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The UFC is home to some of the greatest mixed martial artists in the world. Those who fight under Dana White's banner exhibit a level of skill matched by few and exceeded by none. However, there is more to what makes a fighter great than high-level skills. Fighters are expected to possess indomitable wills.
Only a warrior's spirit and mental fortitude can carry a fighter through the stiffest trials they'll encounter inside the octagon. Top-tier fighters possess these attributes in spades. Thus, when they're knocked down or rocked to the point of near-defeat, they bite down on their mouthpiece and survive.
Similarly, instead of surrendering to submission maneuvers, some UFC fighters refuse to admit defeat even if there is no hope of escaping the hold. While fighters like former UFC interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje claim to never quit, this list compiles five moments when UFC fighters outright refused to tap.
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#5. Lyoto Machida, UFC 140
Former light heavyweight kingpin Lyoto Machida is remembered as an elusive counter-striker who popularized the use of karate in mixed martial arts. Specifically, 'The Dragon' introduced the UFC to the devastating effectiveness of Shotokan karate, which enabled him to create collisions between his foes and his straight left.
At UFC 140, the Brazilian faced Jon Jones and troubled 'Bones' more than anyone at the time. Every time Jones dared to step forward, so too did Machida, crashing his fist into his lanky foe. After a tough 1st round, Jones returned to his corner where he was advised to disrupt Machida's timing by faking a step-in.
In the 2nd round, 'Bones' obliged. He stepped forward, tricking 'The Dragon' into committing to a counterpunch. However, Jones never fully stepped forward, causing Machida to lunge into a straight left-counter from Jones.
The Brazilian dropped to the mat, and when he stood back up, he found himself trapped in a standing-guillotine choke. Instead of tapping, Machida fought the choke until Jones' height and leverage produced enough torque to seal a win. The referee stepped in and Machida collapsed, having never tapped out.
#4. Tim Sylvia, UFC 48
Back in 2004, the UFC was a different organization. It was far from the $4 billion empire it has become, and many fighters recognized as legends today were in the infancy of their MMA careers. One of those legends was Frank Mir, who was scheduled to face Tim Sylvia at UFC 48.
The bout seemed like a daunting task. Sylvia stood at 6 feet 8 inches tall with an 80-inch reach, possessing dimensions that exceed even the superheavyweights of today. Furthermore, Sylvia was an undefeated champion with only 2 decisions in 16 wins.
However, when Mir and Sylvia crossed swords, the world was shown just how skilled the challenger was. Within 50 seconds of the 1st round, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt trapped his foe in an armbar. When the defending champion tried to stand and pop his arm out of the hold, the opposite happened.
Mir's grip was never loosened, and Sylvia's forearm visibly snapped, prompting Herb Dean to famously stop the bout. Sylvia never tapped and protested the loss until X-rays later convinced him of what the world already knew.
#3. Ronaldo Souza, UFC 262
Former Strikeforce middleweight champion Ronaldo Souza, better known as 'Jacare', was one of the greatest grapplers in modern-day MMA. A multi-time ADCC and World Jiu-Jitsu champion, the fourth-degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt possessed one of the most feared ground-games in MMA.
Unfortunately, UFC championship gold has always eluded the Brazilian. Despite once being at the helm of a 5-fight win streak in the promotion's middleweight division, 'Jacare' never challenged any reigning champion for the divisional title. By the end of his career, Souza was too far past his physical prime.
He was on a 3-fight losing streak, with his then latest defeat coming at the hands of Kevin Holland from what should have been a dominant grappling position for the Brazilian. His subsequent fight was his last when he faced André Muniz. Towards the end of the 1st round, Muniz secured a back-mount against 'Jacare'.
As Souza tried throwing him off his back, Muniz worked his way under his legendary foe and locked in an armbar. The sound of Souza tapping never emerged, but a loud, sharp snap of the Brazilian's arm breaking echoed around the octagon. The referee waved off the fight, and 'Jacare' later retired from MMA.
#2. Holly Holm, UFC 196
Fresh off her complete domination against Ronda Rousey, Holly Holm seemed primed to lead the UFC women's bantamweight division in a new era away from the once great shadow of the legendary judoka. Undefeated and with the backing of what was then the greatest gym in MMA, Holly Holm was on top of the world.
Her first title defense came against one of Ronda Rousey's greatest rivals, Miesha Tate. It was a bout that many were certain the former world champion boxer would win with ease. After all, had she not just dispatched the once unstoppable Ronda Rousey, who twice defeated Miesha Tate herself? Alas, MMA math is but a myth.
When the two women stepped inside the octagon, Holm dominated for much of the bout. Come the 5th round, Tate felt a wave of desperation, so when Holm committed to a punch, 'Cupcake' ducked under it and dove in for a takedown. 'The Preacher's Daughter' was helpless as Tate stepped in at an angle and dragged her to the mat.
With no time to spare, Tate mounted Holm's back and slapped on a rear-naked choke. Within seconds, it was clear that Holm's championship reign had come to a short end. Instead of tapping, she chose to lose consciousness, going out on her shield.
#1. Michael Bisping, UFC 217
Michael Bisping was never supposed to become the UFC middleweight champion. The Englishman was never the most skilled fighter in his division, nor did he ever possess a physical attribute that no one else could match, save for above-average cardio.
Yet, 'The Count' still stared destiny in the face and defied it when he shocked the world by capturing UFC gold with a 1st round knockout against Luke Rockhold, a fighter to whom he had lost in the past. With one working eye, Michael Bisping became the middleweight champion.
In his subsequent bout, he defended his title against Dan Henderson in another rematch against a foe to whom he had previously lost. His second title defense, however, did not go as well for 'The Count' next faced Georges St-Pierre. While the bout was more competitive than many predicted, its ending was definitive.
After being dropped, Bisping was caught in a rear-naked choke in the 3rd round. While a loss was inevitable, the Englishman never surrendered. He worked too hard to achieve what he had and defied too many odds to admit defeat. Instead of tapping, he slipped into unconsciousness.
