The final UFC pay-per-view of 2021, UFC 269, included one of the biggest upsets in UFC history as Julianna Pena shocked the world when she submitted Amanda Nunes in the second round to become the UFC women’s bantamweight champion.
It’s been a few years since we’ve seen such a shocking upset in the UFC. But then, they’re part of what makes the sport so unique — and despite a recent lull, there have been plenty of upsets over the years in the UFC. With that in mind, here’s our take on the 10 biggest upsets in UFC history.
10. UFC 70: Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Mirko Cro Cop
Leading up to his fight against Gabriel Gonzaga in April of 2007, Mirko Cro Cop was 22-4-2 in his MMA career. This was just his second fight in the UFC after a successful run Pride. So successful that the bout was billed as a title eliminator, with Cro Cop the heavy favorite. But Gonzaga had other plans. His head-kick knockout is still considered one of the best knockouts of all time, and he became only the second person at the time to knock out Cro Cop.
Cro-Cop would later avenge this loss, finishing Gonzaga in the third round of their rematch. Being honest, however, most people remember the first fight.
