5 UFC fighters who stepped in at the last minute and stole the show

UFC 249 Ferguson vs Gaethje
UFC 249 Ferguson vs Gaethje

#4 Brian Ortega at UFC 222

Being the top UFC featherweight contender at the time, Frankie Edgar was set for a title fight against then UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway at UFC 222.

However, Holloway had to pull out of the fight due to a leg injury, and Brian Ortega took the fight on a three-week notice. Ortega came into this fight as an undefeated fighter. He had beaten Cub Swanson and Renato Moicano in two of his previous fights.

While it was expected that Ortega would take the fight to the realm of grappling due to his background in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, the opposite took place. 'T-City' won the fight with a spectacular first-round knockout by way of an uppercut, thus becoming the first man to earn a finish against Edgar.

youtube-cover

#3 TJ Dillashaw at UFC 173

Then UFC bantamweight champion Renan Barao was scheduled to face Raphael Assuncao at UFC 173.

Assuncao had to pull out of the event due to a rib injury. TJ Dillashaw, who was scheduled to fight Takeya Mizugaki on the same night, was moved up the card as a replacement for Assuncao.

Dillashaw would go on to cause one of the greatest upsets in MMA history by breaking 'The Baron's legendary 32 fight win-streak. After dominating most of the fight, Dillashaw won by a fifth-round TKO by way of head kicks and punches.

youtube-cover

Quick Links