5 Active UFC fighters who have never been KO’d
UFC fights can end in any number of ways. The ideal outcome for every fighter is to defeat their opponent via either knockout or submission. Nothing, however, matches the thrill that fans experience upon seeing a fighter crumble to the mat after absorbing a seismic blow that separates them from consciousness.
Similarly, nothing feels as good for fighters as landing a clean blow on their opponent's chin that turns their lights off. Unfortunately, knockouts can be hard to come by, especially against fighters who are renowned for their ability to withstand every ounce of physical punishment their foes can dish out.
While the likes of Nate Diaz and Dan Henderson are firmly entrenched in MMA folklore due to their ridiculous toughness, the two men have both been knocked out before. This list doesn't just look at granite chins, it looks at active UFC fighters who have never been KO'd or TKO'd.
#5. Petr Yan, UFC bantamweight
Former UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan is occasionally credited as being the best boxer in the promotion. The cold-blooded Russian has a stalking and patient style that relies on him giving up the first round to study his opponents before pouncing on them after they've done enough to inform his punches.
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Petr Yan and Cory Sandhagen duked it out for five intense rounds on Fight Island in our number 4️⃣ fight of 2021! https://t.co/Xmt0xUszxb
Unfortunately, this tendency to be somewhat inactive in the first round leaves him open to being hit. While he often uses a high guard to block punches as he moves forward, he absorbs more strikes than he should. Despite fighting in this manner, 'No Mercy' has never been finished via strikes.
He has never been knocked out nor has he ever been submitted. Thus far, across bouts with the likes of Cory Sandhagen and José Aldo, the former divisional kingpin has never crumbled under the power of his opponent's blows.
#4. Calvin Kattar, UFC featherweight
Calvin Kattar is a fighter with a legendary degree of toughness. He has taken part in numerous bouts that received Fight of the Night honors, with the most recent fight of that nature being his war against Giga Chikadze. 'The Boston Bomber' has never been knocked out.
Statistically Calvin Kattar has a top 5 chin in ufc history🐐 https://t.co/uTqk8aVutU
The only time he has ever been finished via strikes was due to a knee injury he suffered against Arnold Allen. His fight with former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway at UFC Fight Island 7 is the greatest testament to his iron chin. The Hawaiian great broke the promotional record for significant strikes in that bout.
Yet Kattar never came close to suffering a KO. He survived and managed to stand in the line of fire and respond with his own punches throughout the entire night despite absorbing a worrisome amount of damage.
#3. Marvin Vettori, UFC middleweight
Marvin Vettori has faced several fighters who are more than capable of finishing fights via KO or TKO. But for some reason, he barely ever seems to get hurt. Fans will be hard-pressed to name a single bout in which 'The Italian Dream' even suffered a knockdown, let alone a knockout.
Marvin Vettori’s chin is just ridiculous
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Israel Adesanya, one of the greatest counterpunchers in MMA history, couldn't reliably hurt his foe during the kickboxing exchanges of their bout. Similarly, Robert Whittaker landed countless right cross-right head kick combinations that never dented the Italian's thick skull.
Paulo Costa, a bruising 185er with crushing strength, couldn't do anything to dissuade his foe from simply marching forward. Nor could Kevin Holland, who is renowned for his snappy power-punching. No matter who Marvin Vettori faced, no one could knock him off his feet.
#2. Brian Ortega, UFC featherweight
Despite his background in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, two-time UFC featherweight title challenger Brian Ortega has zero fear of strikes. Any time he steps inside the octagon, he wades into danger with no concern as he fires off his own punches. While he's not a polished striker, 'T-City' is a heavy-handed puncher.
Alexander Volkanovski and Brian Ortega between rounds at UFC 266
📸 @WalkNolan (2021) https://t.co/yGekeSzGIq
More than natural knockout power, however, he possesses otherworldly toughness. Prior to facing Max Holloway at UFC 231, the submission specialist was an undefeated star. He absorbed an insane amount of damage against 'Blessed' but was never even dropped.
He withstood so much punishment that 'Blessed' mockingly taught him how to block during their bout. Against Alexander Volkanovski, he absorbed a tremendous amount of damage but was never unconscious. He's been battered and bloodied more than any fighter should be back-to-back, but he's never been out.
#1. Max Holloway, UFC featherweight
Joe Rogan once described Max Holloway as the best 145er in the history of MMA. While fans have since reevaluated that statement after the Hawaiian's trilogy of losses to Alexander Volkanovski, one thing that no one can ever take away from the former featherweight titleholder is how supernaturally tough he is.
Max Holloway got himself a chin, folks. #UFC251 https://t.co/cIZK52bkKc
Conor McGregor knocked out every featherweight he faced during his run at 145 lbs, except for Max Holloway. Jeremy Stephens, one of the most heavy-handed punchers in the division's history, failed to knock him out as well. All-time MMA great José Aldo failed to do so despite having two chances to crack his chin.
Dustin Poirier, another hard hitter from the weight class above, battered and bloodied 'Blessed' like no one ever has but he couldn't even knock him out. Neither could Alexander Volkanovski on three different occasions. No one has a chin like Max Holloway among the promotion's active fighters.