10 Most Memorable Championship Shockers: Part 1

Being champion carries with it an aura of respect, one that expands with each impressive outing and often seems to accompany the titleholder to the cage or ring. That’s why there are few events as shocking as seeing a respected champion’s aura pierced -- or even destroyed -- by a challenger who did not buy into the hype.

Such instances have supplied some of the sport’s most memorable moments and serve as sobering reminders that nobody is invincible in mixed martial arts. Every shocker has two sides; the spoils go to the victor, while defeat often leaves the loser to wonder what happened. The ongoing struggle for supremacy ensures that, over a long enough timeline, almost every fighter will deal with both sides.

In advance of the UFC 107 main event between lightweight king B.J. Penn and Diego Sanchez this Saturday at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tenn., Sherdog.com recounts the 10 most memorable shockers in championship fights -- bouts where a championship changed hands and etched an indelible memory upon those who witnessed these fights. The list is in no particular order.