UFC Fighters Who Have Never Been Underdogs

Never Betting Underdogs

In the unpredictable world of MMA, very few fighters manage to step into the Octagon without ever being labeled as an underdog. Betting odds are determined by factors like past performances, opponent strength, and public perception. However, some legends of the sport were so dominant that they never once entered a fight as the betting underdog. Here’s a look at the elite few who always held the odds in their favor.

Georges St-Pierre

Arguably the greatest welterweight of all time, Georges St-Pierre (GSP) never once entered a fight as the underdog. His elite wrestling, striking, and fight IQ kept him ahead of the odds, even in tough matchups against the likes of Matt Hughes, BJ Penn, and Nick Diaz. GSP’s dominance and ability to adapt to any opponent ensured that sportsbooks always saw him as the favorite. Some notable odds in his career include:

• GSP vs. Matt Hughes 2: -130 favorite
• GSP vs. BJ Penn 2: -180 favorite
• GSP vs. Michael Bisping: -115 favorite (despite moving up a weight class)

Islam Makhachev

Following in the footsteps of his mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev has never been an underdog in his UFC career. His suffocating grappling, ever-improving striking, and disciplined approach have made him the lightweight king. Even in high-stakes fights against Charles Oliveira and Alexander Volkanovski, the betting markets consistently favored Makhachev, recognizing his skillset as too formidable to be considered an underdog. Some of his key betting odds include:

• Islam vs. Charles Oliveira (UFC 280): -190 favorite
• Islam vs. Alexander Volkanovski 1 (UFC 284): -400 favorite
• Islam vs. Alexander Volkanovski 2 (UFC 294): -300 favorite

Magomed Ankalaev

• First Time Being Underdog at UFC 313

Magomed Ankalaev had never been an underdog until his upcoming fight against Alex Pereira at UFC 313. He initially opened as a +140 underdog when the fight was announced, marking the first time in his career that oddsmakers saw him as the less favored fighter. Early on, Ankalaev claimed he wasn’t planning to take Pereira to the ground, a statement many believe was a strategic ploy to make Pereira more comfortable accepting the fight. Realistically, Ankalaev would be wise to utilize his grappling, but it’s worth noting that he will be fasting during fight week, which could impact his energy levels.

Additionally, his past struggles with checking leg kicks—most notably in his fight against Jan Błachowicz—could be a major issue against Pereira, who is one of the most devastating kickers in the division. If this fight remains a striking battle, few doubt that Pereira holds the advantage. However, as fight week progresses, the odds have tightened, and Ankalaev and Pereira are now closing as a ‘Pick ‘Em’ matchup.

Israel Adesanya

• Pick-Em Odds Twice

Israel Adesanya, one of the best middleweights of his era, was never an underdog in the betting odds. However, he did enter two fights as a ‘Pick ‘Em’—meaning the odds were even on both sides. These instances occurred in his first fight against Robert Whittaker and later against Dricus Du Plessis, a fight that happened when Adesanya was past his prime. Despite these close calls, Adesanya’s ability to dominate the middleweight division ensured he was always highly favored.

Notable Mentions

Khabib Nurmagomedov

• Underdog Once, But Unfairly So

Khabib Nurmagomedov, who retired undefeated, was only an underdog once in his career—against the biggest lightweight in UFC history, Gleison Tibau. Notably, Tibau was later caught using steroids after the fight. Many fans claim Khabib lost that fight, but those who have actually watched it closely know he won, even though he didn’t dominate in his usual fashion. After that fight, Khabib never entered the Octagon as an underdog again.

Jon Jones

• Underdog in His First Two Fights, Never Again

Jon Jones, widely regarded as the greatest fighter of all time, was an underdog in his first two UFC fights. In his debut against André Gusmão, he entered as a +170 underdog. In his second fight against Stephan Bonnar, he was a +130 underdog. However, after showcasing his immense talent and unique skillset, Jones was never an underdog again—not in light heavyweight and not even when moving up to heavyweight to face Ciryl Gane for the title.

Kamaru Usman

• Only an Underdog Once, on Short Notice at a Higher Weight Class

Kamaru Usman, the former welterweight king, was never an underdog in his weight class. However, he finally entered as an underdog when he stepped up on short notice to fight Khamzat Chimaev at middleweight. This was a fight he didn’t need to take, but despite the odds against him, Usman proved that doubting him is never a wise decision. His performance showed why he was never seen as an underdog before.

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