12 MMA Fighters Who Never Give Up

In a sport so fast paced and brutal as mixed martial arts, it's surprisingly easy for fighters to just up and quit when the going gets tough.  With just a simple tap on the shoulder, a fighter can save themselves from an onslaught of strikes or an arm breaking submission.

Although this safe road is always available, the sport wouldn't be much to talk about if it wasn't for those brave few whose heart and determination just won't let them quit.  No matter how difficult the path may seem or how battered their bodies get, these few fighters simply refuse to give up.

Here are the top 12 fighters in MMA history who are - or were - virtually impossible to make quit.

Honorable Mention: Meisha Tate

A late addition to the list, former Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight champion Meisha Tate deserves an honorable mention for her grueling loss to Ronda Rousey.  

Twice caught in Rousey's signature armbar, Tate wiggled her way out of the early first attempt and tried her hardest not to tap to the second. In the end, however, Tate was forced to throw in the towel after virtually breaking her arm.

While she may have tapped out, after refusing to give in for so long, Tate at least earns a mention on this list.

12. Kenny Florian

Spending nearly his entire career within the confines of the UFC's famed Octagon, perennial contender Kenny Florian is another fighter whose dedication to the sport is virtually unmatched.

Whereas most fighters would become dejected and even retire after coming so close to a championship belt and falling short so many times, Florian keeps trucking along and continues to pit himself against the best of the best in the sport.

Whether its facing down legendary fighters such as BJ Penn or Jose Aldo, win or lose, Florian's warrior spirit has kept him going in the sport and competing at a high level.

11. Chuck Liddell

UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell was always one of those fighters that you literally had to put to sleep in order to stop him from landing his famed overhand right.

A gutty former champion whose lists of accomplishments could be a slideshow of its own, Liddell's heart and will power never waned even as his skills diminished. Throughout his entire career, the "Iceman" never tapped and never surrendered, forcing his opponents to trade with him.

Although this strategy started to work against Liddell in his later years, retiring after three straight KO losses, in his prime, Liddell was one of the most dangerous fighters to stand and bang with because he just wouldn't quit.

10. Renzo Gracie

A pioneer of the sport, jiujitsu master and seasoned combatant Renzo Gracie has the heart of a lion and the spirit of a warrior.

Throughout his entire career, Gracie never tapped and never quit, even as defeat tapped on his door. His legendary technical submission loss to Kazushi Sakuraba remains one of the most brutal submissions in MMA history because Gracie refused to tap and sustained serious injuries in the process.

Even in his later years, in his lone UFC fight against Matt Hughes, a clearly gassed Gracie never even thought about throwing in the towel, taking the TKO loss instead. Gracie is a true fighter and legend of the cage.

9. Nick Diaz

Regardless of all the criticism he has gained over the course of his career, former Strikeforce champion Nick Diaz is an unrelenting force in the cage and constantly displays the heart of a champion.

Diaz has made a living off of the barn burners and come from behind victories that have become staples of his career. Whether it's pulling off a surprising submission over Evangelista Santos after getting battered for two rounds or finishing Paul Daley after eating an array of punches, Diaz is a fighter's fighter who just won't stop.

You may be able to out point Diaz in a fight, but there's no way that you can make this guy quit in the cage.

8. Minotauro Nogueira

A legendary heavyweight with an illustrious track record, former champion Minotauro Noguiera's almost mythic status among fans stems from his never-say-die attitude that he's exuded throughout his career.

Whether it was facing down "the Last Emperor" and the host of other talented legends in Pride or refusing to tap in the face of adversity inside the Octagon, no one can ever accuse Minotauro of ever giving up.

In his most recent battle against former UFC champion Frank Mir, Minotauro once again showed why he's one of the toughest guys in the sport, refusing to tap to Mir's kimura and breaking his arm in the process. Even in the face of certain defeat, Minotauro never shies away from a fight.

7. Scott Smith

If there were any fighter who could be considered a comeback artist, there would be no better candidate than current Strikeforce warrior Scott Smith.

"The Comeback Kid" earned his moniker through his years of coming from behind and beating top tier fighters when everyone thought he was about to be defeated.  

Smith will forever be remembered by UFC fans for his second round KO of Pete Sell in 2006, where Smith was nearly put away after a hard liver shot, but battled back for the amazing finish. Also, Smith is the first person to ever defeat former Strikeforce Middleweight champion Cung Le, once again coming back from a brutal beat down to serve a harsh knockout.

This hard nosed veteran may never regain his championship status, but he will always be lauded by fans for his heart and determination.

6. Leonard Garcia

Throughout his entire career, Leonard Garcia has been known as a gamer, someone who isn't afraid to throw everything he's got behind each punch or kick.

Even before his Fight of the Year performance against Chan-Sung Jung, Garcia had a track record of getting into all out dog fights. Against Roger Huerta at UFC 69, Garcia, entering as a late replacement, lost a lopsided decision, but despite all the punishment he took, refused to give up or get finished.

Whether it's his past battles with Jung and Huerta, or his most recent contests with Nam Phan, Garcia always puts on an exciting show for the fans.

5. Wanderlei Silva

Another fighter who'd rather be knocked out than lose by decision, fan favorite and MMA legend Wanderlei Silva has always been a fierce competitor who refuses to be pushed around.

In his heyday, the "Axe Murderer" dominated Pride with his heavy hands, literally punching his way through the competition. In his wars with Rampage Jackson and Chuck Liddell, Silva threw everything but the kitchen sink at his opponents, serving up as many brutal beatdowns as he sustained.

Even though his career is just about over, Silva's ability to bounce back from so many tough fights is a trait that fans will definitely always remember.

4. Matt Hughes

UFC welterweight legend Matt Hughes kept his crown for so long because he refused to accept defeat and constantly was on the look out for a way to win.

Facing countless great opponents throughout the length of his over 50-fight career, Hughes has beaten everyone from Georges St. Pierre to Royce Gracie.

But one fight that really sums up Hughes' never quit mindset is his rematch with Frank Trigg in 2005. Nearly finished by the challenger, Hughes battled back and emphatically finished Trigg for the second time via rear naked choke.

An amazing warrior and pioneer for the UFC, Hughes is a hard-nosed fighter who is more than deserving of all the praise he receives. 

3. Clay Guida

Every time former Strikeforce champion Clay Guida enters the Octagon, fans instantly erupt into applause, as they know that they are going to be treated to an all out war.

Guida's list of historic battles seems to grow with every fight, as he refuses to wave the white flag no matter how dire the situation may be.  

Throughout his career, the one fight that most exemplifies Guida's never-say-die mentality is his battle with Diego Sanchez. This 2009 Fight of the Year-winning bout saw Guida on the brink of defeat on many occasions throughout the fight, but the bloodied lightweight bulldog fought through the adversity each time, making for one of the most memorable battles in UFC history.

Guida is a true gamer and is one of the hardest guys to finish in the sport.

2. Kazushi Sakuraba

Quite possibly Japan's most legendary fighter, Kazushi Sakuraba earned the praises of fans from around the world because of his lengthy career putting on shows.

Renowned for his penchant for putting away many members of the Gracie clan, Sakuraba's epic battles in MMA's earlier days exemplified his willingness to keep going and never give up.

Although this legend's fighting days are numbered, Sakuraba will always be remembered for his heart and amazing wars with some of the best of all time.

1. Frankie Edgar

There is no fighter today who can match the heart and will power of Frankie Edgar.

With well-documented wars with Gray Maynard and BJ Penn, Edgar always seems to be battling back from some precarious situation. A self-proclaimed underdog, Edgar doesn't know how to quit and is always trying to find a way to win.

Even though his recent loss to Benson Henderson cost him the title, this fight once again showed Edgar's tough chin and ability to power through adversity. Whether he regains his title or not, Edgar exemplifies all the characteristics of a fighter who never gives up.

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