Top 20 Biggest UFC Upsets in 2024

The UFC has been filled with upsets in 2024, with some of the biggest UFC upsets odds of all-time happening this year. Here are the biggest UFC upsets odds of 2024, with exactly how the underdogs pulled out the victory. 

1. Aiemann Zahabi Defeats Javid Basharat +575

Canadian fighter Aiemann Zahabi pulled off the biggest upset of 2024 on March 2nd. He was a +575 underdog against Javid Basharat, who had never lost a fight in his professional career. Zahabi pulled out a unanimous decision victory, outstriking Basharat 77-67 over the course of the three round affair. 

2. Ovince St.Preux Defeats Kennedy Nzechukwu +500

On March 16th, 40-year-old Ovince St.Preux pulled off a huge upset win over rising star Kennedy Nzechukwu. St.Preux scored a knockdown in this fight, which featured a whopping 526 strikes attempted. St.Preux ended up landing 143 significant strikes compared to 106 from Nzechukwu, winning by split decision. 

3. Antony Smith Defeats Vitor Petrino +400

Anthony Smith wasted no time in defeating Vitor Petrino at UFC 301, submitting him just two minutes into the very first round. Petrino underestimated Smith’s veteran experience, rushing in and getting his head caught in a guillotine. 

4. Chris Padilla Defeats James Llontop +340

James Llontop was a huge favorite against Chris Padilla, but he was unable to take the next step in his superstardom trajectory. Llontop missed weight in this fight and looked fatigued towards the end of the first round. Padilla took full advantage, catching him in a rear-naked choke. 

5. Ketlen Souza Defeats Yazmin Jauregui +380

Ketlen Souza steamrolled Yazmin Jauregui on September 14th, overcoming +380 odds for her to get the victory. She locked in a rear naked choke in the very first round and caught Jauregui flat-footed to begin the fight.

6. Diego Ferreira Defeats Mateusz Rebecki +380

This was a back-and-forth fight between these two men, with Diego Ferriera coming out on top thanks to a knockout with just 9 seconds left in the fight. The significant strikes were 123-52 in Ferreira’s favor in what was a dominant upset victory for the Brazilian fighter. 

7. Neil Magny over Mike Malott +300

Neil Magny came into his fight against Mike Malott as a big underdog, fighting in Toronto against the Canadian prospect. Malott won the first two rounds and looked ready to cruise to a big decision victory. However, Neil Magny flipped the script in round three, knocking him out with just 15 seconds remaining in the fight. Magny’s big third round gave him a 57-45 advantage in strikes, while he landed just one takedown compared to Malott’s four. 

8. Dan Hooker Defeats Mateusz Gamrot +210

Dan Hooker appeared to be on the brink of retirement before his fight with Gamrot, but that notion was quickly dispelled after his split decision victory. Hooker held a narrow 65-64 edge in significant strikes and scored no takedowns compared to Gamrot’s five takedowns. It was a slightly surprising decision, with Hooker winning the first and third rounds. 

9. Nikolas Motta Defeats Tom Nolan +275

Motta made quick work of Nolan, landing a flash knockout just one minute into their fight. A quick finish is the easiest way for a big underdog to get the upset victory in the UFC. 

10. Nora Cornolle Defeats Melissa Mullins +280

Nora Cornolle handed Mullins her first professional loss after a flurry of knee and head kicks forced the referee to intervene in their April 6th fight in Las Vegas. 

11. Brandon Royval Defeats Brandon Moreno +240

This was the second fight between these two men, with Royval taking the next step to a title shot with his split decision win. In the headline fight of the night, Royval outstruck Moreno 145-112. 

12. Gerald Meerschaert Defeats Edmen Shahbazyan +250

Gerald Meerschaert pulled out the submission victory just as he has done so many times before. His 29th career submission came at the expense of Shahbazyan on August 24th. 

13. Niko Price Defeats Alex Morono +240

Niko Price kept his title aspirations alive at 34 years old with a decision victory over Alex Morono. Price was the better striker, wrestler, and grappler in this fight and thoroughly deserved the victory. 

14. Vinicius Oliveira Defeats Ricky Simon +210

Vinicius Oliveira cruised to a decision win against Ricky Simon on June 29th. He stuffed 9/11 takedown attempts from Simon and held a 96-42 advantage in strikes that landed. 

15. Dustin Poirier Defeats Benoit Saint-Denis +175 

At UFC 299, Poirier and Saint-Denis put on a show, with Poirier coming out on top late in the second round. This was a back and forth fight that won ‘fight of the night’ on March 9th, but it took just one clean right hook from Poirier to force the referee to intervene. 

16. Puja Tomar Defeats Rayanne Amanda +280

This was a very close fight where Puja Tomar got the split decision upset win against Rayanne Amanada. Tomar landed 15 more strikes in the three round affair, which was enough for the slight victory. 

17. Venessa Demopoulos Defeats Emily Ducote +290

The Greek fighter Demopulos was outstruck 109-143 by Ducote, but the additional damage behind her kicks and punches was enough to get the split decision win on May 18th. 

18. Belal Muhammad Defeats Leon Edwards +215

Belal Muhammad claimed the Welterweight title with his smothering upset against Leon Edwards. Muhammad landed 9 takedowns, 68 significant strikes, and amassed over 12 minutes of ground control time. 

19. Dominick Reyes Defeats Dustin Jacoby +200

Dominick Reyes announced his return to the UFC in dramatic fashion. The former title challenger knocked Dustin Jacoby out with a vicious knee two minutes into the first round. 

20. Max Holloway Defeats Justin Geathje +155

In what was one of the greatest fights and knockouts of all time, Max Holloway pulled off a massive upset at UFC 300 against Justin Gaethje. Holloway was in control for the majority of the fight, then with 10 seconds left, he pointed to the middle of the octagon and challenged Gaethje to a brawl. The result was a stunning knockout with one second left that left Max Holloway as the BMF title holder.