The performance of a lifetime was put on by Julianna Pea. She had a chance against the UFC women's flyweight and bantamweight champion, a woman with hands of sheet metal. She had defeated her last 12 opponents. Pea was submitted in 2020 despite being known more for her striking than for her grappling, despite a unanimous decision victory against Germaine de Randamie in 2019.
Pea had lost in her previous four fights. The submission loss to Shevchenko was the only one where the fight was decided by a split decision. In recent victories, the question is usually asked in the middle of a dominating unanimous decision victory, or after a quick finish: "Who can provide her a challenge?"
Pea was the answer to that question. She was knocked out in the first round on Saturday night, but was able to keep the Brazilian Black Belt from finishing her the same way as Shevchenko and de Randamie. Pea's corner calmed her between Round 1 and Round 2 saying "We've got her right where we want her."
Corner advice like that is ridiculous, but how the second round began was even more crazy. Pea and Nunes started fighting. Pea was able to hold her own against that champion even though she had swelling in her left eye. Pea jumped on Nunes and put her in a rear naked choke.
It is the biggest upset in the history of the UFC, as the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII. Pea was a -1200 favorite. Prior to Saturday night, the biggest upset in UFC history was Matt Serra knocking out the greatest mixed martial artist of all time, Georges St. Pierre.
At Amazon, you can buy AirPods 2 for $100.
Serra was given the chance to fight St. Pierre. He won the fourth season of The Ultimate Fighter, back when the UFC was on Spike TV, and it wasn't two of the best coaches in the world. A championship fight was the prize for The Ultimate Fighter 4. St. Pierre was a 1300 favorite to defeat Serra and lost by knockout.
It was more shocking to see St. Pierre getting ground and pounded into meat by Serra than it was to see Nunes get knocked down and choke out by Pea.
A fighter with a.500 winning percentage over the last five years was knocked out by a -1200 favorite. Rarely does this happen, but there is always the chance.
There is a chance that Mike Tyson will lay an egg against Douglas in a title fight, or that Mike White will have the most passing yards in his first career start.
These upsets didn't mean that the highly favored foes were suddenly unstoppable. The Giants did not win a playoff game in four years. Serra lost to St. Pierre in the second round of their second fight before retiring. White has not played since he made four turnovers against the Buffalo Bills, while Douglas lost the title in his next fight.
Pea will likely be an underdog when she and Nunes have their second fight, but for now she is the fan favorite. Pea used her slingshot to choke out her opponent. For now she is the champ, and her performance will be remembered.
