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Each calendar year throws up several surprises in the UFC, and 2021 has been no different. Keeping in line with the fickleness of professional MMA competition, this year has seen betting lines cast out the window.
Over the history of the promotion, the likes of Frankie Edgar, B.J. Penn, Matt Serra, Chris Weidman, Nate Diaz, Holly Holm and Michael Bisping have produced massive upsets. And a little over halfway through 2021, we haven't been short of entertainment and unexpected results.
Which UFC stars have defied the odds in 2021? Here are the five biggest upsets so far.
#5 Conor McGregor vs Dustin Poirier 2 - UFC 257
What transpired during the trilogy has taken some of the shine off the second meeting between Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor, but it remains one of the most shocking results in MMA history.
Coming into the fight, McGregor had spent only 40 seconds in the octagon in over two years. He was also fighting behind closed doors for the first time in his UFC career. 'The Notorious' was surprisingly respectful and sedate during pre-fight press conferences, with his usual trash talk replaced by appreciation for Poirier's skills.
But at UFC 257, where the fight went down, McGregor was in for a rude shock. Although he had some success in the first round, his boxing-heavy style saw his lead leg brutalized by 'The Diamond'. In the second stanza, with his mobility severely compromised, the Irishman was knocked out for the first time in his professional MMA career.
McGregor was classy in defeat before reverting to his usual theme of mental warfare ahead of the trilogy, but he comprehensively lost the first round before an unfortunate leg break put paid to his hopes of redemption.
#4 Derek Brunson vs Kevin Holland - UFC Vegas 22
After being submitted by Brendan Allen in October 2019, Kevin Holland rebounded in stellar fashion by amassing five wins in the next calendar year. 'The Trailblazer' had finishes against Anthony Hernandez, Joaquin Buckley, Charlie Ontiveros and Ronaldo 'Jacare' Souza, apart from a split-decision win over Darren Stewart.
Holland entered his first UFC main event, against Derek Brunson in March 2021, as a massive favorite. But the exciting striker saw himself dominated on the ground for most of the fight, which Brunson won via unanimous decision. The 28-year-old's takedown defense and wrestling proficiency were woefully exposed - a template Marvin Vettori used to beat him just one month later on short notice.
Holland appears to be working on plugging the holes in his game and will be seen in action later this year against Kyle Daukaus.
#3 Beneil Dariush vs Tony Ferguson - UFC 262
Although Tony Ferguson entered his fight against Beneil Dariush on a two-fight losing streak and the betting underdog, the manner in which he lost to the Iranian makes it one of the biggest UFC upsets of 2021 so far.
Fighting at UFC 262, the same pay-per-view event which hosted the UFC lightweight championship bout between Charles Oliveira and Michael Chander, Ferguson was thoroughly dominated by a skilled grappling display from Dariush. Oliveira had exposed certain flaws in Ferguson's game in December 2020, but few thought Dariush would be able to overwhelm 'El Cucuy' on the canvas.
But that's just what happened as Ferguson had no answers from bottom position and landed barely any strikes over the course of the three-round fight. The 37-year-old suffered his third loss on the trot as Dariush extended his winning streak to seven. Surprisingly, the two men are only three places apart in the current UFC lightweight rankings.
#2 Jan Blachowicz vs Israel Adesanya - UFC 259
Moving up to light heavyweight for the first time in his UFC career, middleweight champion Israel Adesanya was in for a rude shock against Jan Blachowicz at UFC 259. Choosing to go in with a relatively lean figure, 'The Last Stylebender' conceded a significant size and strength advantage to Blachowicz.
The Pole fought an extremely smart fight, refusing to be drawn into a kickboxing match with Adesanya and taking him down whenever possible. Crucially, Blachowicz was able to keep Adesanya down - something the other capable wrestlers he has faced, like Marvin Vettori, Rob Wilkinson and Kelvin Gastelum, weren't able to do.
Adesanya lost his 'O' as Blachowicz successfully defended his title for the first time. He slipped down the pound-for-pound rankings but redeemed himself with an exceptional showing against Marvin Vettori at middleweight.
#1 Anthony Hernandez vs Rodolfo Vieira - UFC 258
This may not have been the most high-profile bout going in, but after Anthony Hernandez submitted Rodolfo Vieira at UFC 258, it was all UFC fans could talk about.
Vieira, a five-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion and ADCC gold medalist, started brightly but was soon completely spent. 'The Black Belt Hunter' succumbed to a guillotine choke in the second round despite entering the fight undefeated and as a -470 favorite, leading to the following statement on social media:
"Guys yesterday was the worst day of my life. It was the worst performance of my life, it was my son’s first time watching me, despite being a baby and not understanding anything. That, on the one hand, was even good to not see the beating that his father took and still be finished!"
In an encouraging sign, Vieira entered the win column once again in July, submitting Dustin Stoltzfus and showing great improvement in the striking and cardio departments.
