Biggest Overachievers in UFC history

Tweak896 said:
Something about these threads really makes me hate how Griffin is always labeled an overachiever. He beat Rampage and Shogun back to back and was winning the first 2 rounds against Rashad. I'm not saying Forrest is the greatest LHW ever, but had pretty good skillset. He fell off afterwards, but lots of champs just lose after the belt, he went 3-2 after, and supposedly had tons of injuries and addiction problems which kept him out.

-One of the biggest LHW's pre Jones
-Cardio more than everyone at the time, I can't think of a LHW with better cardio
-Good kicks, striking good enough to stand with Rampage, just not enough for Silva.
-Never submitted, and good enough to sub Shogun or Chael on an off night.
-Chin sometimes can go haywire, but dude was able to go through wars and had heart.

I'm just saying DDP is just as much as an "overachiever", but I wouldn't consider him that. Actually besides when UFC started out, I think all the UFC male champs are pretty solid.

Now WMMA on the other hand you have some really terrible champs.... Pena, Montano, and Pennington. But even those were just a reflection of a weak competition pool.
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Bobby Southworth was the heavy favorite to win LHW on season 1 of TUF. I don't think Griffin was considered shit though, to your point, but he wasn't the best prospect on the show. But your point does make sense in that TUF season 1 had a ton of talent and top tier prospects unlike later into the show. So I actually do agree with you.

It was not a case of average joes and random guys fighting for a chance to make the UFC. That was prime regional or even other major-ish promotion level talent, they stocked it up for the show. And obviously it showed because Florian fought for the title twice in two different divisions, Griffin became LHW champ, Bonnar was a top 10 fighter long career, Koscheck top 3-5 WW fight for the title, Diego Sanchez long career fought for the title, Nate Quarry title fight and good little run, Chris Leben legit UFC fighter some nice moments/brawls, etc.

The only other season of TUF not coincidentally to have that much talent was when they created BW and FW divisions after merging with WEC with season 14. So yeah, long story short I don't know if Griffin "overachieved" per se. Maybe because he's a goofy fun loving guy and he did win the belt then get starched by Silva on a highlight reel matrix goofily - you can come to that conclusion then. But he was never some bum.
 
Leon Edwards - sneaky journeyman level fighter who won a belt based on matchup, luck, and aging Usman's bad knees

Belal Muhammad - clear journeyman who then possibly used "enhancements" had a little streak, won the belt, immediately lost it.

Matt Serra - obvious, classic cinderella case. Won a goofy season of TUF to "earn" a title shot oddly then luckily starched GSP

Sean O'Malley - my darkhorse sneak pick here. Got extremely lucky with a decision over Yan, starched Sterling. Overachieved by winning belt, zero TDD in stacked wrestling heavy division

Jamhal Hill - Sucks, won title on extreme low probability timeline where he beats a 40 year old Thiago Santos with no knees then a 45 year old Glover after Glass Jaw Johnny Walker for a UFC belt.

Magomed Ankalaev - Not an all-timer, but for recent times I'll add him as another sneaky overachieving option. Once again a 40 year old Santos sans ligaments in his knees, Anthony "PussyHeart" Smith, into a draw with Jan, NC Walker, beating glass jaw Johnny, Rakic, then Pereira in a somewhat close one. To then get starched by Perira in the rematch. Won't be surprised if he never comes close to a belt again and falls off.
 
This was part of a 4-fight UFC 11-fight overall win streak for Mike Russow. Entering UFC 147m, he was 15-1 overall.

 
Michael Bisping.
Guy wasnt really that skilled. Just kept grinding, got a bit lucky and became champ. Did it with one eye and everything.

Forrest.
 
Cannot believe it took until the 2nd page to mention Jamahal Hill.

I've never seen the stars align so well for someone to get a belt. Jiri the real champ had to bow out cause of injury, Jan and Ank fought to a draw, Dana threw a hissy fit about the fight which wasn't even a bad fight, and somehow Jamahal ended up getting an ancient Glover who was due to fall of a cliff at any second/

The only way this is going to be topped is if Topuria ends up vacating the LW belt and Paddy or Gaethje somehow ends up winning undisputed without having to fight Tsarukyan, Oliveira, Max, Topuria and Islam.
 
johndhi said:
Nate Diaz v Connor and in some other cases too (cowboy maybe)
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There is some merit in Nate’s overachiever call-out.

He was the slower fighter in every match in his career. Possible to exception is Cowboy.

But his hard work, toughness and “timing” kept him in the elite mix and earned him a title shot.

Also: Carlos Condit was neither fast, explosive or particularly athletic in the typical MMA sense….

But he was a champion and elite for quite a long while…. By hard work and ferocity !
 
RockyLockridge said:
Forrest Griffen - I'd love to see the odds on him subbing shogun
Julianna pena - won the title TWICE, one of the least skilled champs ever and the single worst 2x title holder without a doubt
McKenzie dern - who would have thought?
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Came to say Forrest Griffin as well, great pick. He was the underdog in TUF as well and certainly in the final he was, and the Shogun fight was insane, and then winning the UFC LHW belt and beating Rampage. I never saw it coming.
Forrest vs Bonnar - I picked Bonnar
Forrest vs Shogun - I picked Shogun
Forrest vs Rich Franklin - I picked Rich
Forrest vs Rampage - I picked Rampage

and even the last 2 Tito fights I was not sure, I thought it was 50/50 possibly, unsure really. He surprised me a number of times. I can't remember about the TUF 1 fights on the show who I picked but I don't remember having him as a favorite.
 
Strickland
He was 6-3 in UFC. Decent record, but I don't think someone saw him as champion.
He developed top boxing for MMA without having top athletic feats.

Jan
He was 2-4 in UFC, losing to Patrick Cummins.
He improved his TDD and developed a better striking.


Belal
He started pretty bad, losing a couple of fights.
Nobody thought he will became champion.

Charles
He was 4-4 in UFC at first.
 
Portland8242 said:
Cannot believe it took until the 2nd page to mention Jamahal Hill.

I've never seen the stars align so well for someone to get a belt. Jiri the real champ had to bow out cause of injury, Jan and Ank fought to a draw, Dana threw a hissy fit about the fight which wasn't even a bad fight, and somehow Jamahal ended up getting an ancient Glover who was due to fall of a cliff at any second/

The only way this is going to be topped is if Topuria ends up vacating the LW belt and Paddy or Gaethje somehow ends up winning undisputed without having to fight Tsarukyan, Oliveira, Max, Topuria and Islam.
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no, gaethje or paddy wouldn't be nearly as big. Well paddy maybe but certainly not gaethje. If he wins a title he just wona title he never overachieved. he's beaten a who's who at LW.

paddy is too early to say.
 
Fransisco Trinaldo

Look up his story. From the slums, the actual slums, he couldn't afford a ride to train, made it to the ufc, cracked the top 15 on a 7-fight winning streak which included dismantling prime Paul Felder. Fought mostly in his late 30's and early 40's.

Amazing human as well.
 
Lionheart7167 said:
I see a lot of threads about biggest busts in UFC history.

On the flipside, who are people that succeeded tremendously or far-exceeded expectations? (for whatever reason....luck, heart, etc.). Define "overachiever" however you want. They found success.

Not talking hugely hyped prospects. Guys like Conor, Velasquez and Anderson had a lot of hype coming in.

Here's a few of mine

Matt Serra- He beat GSP. I can't think of many other huge, memorable wins, or bigger upsets in the whole history of the company
Dillashaw- Dillashaw was certainly a prospect, but I don't think anyone saw him rising to the levels he achieved (EPO or not)
Gonzaga- When he came into the UFC, I don't remember a lot of hype. A lot of people thought he'd be a stepping stone for CroCop. A big upset, and a title fight later... even though he never blew up, he had a few solid years
Frankie Edgar- Now he's practically a legend, but he was undersized and I don't recall others thinking he would go very far, early on.
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Mark Hunt overachieved his whole career.
 
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