UFC
The 7 biggest and craziest UFC title fight upsets ever!
The biggest UFC upsets ever. Photo via Instagram
MMA is a wildly unpredictable sport and a game of inches. Factors like the puncher’s chance, injuries and mental preparation all play a role when it comes to fighting in the cage – especially when there is a UFC title on the line.
With that said, check out Frontkick’s list of the biggest UFC title fight upsets ever!
7. Holly Holm vs. Ronda Rousey, UFC 195, 2016
Biggest UFC upsets. Photo via Twitter (@UFCONFOX)
Even though Holly Holm is a way better fighter than Ronda Rousey by today’s standards, she definitely shocked the world when she brutally knocked out the seemingly unstoppable Rousey in the main event of UFC 193.
After a kick to the jaw knocked a battered and bruised champion to the mat, Holm ended the fight with vicious ground-and-pound to secure the bantamweight title.
6. Anderson Silva vs. Chris Weidman 1, UFC 162, 2013
Photo via YouTube
Chris Weidman was not as big of an underdog as other fighters on this list.
However, since Anderson Silva was as dominant a champion as the sport has ever seen – and definitely the most dominant of all time at 185 pounds – it came as a massive shock when the American was able to knock out the showboating champion just over a minute into the second round.
5. Randy Couture vs. Tim Sylvia, UFC 68, 2007
Photo via Instagram
When Randy Couture came out of retirement to decisively beat the bigger and thirteen year younger champion Tim Sylvia at UFC 68 it was one of the biggest upsets the sport has ever seen.
The 43-year-old floored the massive champion with the first punch and continued to dominate throughout the five-round fight. After the final bell, the judges scorecards showed Randy winning all five rounds.
4. Michael Bisping vs. Luke Rockhold, UFC 199, 2016
Photo via UFC
When Michael Bisping put an end to middleweight champion Luke Rockhold’s title reign with a picture perfect left hook and heavy ground-and-pound, on 10-days’ notice, it was nothing less than a massive upset.
Especially since Bisping was dominated by Rockhold less than two years earlier.
3. Sean Strickland vs. Israel Adesanya, UFC 293, 2023
Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland at UFC 293. Photo via Instagram (@ufc)
This past Saturday’s weird but effective striking clinic by Sean Strickland definitely has its place on this list.
Strickland did not only beat the slick kickboxer Adesanya, with his pressure, simple boxing combinations and great defense he shut down and thoroughly defeated the former UFC middleweight champion in a way we’ve never seen before.
2. Amanda Nunes vs. Julianna Pena, UFC 269, 2021
Julianna Pena defeated Amanda Nunes at UFC 269. Photo: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Two division champion Amanda Nunes is one of the most dominant UFC champions of all time and Julianna Pena got the title fight being just about the only one left to beat.
The Brazilian had dominated two whole divisions and was attempting her sixth bantamweight title defense while Pena was a 7-to-1 underdog going into the fight
However, Nunes lack of motivation and Pena’s determination and stiff jab still led to the second biggest UFC upset of all time.
1. Matt Serra vs. Georges St-Pierre, UFC 69, 2007
Photo via Instagram
When journeyman grappler Matt Serra beat the shit out of welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre in less than three minutes the whole MMA universe was left in utter shock.
How in the name of all that’s holy could a reality show winner defeat perhaps the greatest of all time?
Worth mentioning is that when St-Pierre lost to Serra, it was his first title defense and he had not yet reached his G.O.A.T status, but on the other hand, Serra had never KO’d anyone before in his career.
Still, the win was one of the biggest combat sports upsets since Buster Douglas knocked out Mike Tyson back in 1990.
Read more: The 15 most entertaining UFC fights of 2022