The UFC on Monday launched a new online video series called “Fan’s Choice,” and the first installation is all about stunners.
To kick off the series, the promotion polled fans for their favorite upsets in UFC history. It’s a popular topic to debate, of course, kind of like pound-for-pound – there’s not really a right or wrong, but it’s sure interesting to see what gathers consensus over time.
How would you vote? Was Holly Holm’s head-kick knockout of Ronda Rousey a bigger upset than when Matt Serra stopped Georges St-Pierre? Was Leon Edwards’ fifth-round finish of Kamaru Usman a bigger show-stopper than Julianna Peña over Amanda Nunes? Where does Nate Diaz’s win over Conor McGregor land?
Check out the top 10 in the video above, and get refreshers on what made the list below.
10. Matt Serra def. Georges St-Pierre
Matt Serra, UFC 69
Date: April 7, 2007
Event: UFC 69, Houston
Result: Matt Serra def. Georges. St. Pierre via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 3:25
Closing odds: St-Pierre -1300, Serra +850
9. Chris Weidman def. Anderson Silva
Jul 6, 2013; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Chris Weidman, blue shorts, defeated Anderson Silva (yellow shorts) in their Middleweight Chamionship Bout in the second round with a TKO at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Date: July 6, 2013
Event: UFC 162, Las Vegas
Result: Chris Weidman def. Anderson Silva via knockout (punches) – Round 2, 1:18
Closing odds: Silva -240, Weidman +195
8. Nate Diaz def. Conor McGregor
March 5, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Nate Diaz celebrates after his victory during UFC 196 at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Date: March 5, 2016
Event: UFC 196
Result: Nate Diaz def. Conor McGregor via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 4:12
Closing odds: McGregor -450, Diaz +350
7. Leon Edwards def. Kamaru Usman
Aug 20, 2022; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Leon Edwards (blue gloves) reacts after defeating Kamaru Usman (red gloves) during UFC 278 at Vivint Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Date: Aug. 20, 2022
Event: UFC 278
Result: Leon Edwards def. Kamaru Usman via knockout (head kick) – Round 5, 4:04
Closing odds: Usman -375, Edwards +290
6. Michael Bisping def. Luke Rockhold
Michael Bisping
Date: June 4, 2016
Event: UFC 199
Result: Michael Bisping def. Luke Rockhold
Closing odds: Rockhold -600, Bisping +450
5. T.J. Dillashaw def. Renan Barao
T.J. Dillashaw vs. Renan Barao
Date: May 24, 2014
Event: UFC 173, Las Vegas
Result: T.J. Dillashaw def. Renan Barao
Closing odds: Barao -1000, Dillashaw +650
4. Julianna Peña def. Amanda Nunes
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 11: Julianna Pena celebrates after defeating Amanda Nunes of Brazil to win the women’s bantamweight title fight during the UFC 269 event at T-Mobile Arena on December 11, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Date: Dec. 11, 2021
Event: UFC 269, Las Vegas
Result: Julianna Peña def. Amanda Nunes via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 3:26
Closing odds: Nunes -1125, Peña +700
3. Sean Strickland def. Israel Adesanya
Sean Strickland
Date: Sept. 9, 2023
Event: UFC 293, Sydney
Result: Sean Strickland def. Israel Adesanya via. unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)
Closing odds: Adesanya -650, Strickland +470
2. Alexa Grasso def. Valentina Shevchenko
1. Holly Holm def. Ronda Rousey
Holly Holm, UFC 193
Date: Nov. 14, 2015
Event: UFC 193, Melbourne
Result: Holly Holm def. Ronda Rousey via knockout (head kick, punches) – Round 2, 0:59
Closing odds: Rousey -1400, Holm +830
Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.
