4 most shocking upsets in MMA history

The temptation to label Nate Diaz's stunning submission of Conor McGregor one of the greatest upsets of all time is understandable.

In the span of three years, "Mystic Mac" had become the UFC's golden child, so his loss to the respected - but considerably less promoted - Diaz at UFC 196 sent shockwaves through the MMA community.

As surprising as that outcome was, it shouldn't be blown out of proportion: Diaz is a top-five lightweight who once challenged for the 155-pound title, not just some tomato can.

All of the winners in the following list overcame even greater odds than Diaz to rank as the four most shocking upsets in MMA history.

Matt Serra def. Georges St-Pierre via 1st-round TKO
UFC 69 - April 7, 2007

As the years pass, the magnitude of this upset fades in the memories of even the most devout MMA fans. Make no mistake: this was the most shocking win in the history of the sport, and it's likely to stay that way.

Going into UFC 69, Georges St-Pierre had just completed a glorious run to claim the welterweight title from Matt Hughes, one of the sport's best fighters and the only man to previously beat him. He was finally the man at 170 pounds.

Enter Matt Serra.

A journeyman who'd compiled a modest 9-4 record in the UFC, Serra earned his title shot against GSP by winning the fourth season of "The Ultimate Fighter," which is the equivalent of a minor-league basketball team finding a prize in a cereal box that lets them play the Golden State Warriors in a one-game series for the NBA championship.

Now imagine if that minor-league basketball team won.

The expectation was that the grappling-minded Serra's only chance to upset St-Pierre was getting the fight to the ground and catching him with a submission. Instead, Serra confidently waded forward, eventually blistering St-Pierre with a combination of punches that put the champ on his back.

Serra followed up with brutal ground-and-pound until the fight was stopped inside of a round. Making the win even more unfathomable is the fact that St-Pierre never lost again (he would take the belt back from Serra a year later).

Sokoudjou def. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira via 1st-round KO
PRIDE 33 - Feb. 24, 2007

For years, the Nogueira twins were two of the most feared fighters in the bigger weight classes. "Big Nog" Antonio Rodrigo dominated the heavyweight division, including an interim UFC title win in 2008, while brother Antonio Rogerio had a sterling reputation of his own in the light heavyweight division.

"Little Nog" was 12-2 with recent wins over future world champions Alistair Overeem and Dan Henderson on his resume when he ran into an unknown judoka named Sokoudjou at PRIDE 33. Nogueira was a consensus 20-1 favorite at worst.

In just his third career MMA fight, Sokoudjou plastered Nogueira in 23 seconds. He would defeat Ricardo Arona in his next bout to become the sport's hottest free agent. UFC scooped him up, and he went 1-2 before being released.

Nick Diaz def. Takanori Gomi via 2nd-round submission (gogoplata)*
PRIDE 33 - Feb. 24, 2007

*(result was overturned when Diaz tested positive for marijuana)

Though Takanori Gomi was a step removed from his days as the most dominant lightweight on the planet, he still went into his PRIDE 33 match with Nick Diaz as a healthy favorite.

Diaz brought the fight to Gomi from the opening bell and neither man showed any sign of backing down. It wasn't until the second round that a tiring Gomi shot in for a takedown, inadvertently falling right into Diaz's web.

The elder Diaz brother immediately transitioned into a rarely seen gogoplata choke that forced Gomi to tap, only the second successful gogoplata in PRIDE history.

The result was struck from the record due to Diaz's well-known recreational habits, but that somehow only makes the win more legendary.

Emanuel Newton def. Muhammed Lawal via 1st-round KO
Bellator 90

Bellator MMA's promotional push for Muhammed Lawal didn't end as it had hoped.

Then-CEO Bjorn Rebney couldn't get enough of "King Mo," a charismatic wrestler with power in his hands. Tons of TV time was spent advertising the company's prized acquisition.

When it came time to deliver, Lawal cruised through the first round of the Season Eight light heavyweight tournament, and he was expected to do the same in his semifinal bout against lightly regarded Emanuel Newton.

Instead, "The Hardcore Kid" out-struck Lawal for the majority of their fight before landing a pinpoint spinning back fist that stiffened Lawal like a statue.

Unlike some upsets, this one proved to be predictive, as Newton went on to become the Bellator light heavyweight champion.