Underrated Stories: Fighters Who Overcame the Odds to Become UFC Champions

In MMA, becoming a UFC champion is the absolute pinnacle, with nothing above it. Getting to the top usually means navigating challenges, setbacks, and often the kinds of situations that really test the outer limits of a fighter’s spirit and resolve. Out of all the UFC champions, few enjoyed the most illustrious careers, but there were some whose paths were defined by paramount odds. These are those fighters who, contrary to being underrated or completely written off by critics and fans, proved that truly unstoppable forces in this universe do exist. Their stories give meaning to concepts such as perseverance, self-belief, and an indomitable will to succeed.

1. Michael Bisping: The Unlikely Champion

Long before Michael Bisping became a UFC champion, his journey proved to be one of the most inspirational stories in MMA history. For years, Bisping was always a contender, never getting that fight to take him over the hump. All along, Bisping has been an undeniable talent who many counted out of the championship talk due to what appeared to be poor stopping power and struggles against the cream of the crop.

Even though Bisping suffered dreadful losses to both Dan Henderson and Vitor Belfort, the journey has at times been spine-tingling. He was determined and never allowed the thought of failing to haunt him; because of this, he shared this special moment when he got a short-notice title shot in 2016 against the then-middleweight champion Luke Rockhold at UFC 199. Indeed, with that formidable Rockhold going on to finish him convincingly two years earlier, few had given Bisping the chance.

It was one of the biggest upsets in UFC history when Bisping knockout Rockhold in the first round to capture the UFC Middleweight Championship. Another thing that it cemented was another of his qualities—gritty—with the never-say-die attitude, something that goes a long way to show that with the right mindset, nothing is out of reach. Bisping was also long underrated in some parts of his career, but this performance certainly etched his name among the greats of the sport.

2. Robbie Lawler: A Fighter’s Resurrection

Robbie Lawler’s rise to UFC gold is the epitome of coming back from an experience of resurgence and redemption. After first being an MMA prodigy as a teenager with dynamite knockout power and an all-games-on approach to combat, Lawler spent a few up-and-down years in the UFC’s early 2000s before moving out and spending time in several promotions including Strikeforce. During this time, Lawler seemed to be in a lost phase of his career. He had lost several times, and most people had written him off as past his prime days. But in the year 2013, Lawler undoubtedly brought forward a fresh formula by returning to the Octagon. Now fighting at welterweight, Lawler went on a magic tear, smashing the competition underneath him in the form of Rory MacDonald, Jake Ellenberger, and Matt Brown.

In 2014, Lawler fought Johny Hendricks for the vacant UFC Welterweight Championship. He may have lost a razor-close decision, but that performance set Lawler up for a rematch with Hendricks in the very same year. The following fight at UFC 181, Lawler seized the UFC Welterweight Championship with a grueling split decision and quite possibly made it one of the most inspiring comebacks in the history of mixed martial arts.
Lawler’s story is a powerful reminder of one never being too late to attain greatness.

3. Charles Oliveira: From Journeyman to Lightweight King

The emergence of Charles “Do Bronx” Oliveira to the very pinnacle of the UFC lightweight division has been nothing short of extraordinary. Oliveira had made his UFC debut back in 2010 as one of those highly touted young prospects, though initially showing signs of brilliance. Performances against even slightly elite competition were—in the best scenario—spotty at best, his record showing him consistently losing versus the better fighters like Donald Cerrone, Cub Swanson, and Max Holloway.

For years, Oliveira had been portrayed as the talented but flawed fighter who could never realize his potential and break into the top of the sport. Never one to stand still, Oliveira got the past removed when he moved up in weight to lightweight and really began to stack an impressive run of good wins. He finally displayed his ever-improving striking skills combined with suspected world-class Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

In 2021, Oliveira would be offered the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship opportunity against Michael Chandler at UFC 262. Being the underdog, Oliveira did successfully come out in that fight, withstanding the first round storm led by Chandler then going on to take an overwhelming lead in the second reeling Chandler in order to score a dramatic knockout-continuing victory. The personal journey of Charles Oliveira from journeyman fighter to now reigning, undisputed lightweight champion speaks volumes to his tenacity, skill, and self-faith.

4. Glover Teixeira: The Veteran Who Wouldn’t Be Denied

The path of a gladiator waiting for Glover Teixeira on the way to capturing the title of UFC champion patent of resilience, patience, and determination. Teixeira turned professional in MMA in 2002 and was already appearing to be a top force in the light heavyweight division. But again, he got delayed from performing inside the UFC for a short number of several years mainly because of visa problems, which his first visit to surely got him exempted from fighting on the truly big stage in the first place.

When Teixeira finally made his UFC debut in 2012, he quickly made up for lost time by winning five straight fights and earned himself a 2014 title shot against Jon Jones. Even in defeat to Jones, Teixeira remained a top contender in the division and has continued to compete against the best fighters in the world for the past several years.

By the time Teixeira reached his late 30s, many felt that his best days were behind him. Teixeira would continue to prove naysayers wrong by scoring a series of outstanding victories over top contenders like Anthony Smith and Thiago Santos. In the year 2021, aged 42, Teixeira was given another shot at being the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion when he fought Jan Blachowicz at UFC 267. Teixeira took what would likely be his final chance at UFC gold by dominating Blachowicz on the way to a second-round finish that made him the oldest ever first-time champion in UFC history. The story of Teixeira is a strong example that it is possible to achieve something big at any age and one must keep on believing in dreams.

5. Holly Holm: The Boxer That Rocked The World

Holly Holm’s journey to UFC gold is one of the most iconic underdog tales this sport has witnessed in its history. A markedly decorated former professional boxer and kickboxer, Holm entered the UFC in 2015 after competing undefeated in MMA. Despite all the credentials and impressive striking pedigree, Holm remained relatively untested in MMA and was wide open for questioning at the highest level. In November 2015, Holm got a shot at the title against the seeming invincibility that was Ronda Rousey at UFC 193. Ronda Rousey was the reigning champion and had crushed all other opponents in the first round, cementing arguments that she may be amongst the most dominant fighters the sport has ever witnessed. Very few were giving Holm any chance to win, with most expecting Rousey to make quick work of her.

But Holm shocked the tendency with professional kicking. Enforcing her superiority in striking and footwork, Holm was completely outclassing Rousey from the starting bell. The undefeated Ronda Rousey was knocked out cold in the second round when Holm landed an extremely significant head kick, capturing the title of UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion. arguably the biggest upset in UFC history.

Nothing was bigger than Holm beating Rousey, and her story is ongoing, reminding all how anything really can happen in mixed martial arts.

6. Brandon Moreno: The Ultimate Underdog

Brandon Moreno never had any kind of professional fight before then— he wasn’t supposed to. His induction into the league, dominating the fights until the flyweight category, takes us through a story marked by tenacity, grit, and self-belief.

A Tijuana native, Mexico, Moreno began quietly in MMA, fighting on the regional scene before moving up to “The Ultimate Fighter” competition in 2016. He may not leave with the show’s prize, but Moreno left with a UFC contract and was quickly making a name for himself with an exciting fighting style and infectious personality.

Despite how well his UFC career had started, however, Moreno was released by the promotion in 2018 after losing back-to-back bouts. Not long afterward, Moreno focused on the regional circuit, where he continued to fight, gain experience, and new found skills. Not long afterward, Moreno would be re-signed by the UFC in 2019, and he first began to claw his way back up the ranks.

In 2020, Moreno pursued the title against the current UFC Flyweight Champion, Deiveson Figueiredo.

The culmination of the two first met in a majority draw that created an immediate rematch in 2021. In the rematch, Moreno would turn in the performance of his life, finishing Figueiredo by third-round submission to become the first Mexican-born champion in UFC history. He validates, for example, to any UFC rostered fighter released who it is never really over if one keeps pushing toward what they are reaching for with resiliency and perseverance.

7. Rich Franklin: From School Teacher to Champion

Rich Franklin’s journey to UFC gold was about as atypical as you can imagine. Years before he was fighting for a living, Franklin was just a high school math teacher with a passion for martial arts. He began training in mixed martial arts in the mid-to-late 1990s, taking fights on a small regional scene while still teaching students.

The virtue of hard work and dedication literally paid off for Franklin as he was eventually signed by the UFC in 2003. Over the next several years, Franklin went on to prove himself as one of the most potent middleweights in the world by triumphing fighters like Evan Tanner, whom he defeated at UFC 42, and the ultimate King of the Cage Light Heavyweight Champion Jerry Bohlander. Then in 2005, he finally got his shot at a title against Tanner in UFC 53.

With his victory, the unknown Franklin waltzed in and easily dominated Tanner, who he TKOed in the fourth round to gain the new Middleweight Championship of the UFC. He went on to win two more title defenses successfully, before losing in 2006 to Anderson Silva. He would never again win that championship, but Franklin’s story is still one of the most inspiring in MMA due to the fact that he went from being a high school teacher to winning Championship gold in the UFC.

8. Stipe Miocic: From Fireman to the Baddest Man on the Planet

The story of how Stipe Miocic became the greatest heavyweight champion in the history of UFC is one of hard work, humility, and perseverance. Miocic, a part-time firefighter in Cleveland, Ohio, began his MMA career in 2010 after an already successful wrestling and boxing career as an amateur. Quickly, he made his noise in the sport, becoming known as a dynamic striker with excellent wrestling ability.

In 2016, Miocic was granted a title shot against reigning champion Fabricio Werdum in a battle at UFC 198. He was the underdog entering the cage, but quickly finished the match and found himself the new kingpin in the UFC Heavyweight division. Miocic then went on to defend the belt a further three times consecutively, setting the record for most heavyweight title defenses, with wins over Alistair Overeem, Junior dos Santos, and Francis Ngannou. In 2018, Miocic would lose his title to Daniel Cormier but would regain it in a 2019 grudge match. Miocic’s tenure as UFC champion was one of the most dominant and respected ever, thrusting a part-time champion/fighter into the serious mainstream conversation.

9. Matt Serra: The Ultimate Underdog Story

In fact, Matt Serra’s UFC 69 win over Georges St-Pierre could be one of the biggest MMA upsets—a true underdog story. The veteran of “The Ultimate Fighter” program had been given a title shot against St-Pierre after he had managed to win when he was able to only win the television show’s fourth season. And St-Pierre is regarded as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world. He should have demolished Serra.

Yet he shocked the world, knocking out St-Pierre in the first frame to win the UFC Welterweight Championship. Serra then would lose the title in a rematch with St-Pierre, but his win in that fight is still regarded as one of the greatest upsets in UFC history. And that just goes to show, yet again, that in MMA, as in all aspects of any sport, the underdog never just lies down.

10. Jan Blachowicz: The Polish Power That Stunned the World

How Jan Blachowicz went from an up-and-down fighter to become the champion of the UFC Light-Heavyweight Division: a tale of persistence, patience, and the will to believe in oneself. The Pole started his mixed martial arts career in his homeland, Poland, from where he quickly rose up in the ranks to become recognized as one of the top light heavyweights in all of Europe. In 2014, Blachowicz got signed by the UFC. The early part of his career in the promotion saw inconsistency, really struggling to find his feet against top competition. He was struggling between shades of success until 2019, when he recorded a four-fight win streak—topping contenders like Luke Rockhold and Corey Anderson.

Blachowicz had the opportunity to contest the vacant UFC Light Heavyweight Championship against Dominick Reyes in 2020. Blachowicz dominated Reyes, as the underdog, in a point-decisive victory that forced main event match referee Herb Dean to officially stop the action via TKO at 4:36 of the match’s second round. Blachowicz, of course, came from an underrated position up the chain, and the win for him amounted to a story of persistence and self-belief in one’s potential. A proud moment for Poland indeed, whereby this victory showed that as long as one works hard and is determined, everything is possible.

Conclusion
Their stories epitomize dedication, such a belief in self, being the epitome of fire, never to give up. Each of these fighters was having rather harsh difficulties on their ways to the top: being written off, setbacks, losses, and personal obstacles. Yet they never surrendered dreaming and pursued their way of becoming great in the UFC. Their stories testify to each one of us that, indeed, it pays to be hardworking, determined, and headstrong about your activities.