Sports fans are always going to get behind an underdog and in MMA, you're only ever one punch away from turning the tables on your opponent.
As we close out 2024, the PFL took a look back at five of the biggest upsets to have taken place inside the Smart Cage this year.
The promotion's tournament format creates incredible opportunities for upsets because one result can change the entire landscape of a bracket.
At the 2024 World Championships, Dovlet Yagshimuradov shook up the light heavyweight division by becoming the new champion in under a minute.
Impa Kasanganay was looking to become a back-to-back winner but after an aggressive start from the reigning champ, he was hurt early on and put away by the 35-year old.
At the promotion's Nashville card in August, Dedrek Sanders produced a huge win on his PFL debut when he stopped Sergio Cossio in the first round.
Sanders made up for the huge weight and experience difference between them with a left hand that simply couldn't miss.
Another one of the 2024 world champions claims a spot in the top five upsets with Shamil Musaev's PFL debut receiving some spotlight.
The undefeated Russian would go on to produce a run of incredibly impressive performances to come out on top in the welterweight division but it was his statement debut against Logan Storley that really put the rest of the bracket on notice.
In at number two is one of the first-ever PFL MENA finals as Omar El Dafrawy produced the upset against Mohammad Alaqraa at the PFL's Battle of the Giants event in November.
The fight was remembered for both the upset victory and the controversial stoppage that occurred in the second round.
At the number one spot is another fight from Battle of the Giants as Paul Hughes announced his arrival at the top of the lightweight division.
Many expected that Bellator star AJ McKee would be too much, too soon for the rising Irishman but he proved otherwise with a fantastic performance.
Hughes will now go on to challenge Usman Nurmagomedov for the Bellator lightweight title in Dubai in one of the best match-ups of 2025.
Watch the full video below:
