5 UFC title challengers who were written off before their title fight

#2. Michael Bisping vs. Luke Rockhold 2

UFC Fight Night: Rockhold v Bisping Press Event

Luke Rockhold is confidence incarnate. Unfortunately, the former middleweight champion couldn't "conceive, believe, achieve" his way to defeating Michael Bisping a second time.

As is commonly criticized, Rockhold is a little cocky. This isn't exactly unearned. He's the former UFC and Strikeforce middleweight champion who had already decisively defeated 'The Count', which made it a fair thought to think that Rockhold would run through him again.

With Bisping taking this bout on short notice, he wasn't expected to dethrone Luke Rockhold after only two weeks of preparation. The Brit was able to shock everyone with a first-round knockout of Rockhold, who later admitted that he took Bisping's ability for granted.

#1. Julianna Peña vs. Amanda Nunes

UFC 269: Amanda Nunes v Julianna Pena

Amanda Nunes is undoubtedly the most dominant female fighter to compete in the UFC. Teeing off on Rousey, knocking out 'Cyborg' and laying waste to Misha Tate, the former women's bantamweight champion made her time as champion look too easy.

Enter Julianna Peña. Prior to the title fight, she submitted Sara McMann. While it was an impressive win, it didn't hold a candle to what Nunes had been doing on her tear through contenders.

'The Lioness' was expected to make it a short night at the office and retain the belt. Fans and fighters were almost all congruent with picking Nunes to leave with the belt, but Peña proved most people wrong, pulling off one of the greatest upsets in UFC history via second-round submission. Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes was probably the fight to be, but 'The Venezuelan Vixen" put that immediate idea to rest.