Americans refer to it as heart. In Japan, it's known as fighting spirit.
Whatever you may call it, it's that unquantifiable attribute that makes fighters refuse to quit. It's an immeasurable quality that cannot be taught at any gym, school, or dojo. You are either born with it or you are not.
Some fighters have it, others don't. And then there are those select few who seem to be made of nothing but.
It's an ability, beyond all reason, exhaustion, and pain, to refuse to give up in the face of insurmountable odds. They ignore the lactic acid buildup in their legs. They block out the pain from a shattered nose. They continue to lift their arms to strike or defend, no matter how heavy they seem to be.
It's what turns fighters into champions and mere men into legends.
Today's "History in the Making" will focus on some of the greatest comeback victories in the sport's short history. This list isn't meant to be exhaustive nor is it absolute. If your favorite come from behind win isn't on the list, by all means, share.
This is a celebration of the sport we love and several moments we will never forget.
Enjoy the first half ... or yell at me and tell me how wrong I am.
10. Chuck Liddell vs. Guy Mezger - Pride FC 14: Clash of the Titans
Guy Mezger, a member of Ken Shamrock's Lion Den, took it to the future UFC light heavyweight champion in the first round. Throwing combinations "The Iceman" seemingly couldn't figure out, he kept Liddell on his heels for the first 10 minutes.
Punches, head kicks, and paralyzing leg kicks landed almost at will by Mezger, who even took a page out of his opponent's book when he landed a huge, looping overhand right that clipped the mohawked warrior, dropping him to the mat.
Mezger was out-striking the kickboxer and nearly had him finished.
Things looked grim for Liddell until he pressured Mezger up against the ropes at the beginning of the second round. The two exchanged and "The Iceman" landed a dandy of a right hand that turned the Lion's Den fighter's lights off.
He fell to the mat, leg bent behind him in a cringing but exhilarating display of violence.
9. Cung Le vs. Scott Smith - Strikeforce: Evolution
The Sanshou expert, Le, had won the Strikeforce middleweight title in early 2008 but never defended it. He finally vacated the belt 18 months later in order to focus on his movie career.
Two months later, a production delay for one of his films freed some time up for the former champion. He wanted a fight and was given Scott Smith, a boxer known for his stand and bang approach to fighting. Le wouldn't have to worry about his embryonic ground game in this fight and that suited him just fine.
Led like a lamb to the slaughter, Smith was soundly beaten for two and a half rounds. Using him as a human punching bag, Le busted out flashy kicks that rattled Smith's brain and rearranged his organs.
The fight began to look like a commercial for whatever B-level action movie Le was set to have a cameo in. Smith put up almost zero offense while the former champion landed at will.
Midway through the final round, Le was still spinning around, throwing strikes like he was in the middle of a demonstration rather than a fight. It was that lackadaisical attitude that proved to be his undoing.
A short hook caught the Vietnamese fighter on the jaw and sent him to careening to the mat. He made his way back to his feet but Smith landed yet another hook that wobbled him.
A straight right smashed into Le's face, breaking his nose, and all Smith had to do was land a couple more inconsequential punches to earn the stoppage victory and the ninth spot on this list.
8. Mark Coleman vs. Pete Williams - UFC 17: Redemption
Having lost the heavyweight title 10 months prior, Coleman was eager to get back inside the Octagon. He was scheduled to face off against the current champ, Randy Couture, but "The Natural" pulled out due to injury. Pete Williams, another young Lion's Den fighter, took his place.
The originator of ground and pound put on an impressive display that night and beat on "El Duro" without mercy. Takedowns, punches and elbows are all dished out in high numbers. Coleman, never one known for his boxing, even looked proficient on his feet.
But all that energy expended on pounding on a kid with no intention of giving up took its toll just as much as the near-year long layoff did.
Heading into the overtime round, "The Hammer" looked exhausted and ill-prepared for a Williams barrage. Failing on a takedown attempt, Coleman ate a huge knee that he initially seemed to shrug off. It turns out he hadn't quite reset himself because when a Williams head kick came scorching towards his face, he didn't even try to block it.
The youngster's foot smacked against Coleman's jaw and the wrestler crumpled to the mat in a heap. Not only was it a spectacular comeback, it was a huge upset.
7. Clay Guida vs. Roger Huerta - The Ultimate Fighter 6 Finale"The Carpenter" has an almost endless gas tank and it's carried him throughout most of his career. When his opponents would tire, he would reach down inside and tap into his second wind.
So it should be no surprised that he out-hustled Roger Huerta when they fought in late 2007. I took a look back at this fight in a previous History in the Making. Here's what I wrote:
Halfway through the scheduled three round fight, it seems like there's nothing Huerta can do to win...After getting manhandled for two rounds, "El Matador" could only respond to his opponent with a smile going into the final five minutes.
What Huerta doesn't expect is a right uppercut from Guida that lands flush on his chin. Huerta's head bobbles back and forth as he collapses backwards and Guida dives in to finish the job.
"What business does this kid, who's just gotten the snot beat out of him for the better half of 10 minutes, have smiling at his opponent, who looks like he wants nothing more than to decapitate him and drink his blood?"Huerta hurdles a knee at Guida's head during a takedown attempt that leads to a rear-naked choke and a beautiful come from behind victory for the Mexican-American.
6. Matt Hughes vs. Frank Trigg - UFC 52: Couture vs. Liddell 2
There was already bad blood between Hughes and Trigg. They had met once before with the former coming out on top. By the time the rematch was set, the trash talking was in full gear.
Early in the opening round, Trigg caught Hughes with a low blow that wasn't seen by the referee. The champ appealed to him for a break but got no reprieve.
"Twinkle Toes" swarmed on his foe, knocking him down with punches and continuing an onslaught of elbows on the mat. He even got Hughes' back and sunk in a rear naked choke, a bitter sense of irony for the Illinois-born wrestler who used the same submission to win their first bout.
He refused to tap this time, however, and finally forced Trigg to release the hold. Hughes then authored one of the single most exciting moments in UFC history, as he picked his opponent up, carried him across the cage, and slammed him onto the mat.
From there, he gave the challenger a taste of his own medicine, delivering his own brand of ground and pound followed quickly by a rear-naked choke ... again.
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