Biggest Overachievers in UFC history

[Limeade]

Recently it has to be Tom Aspinall. The guy got a title shot off a win over Martin Tybura. His best win is against Alex Volkov. Yet people talk about him like he’s an all-time goat.

None of that makes him an overachiever. He has talent and looked good in his title run.

An overachiever would be someone lacking athletic talent but still finding a way to win fights especially against elite opponents.

 

[Tweak896]

I get what you're saying, but you're also describing why people call him an overachiever.
-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.
-Good enough TDD to defend against Tito more than not
-Chin sometimes can go haywire, but dude was able to go through wars and had heart.

Basically, he's a competent fighter but nothing about him says he would go on to become a world champion, or beat the likes of Rampage, Shogun or even Rich Franklin

You can dissect every champ in those regards. Rich Franklin sucks because he couldn't stand with Silva. Yet he was considered a dominant champ before him.

I say subbing black belts, defending takedowns from Tito, out striking Rampage makes him pretty well rounded. Again he was giant at the time for LHW too.

 

[Clark Rogers]

Sera and Forest IMO.

Not sure how to quantify which was a bigger overachievement, neither were supposed to happen.

Forest wasn't supposed to win TUF much less the title, and of course Sera only gets to that fight because of a TUF redemption season.

 

[HHJ]

Sera and Forest IMO.

Not sure how to quantify which was a bigger overachievement, neither were supposed to happen.

Forest wasn't supposed to win TUF much less the title, and of course Sera only gets to that fight because of a TUF redemption season.

I mean, when Forrest won TUF, and UFC absolutley wanted him to get the title from that point on. It's insane that he actually pulled it off though. He beat Rampage with the only possible strategy that would have worked for him.

 

[Limeade]

He has a goofy-looking style and often does some hilarious shit in the cage. Just poking a bit of fun, obviously he is an elite fighter and a powerhouse in the division.

Missed lateral drop. I feel his pain, I did that once and got trapped for 5 minutes. Well good for DDP for still winning in the end.

 

[Killer Whale]

Bisping
Miocic

 

[SalvadorAllende]

Do Bronx.

Years ago nobody would have thought he was going to win the LW title.. let alone defend it.

 

[invictorious]

Not the biggest, but Michael Reece-Page, aka MVP, is one.
Page's mostly dominant wins in Bellator were overshadowed by claims he fought subpar opponents.
His first loss to Douglas Lima supposedly exposed him.
Some ignore the fact that Lima was a former champion, and that Page later avenged that loss in a close decision.
Page is now 3-1 in the UFC. By exceeding the expectations of many, he has overachieved.

 

[Substance Abuse]

Tracy Cortez?

 

[TankAbbott4Eva]

I've always said Dan Kelly for this one. Dude has a judo background which doesn't really translate directly to MMA very well, basic striking to say the least as well plus he was old and I think his knees were bad by the time he made it to the UFC.

Anyway he had a nice little run there (but did get KOd by Sam Alvey unfortunately haha), outstruck Rashad Evans somehow and if he found a way through Brunson he might have gotten a title shot. I think Whittaker had the belt at the time, would have been a great local title fight for the Aussies.

 

[cheesus]

Pena is a two-time champ with a 12-6 record averaging one fight per year and beat the greatest female fighter of all time despite being as slow a Suzuki Samurai and having the striking coordination of a toddler, Forrest Griffin would get my next vote but he's not as bad as people make him out to be.