Has a short notice replacement ever won a BIG fight aside from Nate Diaz?

[Fedorgasm]

You guys remember warpath? Not in the UFC but that dude made a career out of being a last minute replacement. Any wins on his record would qualify.

Edit: I guess they weren't big fights though

 

[Paolo Delutis]

Just an very old one I rewatched recently for some reason, Tra Telligman was short notice against Igor Vovchanchyn in 2001 and shocked the world back then. Igor was 46-3 with one loss in the GP final over the last six years, with a recent win over Mark Kerr in their rematch, into the fight and Tra was 6-3, on a two fights losing streak, last win was more than 3 years old. Igor was supposed to face Ken Shamrock, he endd up against a short notice replacement that felt like a total mismatch who did it in impressive fashion. That's, as far as I'm concerned, the biggest short notice upset ever. Pride 13.

Fantastic pick and story

 

[Cowboy Kurt Angle]

Bisping Vs Rockhold, Jones Vs Shogun, TJ Vs Barro,

 

[P4p Islam]

Jon beat Shogun. He got offered the fight right after beating Bader because Rashad got hurt. He had a month.

Made him tap from strikes too

 

[Aluminati]

Cowboy vs Bendo
Edgar vs Ortega
Emmett vs Lamas

 

[ArnaudRygg]

Fantastic pick and story

And if you check it, watch out for Tito Ortiz supposed to give flowers to the Lion's Den camp a year or something after he gave them the infamous double gesture and "Guy Mezger is my bitch" thing. Tra refuses first and says something I couldn't understand to Tito, fun little nugget there.

 

[CasualBot]

With One eye:

 

[Shaddows]

 

[Paul E Gensinger]

Bisping winning the title is probably the best story ever when it comes to a replacement fighter coming in short notice and making it. Ortega knocked out Edgar as a replacement for Max, if I recall correctly.

Bisping seems like the type who would actually stay ready between fights. I mean it's a professional sport. These guys seriously veg out between fights (one to two fights a year btw). Months of vacation after 15 minutes.

 

[CashMoney1991]

Bisping beating Rockhold was the most shocking in this scenario