10 Most Memorable Championship Shockers: Part 1

WEC Featherweight Championship
Mike Thomas Brown def. Urijah Faber
WEC 36 “Faber vs. Brown,” Nov. 5, 2008

The Setting: With its rise in 2007, World Extreme Cagefighting catapulted from an obscure organization to a blossoming brand, thanks in no small part to Faber. His combination of good looks and aggressive style made him the perfect fit for the WEC’s cable cards. In 2007, Faber defended his belt four times, increasingly impressive in each defense. His run included a submission of Jeff Curran, a highly regarded veteran who had not been finished in more than six years.

After a five-round decision win over Jens Pulver in June 2008, Faber squared off against Brown, a workmanlike contender who barely registered a blip on the radar screens of casual fans. On the undercard of the Faber-Pulver bout, Brown had grinded out a unanimous decision against Curran in a bout that elicited boos from the Sacramento, Calif., crowd.

The Swing Moment: Known for his unorthodox on-the-fly moves, Faber, after some tense two-way probing and missed exchanges, bounced off the cage, only to run into a perfectly timed Brown right hand. Gamely, the champion covered up on the ground, as the challenger methodically pounded away with some 20 punches en route to the stoppage. Moments before the knockout, Brown implemented his superior strength with a straight-from-the-playground move. As Faber attempted to clinch with him, Brown simply put his hand on Faber’s neck and bully-shoved him down. It was a considerable assertion, and one hell of a statement.

The Aftermath: Brown registered two defenses, including a rematch decision over Faber -- whose hands betrayed him during the fight -- before running into Jose Aldo.