant fighter in his prime, took on Matt Serra, who opened as an enormous +850 underdog. GSP had the title, and for all intents and purposes, it seemed like no one would take that from him. Defying all expectations, Serra delivered a stunning first-round TKO to capture the welterweight title. This victory was a testament to Serra’s striking power and resilience, and it remains a landmark moment in UFC history. 2.Ronda Rousey vs. Holly Holm (UFC 193)When she met Holly Holm in 2015, Ronda Rousey was the UFC women’s bantamweight champion—unbeaten and untouchable. Rousey, who was best known for her relatively short fights and armbar submissions, entered the Holm fight as a huge favorite against the then-ex-boxing champion, making it big in MMA. Holm executed the perfect game plan as she outclassed Rousey on the feet with her striking and footwork. Holm landed a head kick in the second round that knocked Rousey out, destroying her title hopes and surprising the UFC community. That one, which changed the course of women’s MMA and spoke volume for vitality, is a developed and rounded strategy in this sport. .3.Chris Weidman vs. Anderson Silva (UFC 162)Anderson Silva, widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters of all time, was on a 10-fight title defense streak when he faced Chris Weidman in 2013. Silva’s striking prowess and elusive style made him a heavy favorite against the relatively unheralded Weidman. In a stunning turn of events, Weidman capitalized on Silva’s showboating, landing a left hook that knocked Silva out in the second round. This victory ended Silva’s legendary reign and marked the beginning of Weidman’s championship career. 4.Julianna Peña vs. Amanda Nunes (UFC 269)With a 12-fight winning streak and eight straight as the UFC bantamweight champion, Amanda Nunes was widely regarded as not only the best female fighter in MMA history but also one of its all-time greats regardless of gender when she squared off against Julianna Peña back in November. A strong challenger, Peña was a heavy underdog. Peña was able to weather an early storm from Nunes on the feet and ultimately dominated, unloading a rear-naked choke in Round 2, capturing his first bantamweight title. Fans were thoroughly surprised by this upset, which showcased just how much of a warrior Peña is, making it to the list as one of the most surprising outcomes in recent UFC history. 5.T.J. Dillashaw vs. Renan Baro (UFC 173)Considered one of the top pound-for-pound fighters ever at that time with a 32-fight unbeaten streak, Renan Barão entered his bantamweight title defense against T.J. Dillashaw in 2014 on quite an impressive run. Dillashaw, a major underdog, was just expected to be another name on Baro’s hit list. Dillashaw, fighting brilliantly and moving better and crisper with his striking as well. It took a while, but he finally secured the victory when he finished Barao in Round 5 via head kicks and punches. Aside from putting an end to Barão´s otherwise tediously dominant reign as champion, this win gave Dillashaw his first real taste of what it meant to be a top contender in the bantamweight division. 6.Michael Bisping vs. Luke Rockhold (UFC 199)Michael Bisping stepped in on short notice to face middleweight champion Luke Rockhold in 2016. Rockhold had previously defeated Bisping and was heavily favored to retain his title. Bisping shocked the world by finishing Rockhold with punches in Round 1 to win gold at middleweight. Bisping was a long-time underdog but reached the pinnacle of his sport against Rockhold, who, in comparison, entered as an overwhelming favorite due to his skillset. 7.Nate Diaz vs. Conor McGregor (UFC 196)Back in early 2016, Conor McGregor was undefeated as the UFC featherweight champion and on his way to a shot at lightweight gold when he fought Nate Diaz at welterweight on short notice. Heavy favorite McGregor had a reputation built on knockout power and precision.Diaz, on short notice, overcomes an early barrage from McGregor, then taps him out with a rear-naked choke in the second round. This loss set back the momentum of McGregor as well as put Diaz on the map regarding some incredible toughness and skill in what would become another classic UFC moment. 8.Forrest Griffin vs. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (UFC 76)Rewind to 2007, when former PRIDE champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua was expected to dominate Griffin. He made his UFC debut against Ultimate Fighter winner Forrest Griffin as one of the UFC’s top light heavyweights at the time. Shogun was such a huge heavy favorite going into his fight with Griffin; it wasn’t supposed to be anywhere near close. With a gritty and relentless performance, Griffin pulled off possibly his most impressive victory in taking young Shogun with timely strikes and clinch work before sinking a rear-naked choke for her submission in round 3. It helped launch his career and his eventual title win.
