We’ve had some unlikely champions throughout the history of the sport, I’ll list five that stand out to me.
-. Michael Bisping (Middleweight Champion) After winning The Ultimate Fighter 3, Bisping spent a decade in the UFC as a tough, consistent competitor and frequent gatekeeper. He was widely regarded as a high-profile veteran who would never make it to the title. At 37, he stepped up on short notice (17 days notice) against Luke Rockhold and scored a shocking second-round knockout to win the belt in 2016, one of the most improbable title wins in UFC history.
-2. Jan Błachowicz (Lightweight Champion) Błachowicz entered the UFC with a strong regional record, but quickly looked like a journeyman, going 2-4 in his first six Octagon bouts. Many wrote him off as a mid-range striker. He then steadily improved, making a strong late run and knocking out Dominick Reyes at age 37 to claim the vacant light heavyweight title in 2020.
-3. Charles Oliveira (Lightweight Champion) Oliveira holds the UFC record for the longest journey to the title: nearly 11 years and 28 Octagon fights. He debuted young, bounced between featherweight and lightweight, endured early losses and weight-cutting issues, and was never considered a top contender for most of his career. He was a highly skilled submission artist and bonus machine, but he was still considered more of a solid veteran than championship material – until a late-career surge that culminated in him stopping Michael Chandler for the vacant 2021 lightweight title.
4-. Glover Teixeira (Lightweight Champion) Teixeira had a long and respected career as a tough Brazilian powerhouse and contender. He earned an early title shot (a loss to Jon Jones), then spent years as a high-level goaltender and veteran. He finally broke through at the age of 42 (two days after his birthday), submitting Jan Błachowicz, then the oldest first-time UFC champion in history, to win the lightweight title in 2021.
-5. Robbie Lawler (Middleweight Champion) Lawler debuted in the UFC in 2002 as a young, explosive prospect, but after some early ups and downs (including moving up in weight and possible release), he spent years competing in other promotions (PRIDE, Icon, EliteXC, etc.) as a durable fan-friendly veteran. Years later, he returned to the UFC, rebuilt himself and finally won the middleweight title against Johny Hendricks in 2014 – more than 12 years after his Octagon debut.
What are your thoughts, Maniacs? From a fan’s perspective, Oliveira and Lawler’s run to the title was pure joy to watch. These are my top two on this list.