In the unpredictable world of sports, surprises are inevitable. Matt Serra shocked everyone by defeating Georges St-Pierre, proving that anything can happen in the octagon. While 2025 didn’t feature a shocker of that magnitude, there were still notable unexpected outcomes. Here’s our perspective on the “Upset of the Year” for 2025!
2025’s Upset of the Year
Eddie Law: Brendan Allen upset Reinier de Ridder in a high-stakes match. Taking the fight on short notice, Allen dominated de Ridder, forcing his corner to throw in the towel after four rounds. This win puts Allen just a couple of fights away from a potential title shot.
Gabriel Gonzalez: Raoni Barcelos defeated Payton Talbott, who was expected to come out on top against the lesser-known Barcelos. Instead, Barcelos outwrestled Talbott, marking one of the significant upsets early in 2025 and helping raise Barcelos’ profile while allowing Talbott to learn from the experience.
Jay Anderson: I initially considered three candidates for the upset, quickly dismissing one. Although Costello van Steenis defeated Johnny Eblen, van Steenis has been considered a strong fighter in the Bellator/PFL middleweight scene. The focus then narrowed to Brendan Allen vs. Reinier de Ridder and Payton Talbott vs. Raoni Barcelos. While Allen’s win is notable, Talbott was the favorite and should have claimed victory over Barcelos. His eventual loss to the Brazilian was unexpected, highlighting Barcelos’ impressive performance.
Brett Cagle: Ethyn Ewing’s surprise win over Malcolm Wellmaker was particularly remarkable. Wellmaker, an unbeaten prospect, faced Ewing, who took the fight on short notice, leading to one of the year’s most unexpected victories.
Mathis Desjardins: Petr Yan’s victory over Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 323 was shocking due to Yan’s clever strategic adjustments, especially since he had previously lost to Dvalishvili. This unexpected outcome stood out among other significant upsets of the year.
End Result: Raoni Barcelos’ decision victory over Payton Talbott at the beginning of the year remains a surprising highlight. As the year has progressed, the impact of this outcome continues to resonate, establishing it as our “Upset of the Year.”
