Sherdog’s Top 10: Most Durable Fighters

6. Jeremy Horn

In 127 professional fights, Horn has officially been TKO’d twice. Stop for a moment to appreciate the absurdity of that statement: Despite having nearly as many bouts on his record as Cain Velasquez, Jon Jones, Chris Weidman, Robbie Lawler, Anthony Pettis and Jose Aldo combined, in only two of those fights has he been finished by strikes.

Horn’s career spans nearly 20 years and a who’s who list of top competition, from Dan Severn and Frank Shamrock to Anderson Silva, Chuck Liddell and just about everyone else in between. Even leaving aside Horn’s ridiculous chin and ability to absorb damage, the sheer physical and mental toughness necessary to maintain the kind of active schedule Horn kept for literally decades is mindboggling. Take this stretch in 2003 as an example: Horn fought six times between August and December, going 4-1-1 over that stretch with wins over Dean Lister and Forrest Griffin and a loss to Renato Sobral. He competed three times on Sept. 6 and then fought again three weeks later.

That chin deserves a shout-out, too. Horn has been in there with some of the most threatening strikers, from the very beginning of the sport almost up to the present day. Liddell? Horn fought him twice, submitting “The Iceman” in their first meeting and suffering the aforementioned rare knockout in the second. Gilbert Yvel? Horn beat him in Pride Fighting Championships. David Loiseau? Yep. Griffin? Horn knocked him out with a head kick. Silva? Horn made it to a decision.

Horn is one of the toughest guys in the history of the sport, and has earned every possible accolade related to longevity and durability.

Number 5 » One knockout loss in 36 fights would be impressive by any standard, but the fact that he has hung in with some of the most powerful strikers in the history of the sport and come out nearly unscathed elevates it to a mind-blowing accomplishment.