Examples where guys won the title on short notice

[Thuckey]

Jon Jones was a replacement I believe, for Rashad Evans if I remember correctly. We all know how that went down.

Then there was Bisping last night, and holy fuck did he ever show everyone up. I'm glad for him.

Any other example where a fighter has won UFC gold on a fight that was taken on short notice?

honorable mention goes to Nate Diaz who beat the current FW champion at a different weight class.

 

[AceCooch]

Serra

 

[GSPenn1991]

Serra

That wasn't because of a late replacement. Gsp did however step in for Serra to fight Hughes a 3rd time for the interim title

 

[DuncanFan819]

Michael Bisping.

 

[kerykda]

miocic

 

[Thuckey]

miocic

Crazy how I overlooked this. Was going to add to OP but for some reason corrected myself in my head saying "OH no they were booked to fight"

Utterly forgot. It's crazy that there are two huge examples in recent history as well as the semi-example of Conor-Diaz. We are living in crazy times in mma. 20 years from now this will be remembered as the confusing, grey, anything can happen literally times.

 

[Jayziz]

I believe Cormier was a late replacement against Rumble, after the UFC stripped Jones for the hit-and-run...

 

[Judge Lance Ito]

Mioici was a potential replacement when Cain got injured the first time round but he was scheduled for the 2nd.