UFC upsets have repeatedly rewritten division histories and launched unlikely champions. Massive underdogs overcome long odds to deliver finishes that echo for years. Vote for the ones that most redefined the sport.
What counts: Best means the combination of pre-fight odds gap, immediate impact on the division, and lasting legacy; figures are approximate
Holly Holm defeats Ronda Rousey▲ Rising
Holm used precise striking to drop and finish the previously unstoppable Rousey in the second round. The +400 underdog ended Rousey's 12-fight win streak and took the bantamweight belt. The upset shifted women's MMA toward technical boxing.
Year: 2015Odds: 400 +Method: KORound: 2Significance: 10/10
added by IJR
Matt Serra defeats Georges St-Pierre▲ Rising
A jiu-jitsu coach walked into the Octagon as a +400 underdog and submitted the dominant welterweight king in the first round. Serra's win halted GSP's perfect streak and briefly made him champion. The result still stands as one of the largest title-fight shocks in UFC history.
Year: 2007Odds: 400 +Method: SubmissionRound: 1Significance: 10/10
added by IJR
Nate Diaz defeats Conor McGregor▲ Rising
Diaz stepped in on short notice and submitted the previously unbeatable McGregor in the second round. The +250 underdog exposed McGregor's cardio limits and launched the Diaz-McGregor rivalry.
Year: 2016Odds: 250 +Method: SubmissionRound: 2Significance: 9/10
added by IJR
Chris Weidman defeats Anderson Silva▲ Rising
Weidman caught the middleweight GOAT with a front kick and follow-up punches in round two. The +300 underdog ended Silva's 16-fight win streak and claimed the title. The finish marked the end of an era.
Year: 2013Odds: 300 +Method: KORound: 2Significance: 9/10
added by IJR
Francis Ngannou defeats Cain Velasquez
Ngannou overwhelmed the former heavyweight king with power in under three minutes. The +150 underdog announced himself as the division's new force.
Year: 2016Odds: 150 +Method: KORound: 1Significance: 8/10
added by IJR
Israel Adesanya defeats Robert Whittaker▲ Rising
Adesanya outstruck the middleweight champion over five rounds to claim the belt. The +120 underdog launched a long reign at 185 pounds.
Year: 2019Odds: 120 +Method: DecisionRound: 5Significance: 7/10
added by IJR
Kai Kara-France defeats Askarov▲ Rising
Kara-France outstruck the previously unbeaten prospect to earn a decision win. The +180 underdog halted a hyped undefeated streak.
Year: 2020Odds: 180 +Method: DecisionRound: 3Significance: 6/10
added by IJR
Zhang Weili defeats Joanna Jędrzejczyk▲ Rising
Zhang survived a war and outpointed the former champion to claim the strawweight title. The +200 underdog began a dominant run at 115 pounds.
Year: 2019Odds: 200 +Method: DecisionRound: 5Significance: 7/10
added by IJR
Michael Bisping defeats Luke Rockhold▲ Rising
Bisping survived early pressure and landed a Hail Mary head kick in the first round to dethrone the champion. The +300 underdog became the oldest middleweight title winner at the time.
Year: 2016Odds: 300 +Method: KORound: 1Significance: 8/10
added by IJR
Robbie Lawler defeats Johny Hendricks▲ Rising
Lawler outstruck the favored champion over five rounds to win a close decision and claim the welterweight title. The +200 underdog launched Lawler's late-career resurgence.
Year: 2014Odds: 200 +Method: DecisionRound: 5Significance: 8/10
added by IJR
Alexander Volkanovski defeats Max Holloway
Volkanovski edged the longtime featherweight champion over five rounds to win the title. The +150 underdog began one of the division's best reigns.
Year: 2019Odds: 150 +Method: DecisionRound: 5Significance: 7/10
added by IJR
Amanda Nunes defeats Ronda Rousey
Nunes dropped Rousey with a punch and finished with ground strikes in 48 seconds. The +150 underdog began Nunes' historic two-division reign.
Year: 2016Odds: 150 +Method: KORound: 1Significance: 8/10
added by IJR
Darren Till defeats Tyron Woodley
Till outstruck the champion over five rounds to win the welterweight title in a major upset. The +250 underdog briefly looked like the future of the division.
Year: 2018Odds: 250 +Method: DecisionRound: 5Significance: 7/10
added by IJR
Sean O'Malley defeats Aljamain Sterling
O'Malley outpointed the longtime champion over five rounds to win the bantamweight title. The +150 underdog fulfilled a long-predicted rise.
Year: 2023Odds: 150 +Method: DecisionRound: 5Significance: 7/10
added by IJR
Geoff Neal defeats Niko Price▲ Rising
Neal outstruck and finished Price in the second round. The +160 underdog earned a signature win on short notice.
Year: 2018Odds: 160 +Method: KORound: 2Significance: 5/10
added by IJR
Jamahal Hill defeats Glover Teixeira
Hill outstruck the veteran champion over five rounds to win the light heavyweight title. The +200 underdog became champion in his fourth UFC fight.
Year: 2022Odds: 200 +Method: DecisionRound: 5Significance: 7/10
added by IJR
Jared Cannonier defeats Derek Brunson
Cannonier knocked out the favored middleweight contender in the second round. The +200 underdog signaled his late-career surge.
Year: 2019Odds: 200 +Method: KORound: 2Significance: 6/10
added by IJR
Leon Edwards defeats Kamaru Usman
Edwards landed a head kick with seconds left in the fifth round to dethrone the dominant champion. The +200 underdog completed an improbable comeback.
Year: 2022Odds: 200 +Method: KORound: 5Significance: 8/10
added by IJR
Alex Pereira defeats Israel Adesanya▲ Rising
Pereira used his kickboxing power to knock out the middleweight champion in the second round. The +120 underdog completed a stunning rise from kickboxing.
Year: 2022Odds: 120 +Method: KORound: 2Significance: 8/10
added by IJR
Brandon Moreno defeats Deiveson Figueiredo
Moreno submitted the flyweight champion in the third round to claim the title. The +150 underdog began a storied rivalry.
Year: 2021Odds: 150 +Method: SubmissionRound: 3Significance: 7/10
added by IJR
Kennedy Nzechukwu defeats Carlos Ulberg
Nzechukwu outlasted the favored light heavyweight over three rounds for a decision upset. The +180 underdog earned his first ranked win.
Year: 2022Odds: 180 +Method: DecisionRound: 3Significance: 5/10
added by IJR
Terrance McKinney defeats Matt Frevola▼ Falling
McKinney finished the veteran with strikes in under a minute. The +200 underdog announced himself with speed and power.
Year: 2021Odds: 200 +Method: KORound: 1Significance: 5/10
added by IJR
Vicente Luque defeats Bryan Barberena
Luque finished the durable Barberena with strikes in a violent third-round comeback. The +150 underdog began his rise up the rankings.
Year: 2017Odds: 150 +Method: KORound: 3Significance: 6/10
added by IJR
Montana De La Rosa defeats Rachael Ostovich
De La Rosa submitted the prospect in the third round. The +200 underdog earned a signature early win.
Year: 2018Odds: 200 +Method: SubmissionRound: 3Significance: 5/10
added by IJR
Macy Chiasson defeats Lina Länsberg▼ Falling
Chiasson used superior power to finish the veteran in the second round. The +170 underdog began her climb in the division.
Year: 2019Odds: 170 +Method: KORound: 2Significance: 5/10
added by IJR
Randy Brown defeats Belal Muhammad▼ Falling
Brown outstruck the future champion over three rounds to earn an upset decision. The +180 underdog handed Muhammad an early loss.
Year: 2018Odds: 180 +Method: DecisionRound: 3Significance: 5/10
added by IJR
Jalin Turner defeats Bobby Green▼ Falling
Turner outstruck the veteran over three rounds to earn a decision win. The +160 underdog began his lightweight rise.
Year: 2022Odds: 160 +Method: DecisionRound: 3Significance: 5/10
added by IJR
Cody Brundage defeats Jacob Malkoun
Brundage submitted the prospect in the second round. The +200 underdog earned an early career signature win.
Year: 2022Odds: 200 +Method: SubmissionRound: 2Significance: 5/10
added by IJR
Free account · your comment posts right after signup
Somebody explain the Matt Serra defeats Georges St-Pierre votes to me. Genuinely. I want to understand.
Voted, but this order is going to look very different in a month once more people find it.
Came for the argument, stayed for the comparison grid. The numbers settle half the fights here.
Wild that Matt Serra defeats Georges St-Pierre is winning this. Scroll down — the real answer is further down the board.
The criteria line matters here. Read it before you vote or you're arguing about a different list.