Sherdog’s Top 10: Most Durable Fighters

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7. Jake Shields

In a 15-year career that spans more than 40 professional fights, northern California’s Shields has been knocked out only twice. The first came in Shields’ third professional fight and the second at the hands of the ridiculously powerful Jake Ellenberger, who put a flush knee from the double-collar tie right on the Californian’s chin.

Unlike many of the contestants on this list who have reached the late stages of their careers and suffered the kind of decline in durability to be expected from fighters who have been through unbelievable wars, Shields has yet to really be cracked. Even when his go-to game of wrestling and suffocating top-control grappling fails, Shields is happy to engage on the feet with a combination kickboxing repertoire that is predicated on his insane ability to absorb damage. He tap, tap, taps away with a series of relatively light shots, almost inviting his opponent to bomb away. Shields will absorb the power shot, even from brick-fisted punchers, and go right back to landing three shots for every one of theirs. When they wear down, Shields is there to capitalize with his relentless takedowns or a close victory on the judges’ scorecards.

The list of knockout artists whom Shields has survived is long and illustrious: Robbie Lawler, Paul Daley, Dan Henderson and Tyron Woodley all failed to put Shields down for the count, and he prevailed over all of them through his sheer gutsiness and durability. That is an impressive feat, and Shields shows no sign of slowing down.

Number 6 » In 127 professional fights, he has officially been TKO’d twice. Stop for a moment to appreciate the absurdity of that statement.