Biggest Underdog Upsets in UFC History
In the history of the UFC, there have been some huge upsets that shook the sport. Underdog fighters who had large odds against and shocked the world while giving many pro betters huge paydays.
Here is a list of some of the biggest underdog upsets in UFC history. Read below how these fighters overcame the odds and made pro MMA betting experts a lot of money.
Holly Holm(+830) vs. Ronda Rousey(-1400)
In 2015, Ronda Rousey was the reigning queen of MMA and the media put her on a pedestal as unbeatable. Since she easily took out all of her previous opponents, many casual fans figured Holly Holm would be another victim.
However, expert betters knew that Holm’s dangerous striking was the answer to take out Rousey. After dominating Ronda in round one, Holly delivered one of the great head kick KOs in history to become champion.
This fight was easily one of the biggest underdog upsets in UFC history.
Matt Serra(+850) vs. Georges St. Pierre(-1300)
One of the biggest underdog upsets in UFC history that must be mentioned is Matt Serra vs. Georges St. Pierre. This was the start of GSP’s first reign as champion and many thought the champ would reign forever.
Everyone saw the TUF winner as an easy fight for GSP, but Serra shocked the world at UFC 69. Matt was more known as a grappler, but he shocked Pierre by unloading powerful right hands on the champion.
Those power shots knocked the champion out cold and the Long Island native became champion. At a staggering +850 underdog, Serra made many pro betters a lot of money.
Julianna Pena(+700) vs. Amanda Nunes(-1125)
Another one of the biggest underdog upsets in UFC history that occurred in women’s MMA was Pena vs. Nunes 1. At the time, Julianna Pena had been calling out the champion for a fight and claimed to have her number.
Oddsmakers assumed this would be another win for Nunes and made Pena a huge underdog at +700. Julianna’s claims were proven right at UFC 269 as she took the champ down at will and out grappled her.
In the second round, Julianna found her way to Amanda’s back and submitted the queen of MMA with an RNC.
T.J. Dillashaw(+650) vs. Renan Barao(-1000)
At UFC 173 in 2014, we saw the fall of a champion and the rise of one of the best bantamweights ever. T.J. Dillashaw came into his championship fight with Renan Barao as a heavy underdog.
Many thought Barao looked unbeatable, but Dillashaw showed incredible skills and dismantled the champ. After picking Barao apart the entire fight, Dillashaw finished him in the 5th round to become champion.
If you haven’t seen the fight, do yourself a favor and watch one of the biggest underdog upsets in UFC history
Sean Strickland(+450) vs. Israel Adesanya(-650)
One of the most recent championship bouts turned out to be one of the biggest underdog upsets in UFC history. At UFC 293, not many thought that the challenger stood a chance against Israel Adesanya.
Stylebender had just won his title back from Alex Pereria, who had knocked out Sean Strickland. Sean showed that MMA math is garbage and shocked the world by our striking the champion.
Strickland unleashed a violent fury of strike for five rounds and became UFC middleweight champion.
Michael Bisping(+450) vs. Luke Rockhold(-600)
The last fight on our list of the biggest underdog upsets in UFC history is Bisping vs. Rockhold II. Rockhold had already easily defeated Bisping in their previous matchup and had little respect for him.
Bisping took the fight on two-weeks notice and oddsmakers put Rockhold as a -600 favorite. At UFC 199, The Count finally reached the top of the mountain and delivered a 2nd KO to become champion.
