Everyone loves an underdog, a Cinderella story, a David and Goliath-like battle, and since the UFC’s proliferation, there has been no shortage of upsets. Upsets are what make tournaments like March Madness so loved, what makes the Oakland Athletics’ ability to reach the playoffs year in-and-out with little financial backing so special, and why fans stick around until the end of the fourth quarter. Upsets in the UFC are special and unique to the sport because they don’t feature a team, or differing payrolls, and fighters can either loose or gain weight to fight in different classes. Then there’s the very primal attraction that comes with seeing men dueling it out to claim supremacy over the other; an attraction that dates back to the medieval days of gladiators. Now, as the organization just recently celebrated its twentieth anniversary, it’s time to take a look at the 13 greatest upsets in the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
13. UFC 162: Anderson Silva vs. Chris Weidman
It’s hard to believe now, looking back, but this was the beginning of the end for Anderson Silva. Before the fight, Silva was on a 17-fight win streak. He had defended the Middleweight title a record ten straight times. Not only had he not lost in over seven years, but he regularly made his wins look easy. He had begun taunting opponents mid-fight and dropping his hand, daring them to even try to punch him.
When he tried to pull the same stunt against Chris Weidman, he was promptly tagged on the chin and knocked out cold. At the time, it was a shocking upset. Silva later lost a rematch when he suffered a gruesome broken leg during the fight, and he hasn’t won again since (he did win a decision against Nick Diaz at UFC 183, but it was later turned into a no-decision after Silva tested positive for steroids).