'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#4 Matt Serra (TUF 4) – UFC Welterweight title
The fourth season of TUF was aired in late 2006 and was subtitled 'The Comeback.' It featured 16 UFC veterans who'd slipped down the ladder, and the premise was that the winners of tournaments in the Middleweight and Welterweight divisions would be given a shot at the respective UFC titles.
Middleweight winner Travis Lutter was easily beaten by reigning champion Anderson Silva in his title shot, and little more was expected of Welterweight winner Matt Serra. 'The Terror' was given a shot at reigning 170lbs kingpin Georges St-Pierre – who'd cut a path of destruction through the division that'd ended with him dethroning long-time champion Matt Hughes.
Nobody gave Serra a chance, but the charismatic Long Island native didn't care. And at UFC 69, he pulled off one of the biggest upsets in UFC history, stopping St-Pierre with strikes in the first round to become arguably the most unlikely UFC champion of all time.
Sadly, Serra never really had a chance to defend his title. A back injury kept him out for a year, and upon his return, he was instantly dethroned by St-Pierre in a much-hyped rematch. 'The Terror' only went onto have three more fights – going 1-2 – before retiring in 2010.
2018 saw him inducted into the UFC's Hall of Fame – largely due to his upset title win – and he's gone onto coach top UFC fighters such as Chris Weidman and Aljamain Sterling.
#5 Tony Ferguson (TUF 13) – UFC Lightweight title (interim)
Currently rated as one of the best Lightweights on the planet, it's easy to forget that Tony Ferguson first emerged into the UFC by winning the 13th season of TUF, back in 2011. By that point, interest in the reality show had waned, and so 'El Cucuy' failed to gain the notoriety of past TUF winners like Michael Bisping and Nate Diaz.
Instead, Ferguson took the long road to UFC stardom. Following his victory over Ramsey Nijem at the season finale, 'El Cucuy' defeated Aaron Riley and Yves Edwards before, unfortunately, breaking his arm in a fight with Michael Johnson.
The injury kept Ferguson on the shelf for over a year, but when he returned, he went on a run never before seen in the UFC at 155lbs.'‘El Cucu'’ somehow defeated nine opponents in a row – including tough veterans like Josh Thomson and Edson Barboza. And by 2017, it was clear he deserved a title shot.
With the UFC Lightweight crown tied up thanks to ConorMcGregor'ss boxing match with Floyd Mayweather, though, the best the promotion could offer Ferguson was a shot at an interim title.'‘ ElCucuy'’ duly obliged, submitting Kevin Lee to claim the gold at UFC 216.
Sadly, a knee injury derailed his planned fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov for the undisputed title. And although Ferguson won another two fights to take his winning streak to 12, he was recently beaten in another interim title fight by Justin Gaethje – putting an end to his future title hopes, for now at least.
#6 TJ Dillashaw (TUF 14) – UFC Bantamweight title
The 14th season of TUF saw the Bantamweight and Featherweight divisions showcased on the reality show for the first time. And although it was John Dodson who came out on top in the 135lbs tournament, it would be the man he defeated in the final – TJ Dillashaw – who would go onto claim UFC gold.
Following his loss to Dodson, Dillashaw put together an impressive record of 5-1 to earn a shot at UFC Bantamweight champ Renan Barao at UFC 173. Few observers were giving him a chance, but the former collegiate wrestling standout shocked everyone by destroying the Brazilian with a slick kickboxing game to claim the title.
Two title defenses followed, but Dillashaw was then dethroned by former champion Dominick Cruz at the beginning of 2016. That wasn't the end of the story for him, though, as he rebounded with two wins to set up a shot at new champion Cody Garbrandt – his former training partner and the first man to defeat Cruz in a decade – in 2017.
Dillashaw knocked out '‘No Lov'’ to reclaim his title, and then ended their rivalry with another knockout in their 2018 rematch. Unfortunately, an attempt to become a double champion ended at the hands of then-UFC Flyweight champion Henry Cejudo in early 2019. And when he tested positive for EPO, Dillashaw was then stripped of his Bantamweight crown.He'ss currently still serving a suspension.
