Here are the Top 3 Biggest Upsets in MMA History
Posted: May 22, 2017
Updated: October 4, 2017
We’ve already seen some incredible underdog wins in 2017, and it seems like a good time to take a look back at some of the biggest upsets in MMA history, and the betting odds for each fighter.
MMA is the fastest growing sport in the world for a reason. In no other sport can a betting underdog win as fast as they can in a fight. We’ve seen some incredible upsets over the past few decades, and will likely see more in the future. In this article we’ll take a look back at some of the biggest upsets in MMA history.
From 2003 to 2009, BJ Penn was considered by almost all MMA analysts to be the best lightweight fighter in the world. He captured the UFC title in June of 2007, and defended his belt four times. Penn had arguably the best jiu jitsu in the world at that time, and showed time and time again how dangerous his striking was with numerous KO victories.
These two men battled it out for five rounds, but in the end Frankie was awarded the decision victory in what is today one of the biggest upsets in MMA history. He went on to defeat Penn in an immediate rematch, and is now a top contender at 145 pounds.
In many ways, this fight is similar to the Edgar-Penn bout. Ronda Rousey was seen as the most dominant female fighter on the planet for years, and this fight with Holm was considered nothing more than a filler fight before Rousey took on Cyborg Santos. Holm had other plans.
Despite coming in as a massive +700 betting underdog, Holm proved to be the much superior fighter, landing numerous straight left punches in the first round before a massive head kick KO in the second. Rousey’s reign of dominance came to an end in what is still considered to be one of the biggest upsets in MMA history.
Since then, both fighters have struggled. Holm lost her title to Miesha Tate in her first defense, and has suffered two straight losses afterwards. Rousey was quickly defeated by Amanda Nunes in her only bout since the loss to Holly. For many fans of MMA betting, this was the fight that proved how lucrative it can be to bet on the underdogs with sites like Intertops.
When thinking about the biggest upsets in MMA, fights like GSP vs. Serra or Dillashaw and Barao may come to mind. It’s easy to forget just how incredible it was to see one of the greatest fighters of all time get tapped out to a fighter that some considered a journeyman.
That’s exactly what happened when Fabricio Werdum and Fedor Emelianenko faced off. Fedor was perhaps the most feared man on the planet at this time, with 28 straight victories against some of the best fighters in the sport. Werdum had recently been cut from the UFC. He was listed as a +430 betting underdog, but made US gambling news by tapping Emelianenko out with a triangle choke just 69 seconds into the first round.
This loss would prove to be a defining moment in both men’s careers. Fedor went on to lose two more fights consecutively, while Werdum eventually went on to win the UFC heavyweight championship. We at GamingZion can only imagine how much money someone made with a bet on the MMA underdog in this one.
Upsets happen all the time in MMA. If you want to be the next person to cash out betting on MMA fights, head to Intertops where you’ll find the best odds on all the upcoming fights in 2017.
MMA is the fastest growing sport in the world for a reason. In no other sport can a betting underdog win as fast as they can in a fight. We’ve seen some incredible upsets over the past few decades, and will likely see more in the future. In this article we’ll take a look back at some of the biggest upsets in MMA history.
Frankie Edgar vs. BJ Penn 1
From 2003 to 2009, BJ Penn was considered by almost all MMA analysts to be the best lightweight fighter in the world. He captured the UFC title in June of 2007, and defended his belt four times. Penn had arguably the best jiu jitsu in the world at that time, and showed time and time again how dangerous his striking was with numerous KO victories.
Upcoming fights in 2017Frankie Edgar joined the UFC in 2007. He rattled off three straight victories before suffering a decision loss to Gray Maynard. He won three more fights after that loss and earned a shot at BJ Penn’s title in April of 2010. Nearly all online sportsbooks in the US including Intertops listed Frankie as a huge betting underdog with odds of +725.
- TJ Dillashaw (2.10) vs. Cody Garbrandt (1.71)
- Fabricio Werdum (2.15) vs. Alistair Overeem (1.68)
- Max Holloway (2.10) vs. Jose Aldo (1.71)
- Alexander Gustafsson (1.33) vs. Glover Teixeira (3.25)
These two men battled it out for five rounds, but in the end Frankie was awarded the decision victory in what is today one of the biggest upsets in MMA history. He went on to defeat Penn in an immediate rematch, and is now a top contender at 145 pounds.
Ronda Rousey vs. Holly Holm
In many ways, this fight is similar to the Edgar-Penn bout. Ronda Rousey was seen as the most dominant female fighter on the planet for years, and this fight with Holm was considered nothing more than a filler fight before Rousey took on Cyborg Santos. Holm had other plans.
Holly Holm (left) was listed as a +700 underdog before the fight with Rousey (photo: neontommy.com)
Despite coming in as a massive +700 betting underdog, Holm proved to be the much superior fighter, landing numerous straight left punches in the first round before a massive head kick KO in the second. Rousey’s reign of dominance came to an end in what is still considered to be one of the biggest upsets in MMA history.
Since then, both fighters have struggled. Holm lost her title to Miesha Tate in her first defense, and has suffered two straight losses afterwards. Rousey was quickly defeated by Amanda Nunes in her only bout since the loss to Holly. For many fans of MMA betting, this was the fight that proved how lucrative it can be to bet on the underdogs with sites like Intertops.
Fabricio Werdum vs. Fedor Emelianenko
When thinking about the biggest upsets in MMA, fights like GSP vs. Serra or Dillashaw and Barao may come to mind. It’s easy to forget just how incredible it was to see one of the greatest fighters of all time get tapped out to a fighter that some considered a journeyman.
That’s exactly what happened when Fabricio Werdum and Fedor Emelianenko faced off. Fedor was perhaps the most feared man on the planet at this time, with 28 straight victories against some of the best fighters in the sport. Werdum had recently been cut from the UFC. He was listed as a +430 betting underdog, but made US gambling news by tapping Emelianenko out with a triangle choke just 69 seconds into the first round.
This loss would prove to be a defining moment in both men’s careers. Fedor went on to lose two more fights consecutively, while Werdum eventually went on to win the UFC heavyweight championship. We at GamingZion can only imagine how much money someone made with a bet on the MMA underdog in this one.
Upsets happen all the time in MMA. If you want to be the next person to cash out betting on MMA fights, head to Intertops where you’ll find the best odds on all the upcoming fights in 2017.
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