6 Unlikely UFC Champions Who Defied The Odds
5. Rafael Dos Anjos
Though he would eventually win UFC gold, Rafael Dos Anjos spent the 1st 5 years of his UFC career in relative obscurity. In the early part of his UFC run, the soft-spoken Brazilian had a 4-4 record and appeared destined to be little more than stepping stone for future headliners.
However, following a one-sided loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2014, something seemed to click for Dos Anjos. No longer content to dwell in mediocrity, a noticeably improved version of the Brazilian went on to win 3 consecutive fights against Jason High, Benson Henderson, and Nate Diaz respectively.
His impressive win streak led to a showdown with UFC Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis. Despite entering the fight as a significant underdog, Dos Anjos dominated Pettis and won the bout via unanimous decision — capturing the lightweight title in the process. He would even go on to defend the belt against a man who will likely end up in the UFC Hall of Fame, Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone.
Rafael Dos Anjos went from being a journeyman to taking his own journey to the top of the UFC lightweight division.