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The UFC is the apex of MMA. Professional mixed martial artists who compete under Dana White's banner are regarded as modern-day gladiators. Thus, a great deal of importance is given to fighters doing everything in their power to showcase their warrior's spirit.
Mixed martial artists are expected to do more than showcase the peak of unarmed combat. They're also expected to be tough and capable of withstanding a tremendous amount of punishment without giving up. This makes the practice of corner stoppages increasingly rare in MMA bouts.
While corner stoppages are rare, they aren't completely absent. Sometimes, cornermen take responsibility and call for an end to bouts that they have no hope of winning.
#5. Kelvin Gastelum vs. Nate Marquardt, UFC 188
Back in 2015, it was clear to everyone who witnessed his clash with Kelvin Gastelum that Nate Marquardt was better off committing to a retirement than contuing to step inside the octagon. Unfortunately, most MMA fighters refuse to retire until it's too late and they're far past their prime.
At UFC 188, the former Strikeforce welterweight champion faced Kelvin Gastelum. It was one of the former's most humiliating losses. He was severely outmatched and collapsed in the second round courtesy of a brutal knee to the solar plexus. At that point, he was all but helpless against his foe.
After the second round came to an end, Marquardt told his corner that he had nothing left to give, prompting Trevor Wittman to call an end to the bout.
#4. Tony Ferguson vs. Anthony Pettis, UFC 229
Anthony Pettis was Tony Ferguson's penultimate win in the UFC thus far. The former UFC interim lightweight champion was an offensive buzzsaw and was widely feared throughout the 155 lbs weight class. At UFC 229, his arch-rival Khabib Nurmagomedov faced Conor McGregor.
Meanwhile, 'El Cucuy' locked horns with former lightweight kingpin 'Showtime'. It was a thrilling bout that saw both men find moments of success. Despite dropping his foe, Pettis fractured his hand, severely limiting himself. At that point, Ferguson took over the fight.
After 'Showtime's' head coach, Duke Roufus, was notified of his fighter's broken hand, he refused to allow him to step back into the fray, leading to a second-round corner stoppage.
#3. Kevin Holland vs. Stephen Thompson, UFC on ESPN 42
One of 2022's last events was headlined by Kevin Holland and two-time welterweight title challenger Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson. During the leadup to their bout, the two men agreed to an exclusive striking affair. Despite 'Trailblazer's' deadly blend of knockout power, speed and length, it didn't bode well for him.
Thompson's combination of speed and high-level striking skills proved too great a barrier for Holland to overcome. While 'Trailblazer' fought with every fiber of his being, it wasn't enough to defeat 'Wonderboy' and only led to him fracturing his hand in the process.
As the fight progressed, Holland sustained more and more damage, prompting his corner to call an end to the bout after it became clear that he couldn't compete with a broken hand.
#2. Derek Brunson vs. Dricus du Plessis, UFC 285
Derek Brunson has always been a serviceable fighter and a staple in the middleweight division. His knockout power and wrestling threat made him a dangerous foe for everyone in a division with very few high-level grapplers. Unfortunately, he's always been plagued by cardio and defensive issues.
The NCAA Division II standout tends to tire later into fights. Furthermore, he often fights with his chin exposed due to how far back he leans his head every time he throws punches. This was a recipe for disaster at UFC 285 when he faced a power-punching wildman in Dricus du Plessis.
After a back-and-forth first round, things quickly took a turn for the worst in the second round. Brunson was exhausted and unable to secure takedowns. He began absorbing punishing blows on the mat until his corner threw in the towel with one second remaining in the round.
#1. B.J. Penn vs. Georges St-Pierre 2, UFC 94
Long before Conor McGregor broke the mold by becoming the first simultaneous two-division champion in the promotion's history, B.J. Penn threw his hat in the ring. At UFC 94, he challenged Canadian great Georges St-Pierre in a highly anticipated rematch that pitted the streaking titleholders against each other.
The hyper-competitive bout that fans expected, however, was not what transpired. Instead, 'GSP' pummeled his foe for most of the fight. The beating that 'The Prodigy' withstood was so onesided that he later claimed he couldn't remember the third and fourth rounds due to being borderline unconscious.
After the fourth round came to an end, Penn yielded and his brother, who was acting as his cornerman, demanded that the referee end the bout, awarding 'GSP' the win via corner stoppage.
