Sherdog’s Top 10: UFC Upsets

10. Pete Williams def. Mark Coleman
UFC 17 “Redemption”
May 15, 1998 | Mobile, Alabama
Despite being toppled by kickboxing world champion Maurice Smith in his previous outing, Mark Coleman was still regarded as the most dangerous and destructive fighter in MMA. The former wrestling great was smashing everybody he faced, and most who followed the UFC back then figured he would reverse his fortunes by crushing the virtual unknown Pete Williams.

Williams was unfazed by the extreme aggression of “The Hammer,” defending Coleman’s attacks with surprising ease and eventually wearing out the muscle-bound ground-and-pounder. Williams busted up Coleman on the feet and played spoiler to the Ohioan’s ground attacks. Williams was in terrific shape, primed to go the distance against the heavy favorite.

As it turned out, not only did Williams employ a nearly flawless strategy, Coleman’s own style betrayed him. “The Hammer” couldn’t get his own game plan going and he eventually depleted every drop of fuel in his gas tank. Finally, after an exhausted Coleman stumbled around the Octagon trying to turn the tides, Williams caught him leaning forward and thwacked his right shin off Coleman’s face, ending the fight. At the time, it was the biggest upset in the UFC, and it remains among the 10 best to this day.

Number 9 » Gracie