Five of the Biggest UFC Upsets of All Time

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The beauty of combat sports is in the unpredictability. One punch, one misstep, one lapse in judgement and everything can change – years of training, dominance, destiny itself. In the UFC, where the best fighters in the world collide, this is amplified. Champions have fallen, legends have been toppled and underdogs have become immortal. There’s a visceral thrill in these moments, a reminder that even in a sport of precision risk is king.

For those who love a bet, the UFC is an emotional rollercoaster. There’s the promise of a big payday when you back an underdog and the thrill of seeing your hunch play out in real time. But when the unexpected happens, it’s never just about the money; it’s the sheer balls of it, the rewriting of the script in blood and sweat. Here are five UFC upsets that left fans around the world speechless.

1. Matt Serra vs. Georges St-Pierre (UFC 69)

This fight was never supposed to be competitive. Georges St-Pierre was the welterweight champion, a phenomenon – young, skilled and already considered one of the greatest of all time. His opponent, Matt Serra, had earned his title shot through The Ultimate Fighter: Comeback, a reality show for veterans to get a second chance. Serra was an underdog, sure, but no one thought he’d trouble GSP.

Then the fight happened. In the first round, Serra landed a right hook that wobbled the seemingly-unbreakable GSP. What followed was a flurry of strikes that forced the referee to step in. The crowd was in shock. Matt Serra had done the impossible, dethroned the king and delivered one of the biggest upsets in UFC history.

2. Holly Holm vs. Ronda Rousey (UFC 193)

Ronda Rousey was more than a fighter – she was a phenomenon. By 2015, she was an undefeated bantamweight champion, a Hollywood star and destroyer of her opponents in mere seconds. Her aura of invincibility was so strong that fans and pundits were wondering if anyone could beat her. Enter Holly Holm, a former boxing champion with a reputation as a technician but no real MMA credentials to her name.

From the opening bell, it was clear this was going to be different. Holm outclassed Rousey on the feet, landing clean punches and avoiding takedowns with ease. Then, in the second round, she landed a devastating head kick that knocked Rousey out cold. The shockwaves of that moment reverberated far beyond the Octagon, the fall of one of the UFC’s biggest champions.

3. TJ Dillashaw vs. Renan Barão (UFC 173)

Renan Barão was on a 32-fight win streak when he faced TJ Dillashaw in 2014. Barão was the bantamweight champion and one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. Dillashaw was a unknown talent but not seen as a threat to Barão’s title.

What happened next was a masterclass in underdog magic. Dillashaw controlled the fight from start to finish using his footwork, speed and precision to break down the seemingly unstoppable Barão. In the 5th round, he finished the job with a TKO to become the new bantamweight champion.

4. Michael Bisping vs. Luke Rockhold (UFC 199)

Michael Bisping’s career was all grit, resilience and never quit. By 2016, he was a veteran of the sport, loved by the fans but written off as someone who would never win the big one. When he stepped in on short notice to face middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, no one gave him a chance. Rockhold had already beaten Bisping before and his confidence was bordering on arrogance.

Bisping, however, had other plans. In the 1st round, he landed a left hook that rocked Rockhold followed by a flurry of punches that finished the job. The crowd erupted as Bisping, the perennial underdog, stood victorious as the new middleweight champion. It was poetic justice, the culmination of years of hard work and heartbreak.

5. Julianna Peña vs. Amanda Nunes (UFC 269)

Amanda Nunes was and maybe still is the greatest female fighter in MMA history. By 2021, she had beaten every top contender in two divisions and was considered unstoppable. Julianna Peña was a scrappy fighter who had struggled to find consistency in her career. When the two faced off, Nunes was a massive favourite and most thought she would cruise to another win.

Peña, however, had other plans. After surviving the 1st round, she started to pressure Nunes, landing clean punches and wearing her down. In the 2nd round, she shocked the world by taking Nunes down and submitting her via rear naked choke. It was a moment that defied logic, a reminder that in the UFC anything can happen.

The Upset

What’s so great about upsets is they’re unpredictable. They remind us no one is unbeatable. In a sport where margins are so fine, one moment of brilliance or error can change everything.

For fans, it’s bittersweet. There’s the joy of seeing history made, but also the sadness of seeing a legend fall. But that’s exactly what makes the UFC so good. Every fight can be great, can be a shock, can be a story nobody saw coming.

So, whether you’re on the underdog or the favourite, remember: in MMA, the only truth is uncertainty. And that’s why we keep coming back.


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