Sean Strickland Champion UFC 293. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram/@ufc
Enshrined in UFC 293, held last weekend, Sean Strickland is the topic of the moment. New middleweight leader, after dethroning Israel Adesanya, or 'bad boy', even with an undisputed victory, ended up being included in the list of 'most unlikely champions' in the history of Ultimate. The group includes names such as Michael Bisping e Chris Weidman, who also led the category up to 83,9kg. of the company at some point.
The underdog at the bookmakers, Strickland did what seemed impossible in the biggest challenge of his professional MMA career. Before the one who, for many, is seen as the 'successor of Anderson Silva', the North American had a dominant performance and became the 12th athlete to hold the category title.
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Sean's unlikely feat of unseating one of the best in the group's history is not unprecedented. For years, mixed martial arts has been 'a little box' of surprises and has already raised underestimated names to stardom in the company.
Below, the SUPER FIGHTS points out the list of athletes who ignored the odds and wore the UFC title. Check out:
Matt serra
Matt Serra poses with the UFC welterweight belt. Photo: Disclosure
Holder of the UFC welterweight belt between 2007 and 2008, Matt Serra remains one of the biggest underdogs in the history of MMA. More than 16 years ago, the American stepped into the Octagon for the biggest challenge of his career.
With the prestige of having won the 'The Ultimate Fighter' (TUF) 4, the fighter won the right to challenge Georges St-Pierre, who was already emerging as a legend in the category. In the confrontation, Serra's aggressive performance shocked the world and made GSP an emblematic victim on the fateful April 7, 2007. The athlete, however, ended up being surpassed by the Canadian himself in his first title defense, which took place the following season.
Julianna Pena
J. Peña with belt before the UFC 277. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @ufc
In November 2021, the stars aligned for a new unlikely outcome in Ultimate. After winning a title fight in the bantamweight category (up to 61,2 kg.) against the legendary Amanda nunes, Julianna Pena He had his opportunity, and he didn't waste it.
No UFC 269, in which the protagonists were Charles of the Bronx e Dustin poirier, the Venezuelan had her moment of success and shine. After being dominated in the first round against the 'Lione', Peña 'turned the key' and began a punishing session against the female MMA icon. With an atypical performance, the Brazilian succumbed, being submitted in the second round and ending a five-year reign.
The Bahian, however, turned things around. In an immediate rematch, the legend returned the massacre and punished Peña for an 'interminable' 25 minutes, resuming the division's throne.
Michael Bisping
M. Bisping won the middleweight belt in 2016. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook UFC
Owner of a long and unstable trajectory for much of his MMA career, Michael Bisping can be proud to be on the list of UFC champions. Victim of names like Rashad evans, Wanderlei Silva, Dan Hendersson and Vitor belfort, the Englishman had a difficult path to reach the unlikely title fight in the company.
When he did, the middleweight leader was Luke Rockhold, who oozed talent at his peak. The confrontation took place at UFC 199, and marked a rematch between the protagonists. Years before, Michael had been finished without any major problems for the North American.
In the second meeting, Bisping proved the unpredictability of MMA to the world. With an overwhelming knockout in the first round, the fighter would assume the position that, for years, was Anderson Silva. The dream, however, lasted about a season. In his first title defense, the Englishman was easily beaten by Georges St-Pierre, who came out of retirement to test himself in the middleweight division of Ultimate.
Nicco Montaño
Nicco Montaño has the flyweight belt buckled by Dana White. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
Champion of 'TUF' 26, Nicco Montaño has a curious history within the company. In an engagement in the final of the UFC reality show, the fighter won the inaugural flyweight title (up to 56,7kg) in a confrontation against Roxanne Modafferi, in 2017.
Holder of the first belt in the category, anyone who might believe that the athlete lost the throne in her first or second title defense is mistaken. Nicco ended up losing her position after dealing with a series of injuries that prevented her from participating in competitions.
Far from the absolute top of the flyweight division and with a history of injuries, Montaño ended up leaving the UFC in 2021. After winning the title in 2017, the fighter only held one challenge, in 2019, when she was overcome by Julianna Pena.
Holly holm
Holm (right) beat Ronda (left) and won the title in the 61,2 kg category. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC
Known as 'the Shepherd's Daughter', Holly holm, for many, is the biggest upset in the history of Ultimate, considering belt disputes. In 2015, at the fateful UFC 193, the American won the opportunity to measure her strength against Ronda Rousey, the company's biggest star, who led the women's bantamweight division by a margin.
An underdog in the bookmakers, Holm had an apotheotic performance. Without giving the then champion's elite judo and jiu-jitsu a chance, Holly showed off her strategy and punished the legend for two rounds. After a high kick that went down in the UFC books, the challenger obliterated her opponent and drove the audience crazy with the unprecedented outcome and achievement.
As champion, Holm did not have a long reign. About four months later, the fighter accepted the challenge of facing Miesha Tate and ended up submitted by her rival in her first title defense.
Germain de Randamie
Germain de Randamie poses with feather belt. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
Some may not remember, but the veteran Germain de Randamie already held a belt in the UFC. In 2017, the company promoted a challenge for the inaugural featherweight belt (up to 65,7kg), and pitted the Dutchwoman against a Holly holm by the group title.
In the fight, Germaine had a solid performance and controlled her opponent for most of the 25 minutes played. After five rounds, the combatant was declared the winner in a unanimous decision and took home the object of any athlete in the company's dreams.
Something unusual, however, marked Randamie's trajectory as champion. The fighter refused to defend the throne against Chris Cyborg, who had been hired by the organization in 2016. With the decision, the UFC chose to strip the veteran of her title.
Carla esparza
Carla esparza poses with straw belt. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
Winner of the 'The Ultimate Fighter' 20 in the duel against Rose namajunas, on 2014, Carla esparza became the first strawweight champion (up to 52,1kg) in UFC history. However, this was not the unlikely achievement of the American in her career in MMA.
Dethroned in her first title defense, which took place in 2015, when she was knocked out by Joanna Jedrzejczyk, the North American had a long road to get another opportunity to fight for the group's throne.
Only in 2022, after adding six positive results in a row, Esparza was granted the status of challenger, and the opponent was Rose namajunas, victim of his conquest eight years earlier. An underdog in the bookmakers and contrary to the good performances of her former rival, who reigned for the second time in the category, Carla returned to wear the belt after five rounds of apathetic performance from the then champion.
Still suspicious, Esparza lost the title again in his first defense. This time, the person responsible for the stumble was Weili Zhang, who put on the strap after submitting the veteran in the second round.
Alexa grasso
Poses with fly belt. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
UFC flyweight champion (up to 56,7kg) since March 2023, Alexa grasso is also part of this list. The Mexican, who defends the category belt on September 16, made the company's history by dethroning the then unbeatable in the division, Valentina Shevchenko.
The fighter's achievement had repercussions. At the Night UFC, the fighter will enter the Octagon for an immediate rematch against the Kyrgyzstani, who, for many, is one of the best MMA athletes of all time.
The new fight against Shevchenko marks Grasso's first title defense.
TJ Dillashaw
T. Dillashaw was bantamweight champion on two occasions. Photo: Reproduction/FacebookUFC
Although he gained fame in the UFC as one of the best bantamweight representatives in history, TJ Dillashaw he was not a favorite in his first title fight in the company. The distrust made sense when analyzing the champion of the time: Renan Barao, considered by Dana White as the biggest pound-for-pound in the organization.
The year was 2014 and the Brazilian, who had won the interim title two seasons before, had recently become linear champion, due to recurring injuries to his body. Dominick Cruz. Before the fight, Renan had accumulated seven appearances in Ultimate, and did not know the taste of defeat in the organization.
Against Barão, Dillashaw shocked the world with an impeccable performance. A big underdog in the bookmakers, the North American brutalized the Brazilian star with a knockout in the fifth round, taking over the top spot in the division.
As champion, Dillashaw ended up losing the throne on his first defense attempt. The person responsible for dethroning TJ was Dominick Cruz, who, having recovered from his injuries, won the belt in a balanced confrontation that took place in 2016.
Frankie Edgar
Frankie Edgar poses with UFC belt. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
Reference in MMA, Frankie Edgar He is considered a legend of the sport, but he did not always enjoy fame. At UFC 112, the fighter was scheduled to face B.J. Penn, which, for many, is the best lightweight (up to 70,3kg.) in the company's history.
In the clash, Edgar surprised spectators by beating his opponent, who was collecting victims in the group at that time. After wearing the belt, Frankie granted Penn an immediate rematch and, in the second encounter, won again by judges' decision.
The North American was successful in two title defenses, in a draw against Gray Maynard and in the defeat against the same rival in the 2011 season. Edgar's downfall would come in the following season, when he succumbed twice against Ben Hendersson.
Chris Weidman
C. Weidman (photo) will be defending his belt for the fourth time. Photo: Brandon Magnus/UFC
Disaffected by a large part of the Brazilian fans, Chris Weidman starred in one of the most emblematic achievements within the UFC. In 2013, the North American won the status of challenger against the legendary Anderson Silva.
Even though he was undefeated at that moment, the American entered the octagon surrounded by distrust for measuring up against one of the best of all time. In the fight, however, Chris surprised and did not fall into the traps set by 'Spider'. The challenger's triumph came in the second round, scoring an epic knockout on the then 'king' of the category.
Because it's about Anderson Silva, who had led the middleweight division since 2006, an immediate rematch was granted by the organization. Also promoted in 2013, the fight had an anticlimactic outcome, with the dramatic injury suffered by the Brazilian in the second round, which determined the end of the fight.
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