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The shock of an underdog scoring a knockout on a dominant champion is a key reason why fights are so thrilling to watch. The drama just turns up a notch. It also goes to show that professional fighting as a sport is a highly volatile game to play. One moment you're the king then, in one fell swoop, you're uncrowned.
Though outliers like Khabib Nurmagomedov (29-0) exist, almost every champion in combat sports history has at least a few losses. Simply put, no one truly comes out unscathed in fighting.
That's why we won't be talking about the champions and their undefeated streaks in this list. We'll be listing down the underdogs who achieved the unthinkable by knocking out the seemingly untouchable champion. The kind of knockouts that were so amazing you couldn't help but call your friends to make sure they saw it.
#5. Christian Lee's knockout of Shinya Aoki (One Championship: Enter the Dragon)
Shinya 'Tobikan Judan' Aoki has become a legend in MMA lore. Aoki's eclectic yet pressuring submission game has struck fear in the hearts of fighters for almost two decades. His ONE lightweight championship bout with then 20 year-old underdog Christian Lee was supposed to be a walk in the park.
Pundits were saying that if the fight goes to the ground, Aoki will get the tap. It's not a possibility, it's an eventuality.
It almost went that way as Aoki went straight to work with an early bodylock and put Lee's back on the mat. Moments after that, the Japanese submission master was locking in a fully-extended armbar on the young Canadian-American fighter. Somehow, the determined underdog survived the submission and came back to score a knockout in the second round to win ONE's coveted lightweight strap.
#4. Superbon Banchamek's knockout of Giorgio Petrosyan (One Championship: First Strike)
This is perhaps the most violent headkick knockout in ONE Championship history. The relatively unknown Superbon Banchamek shocked the kickboxing world by separating the mythical Giorgio 'The Doctor' Petrosyan from his senses.
Petrosyan, known as one of the best pound-for-pound kickboxers of all time, entered the ONE circle with multiple world titles under his belt. The Armenian-born fighter's clinical offense and lockdown defense should have allowed him to breeze past Superbon. Having only lost twice in over 100 fights prior, Petrosyan was the heavy favorite to win the bout.
However, the Thai fighter had other plans. Early on, Petrosyan tried to bully Superbon by constantly moving forward while throwing some hard kicks and punches. Superbon, however, was not easily fazed as he answered Petrosyan's aggression with his own; kick for kick and punch for punch.
Early in the second round, Superbon made history with a picture-perfect left hook-high kick combination that immediately knocked Petrosyan out cold. The Armenian-Italian legend dropped to the floor like he was shot by a gun. The knockout was ruthless, violent, and amazing.
#3. TJ Dillashaw's knockout of Renan Barao (UFC 173)
This is one of the most lopsided underdog wins in MMA history. TJ Dillashaw put on a striking clinic against the then-scariest 135-pound fighter in the world, Renan Barao.
Barao, famous for being the training partner of featherweight legend Jose Aldo, hadn't lost an MMA fight in nearly a decade. The Brazilian had run roughshod over the UFC's bantamweight division and looked to be unstoppable in the cage. Dillashaw, on the other hand, was mostly known as a strong wrestler with some KO wins on his record.
No one saw the kind of beatdown the American challenger put on the Brazilian champion coming. Barao never got any good licks in while Dillashaw, under the tutelage of head coach Duane Ludwig, dismantled the champ flawlessly. His devastating strike combinations and dizzying footwork lead to a decisive technical knockout victory.
#2. Holly Holm knockout of Ronda Rousey (UFC 193)
The head kick knockout that shocked the world. We dare you to name another head kick more widely recognized in the history of combat sports.
Holly Holm sent the great 'Rowdy' Ronda Rousey to the negative zone with a violent shin to the dome. This win underlines the fact that MMA math often doesn't work. Ronda was seen as the Mike Tyson of MMA with her finishing ability and larger-than-life appeal. The former Olympic Judoka finished all of her opponents while Holm (a former boxing champ) only had two wins in the UFC, both by decision.
No one expected what 'The Preacher's Daughter' had in store for the champion. Nearly everyone slept on Holm's pugilistic skills, thinking Ronda would just steamroll her.
The former boxer methodically picked the champion apart with constant movement and laser-focused strikes. Holm exposed Ronda's weaknesses and set her up for a nifty left cross that staggered her. What came next was the now-famous left roundhouse kick that scored the knockout for the ages.
#1. Chris Weidman's knockout of Anderson Silva
If you're talking about surprise knockouts over dominant champions, this has to be the most shocking one.
Anderson Silva held records in the UFC no one could possibly break. His level of skill and mastery of the game was so far ahead of everyone else that he resorted to playing with his opponents before finishing them off. Seriously, Silva looked like a cat toying with a mouse every time he was in the octagon.
Chris Weidman was expected to be the next victim of 'The Spider' on his way to becoming the MMA GOAT.
Silva's taunting antics ultimately backfired as Weidman landed a left hook inside the pocket. Silva dropped to the floor immediately and Weidman followed up with ground-and-pound to finish the fight. The whole world was stunned. It was like seeing a mortal destroy a god. Weidman's incredible win remains the most shocking knockout win in MMA history.
