Chin (combat sports)

In combat sports such as boxing, kickboxing and mixed martial arts, a fighter's '''chin''' is the ability to tolerate physical trauma to the head, in the form of concussive or sub-concussive blows, without being knocked unconscious or severely disoriented.

==Overview==

A fighter is known to have a "strong chin" if they have the ability to absorb blows to the head without being struck unconscious or visually impacted by the blow through a loss of control. These fighters are commonly referred to as having a "granite chin", an "iron chin", or similar. Generally, the jaw portion of the skull, and specifically the point of the chin, is the area most vulnerable to a knock-out blow and therefore having an exceptional tolerance to punishment in this area is a great advantage to a fighter.

Fighters are said to have a "weaker chin" if they exhibit limited ability to absorb punishment to the head before they are severely impacted. Some boxing experts, such as Teddy Atlas, believe it to be a mindset.

The "chin" of a fighter is widely considered genetic, but is generally agreed to be affected by the amount of blows the fighter takes throughout their career. Many athletes formerly known to possess a 'good chin' have been known to develop a reliance on this attribute, and this reliance eventually leads to them taking additional concussive blows, which can damage them long-term. The cumulative damage to the brain affects its ability to recover from trauma, weakening the person's ability to take a punch in the long-run.

Certain factors are speculated to be the size and shape of the skull, strength of the neck as well as overall strength and weight. Other factors could be less visible, such as the brain being more efficient at replenishing the electrolyte balance after trauma, or more cerebrospinal fluid to protect the brain.

Many analysts have observed that the ability of a fighter to absorb blows to the head without loss of consciousness can be affected by the process of weight cutting. Combat sport athletes are known to dehydrate themselves at weigh-ins in order to make their optimal weight class for competition. Weigh-ins for competitors usually take place the day before competition meaning that the athletes may not be fully hydrated by the time of their contest. This can reduce the amount of fluid surrounding the brain, exacerbating the damage caused by blows to the head.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Concussion worse after MMA and boxing weight cuts {{!}} University of Essex |url=https://www.essex.ac.uk/news/2022/04/12/concussion-worse-after-mma-and-boxing-weight-cuts |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=www.essex.ac.uk |language=en}}</ref>

==Notable chins== Athletes well regarded by pundits and fans for possessing a strong "chin" are listed below:

===Boxing=== {{div col|colwidth=18em}} * Muhammad Ali<ref name="Best Boxing Blog">{{cite web|url=http://www.bestboxingblog.com/top-twelve-all-time-best-chins/ |title=The Fight City - An independent boxing websiteThe Fight City |website=Bestboxingblog.com |date= |accessdate=2016-03-02}}</ref> * Vitali Klitschko<ref name="livefight1971"/> * Canelo Álvarez<ref name="The Washington Post">{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2017/09/16/canelo-vs-ggg-live-updates-from-the-real-fight-of-the-year/ |title=Gennady Golovkin vs. Canelo Alvarez ends in a split draw |website=www.washingtonpost.com |date= |accessdate=2017-09-17 }}</ref> * Mike Gibbons * Mike O'Dowd * Marvelous Marvin Hagler * Rocky Marciano * Christy Martin<ref name="GH-ESPN">{{cite web | author = Houston, Graham | date = 2008-01-08 | title = The Ten Best Chins in Boxing History | url = https://www.espn.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=3184174 | publisher = ESPN | access-date = 2011-04-17 }}</ref> * Randall "Tex" Cobb<ref name="Best Boxing Blog"/> * Chris Eubank<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ringtv.craveonline.com/news/180269-best-ive-faced-nigel-benn |title=Best I've Faced: Nigel Benn - Ring TV |website=Ringtv.craveonline.com |date=2013-08-15 |accessdate=2016-03-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305005338/http://ringtv.craveonline.com/news/180269-best-ive-faced-nigel-benn |archivedate=2016-03-05 }}</ref> * George Foreman<ref name="livefight1971">{{cite web |url=http://www.livefight.com/news.php?news_id=1971&y=2012&m=06 |title=Top ten chins in heavyweight history |website=Livefight.com |date= |accessdate=2016-03-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706203954/http://www.livefight.com/news.php?news_id=1971&y=2012&m=06 |archive-date=2017-07-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref> * Gennady Golovkin * Joe Baksi<ref>{{cite web | url=https://boxrec.com/wiki/index.php/Joe_Baksi | title=Joe Baksi - BoxRec }}</ref> * Jake LaMotta<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibhof.com/pages/about/inductees/modern/lamotta.html|title=Jake LaMotta|website=International Boxing Hall of Fame|access-date=28 October 2023|quote=AT THE RING MAGAZINE'S gala 75th Anniversary Dinner, Jake LaMotta was recognized as having the best chin in boxing over the last 75 years.}}</ref> * Larry Holmes<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxing247.com/boxing-news/respecting-the-great-larry-holmes/119026/amp |title=Respecting the great Larry Holmes |date=2019-05-25 |access-date=2020-11-23 |website=boxing247.com}}</ref> * Evander Holyfield<ref name="livefight1971"/> * Riddick Bowe * Bernard Hopkins * George Chuvalo * James Toney *Joshua Clottey *Azumah Nelson *David Tua *Oliver McCall *Carlos Monzón *Kid Gavilán *Carl Froch *Mikkel Kessler *Shane Mosley *Carlos Palomino *Andy Ruiz Jr. * Timothy Bradley *Fabio Wardley * Ruslan Provodnikov {{div col end}}

===Kickboxing=== {{div col|colwidth=18em}} * Remy Bonjasky<ref name="ckb.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.centralkickboxing.org/Articles/hardheads.htm |accessdate=June 13, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110912023216/http://www.centralkickboxing.org/Articles/hardheads.htm |archivedate=September 12, 2011 |title=Heavyweight Kickboxing Hardest Heads }}</ref> * Francois Botha<ref name="ckb.org"/> * Hongman Choi<ref name="ckb.org"/> * Francisco Filho<ref name="ckb.org"/> * Daniel Ghiţă<ref>{{cite web|url=http://liverkick.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=324:keys-to-victory-daniel-ghita&catid=37:non-k-1 |title=LiverKick |website=LiverKick.com |date= |accessdate=2016-03-02}}</ref> {{div col end}}

===Mixed martial arts=== {{div col|colwidth=18em}} *Max Holloway<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/ufc-on-espn-44-pre-event-facts-arnold-allen-crack-max-holloway-historic-chin |title=UFC on ESPN 44 pre-event facts: Will Arnold Allen crack Max Holloway's historic chin?|publisher=MMAJunkie |date=April 13, 2023}}</ref> *Khabib Nurmagomedov<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/amp/mma/5-fighters-strongest-chins-recent-ufc-history|title=5 fighters with the strongest chins in recent UFC history|publisher=sportskeeda |date=April 27, 2021}}</ref> * Marvin Vettori<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/marvin-vettori-overcomes-a-massive-paulo-costa-who-blamed-an-injury-for-weight-issue-023249339.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall |title= Marvin Vettori overcomes a massive Paulo Costa who blamed an injury for weight issue |publisher=Yahoo Sports |date= 23 October 2021|accessdate=April 16, 2022}}</ref> * Nate Diaz<ref>{{cite web|author=Dustin Filloy|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2200732-ranking-the-7-best-and-worst-chins-in-mma-history|title=Ranking the 7 best (and worst) chins in MMA history|publisher=[Bleacher Report] |date=2014-09-14}}</ref> * Stephan Bonnar<ref name="B/R">{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1274858-ufc-power-rankings-nick-diaz-and-the-top-5-chins-present-day#/articles/1274858-ufc-power-rankings-nick-diaz-and-the-top-5-chins-present-day |title=UFC Power Rankings: Nick Diaz and the Top 5 Chins Right Now |work=Bleacher Report |access-date=2012-08-04 |date=2012-07-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fightersonlymagazine.co.uk/features/viewarticle.php?id=4928 |accessdate=June 12, 2011 }}{{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> * Shane Carwin<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/731792-ufc-131-results-shane-carwins-face-after-junior-dos-santos-bloodied-it/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615140502/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/731792-ufc-131-results-shane-carwins-face-after-junior-dos-santos-bloodied-it |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 15, 2011 |title=UFC 131 Results: Shane Carwin's Face after Junior dos Santos Bloodied It |work=Bleacher Report |date=2011-06-12 |accessdate=2016-03-02}}</ref> * Carlos Condit<ref>{{cite web|author=Dustin Filloy |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2200732-ranking-the-7-best-and-worst-chins-in-mma-history |title=Ranking the 7 Best (and Worst) Chins in MMA History |work=Bleacher Report |date=2014-09-17 |access-date=2016-03-02}}</ref> * Nick Diaz<ref name="B/R"/> * Junior dos Santos<ref>{{cite web|author=Mike Henken|url=http://www.lowkickmma.com/lists/iron-chins-10-of-the-toughest-ufc-fighters-today/8/|publisher=LowKickMMA|date=2016-03-21|title=Iron Chins: The 10 Toughest Fighters in the UFC|access-date=2017-01-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103235736/http://www.lowkickmma.com/lists/iron-chins-10-of-the-toughest-ufc-fighters-today/8/|archive-date=2017-01-03|url-status=dead}}</ref> * Frankie Edgar<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1511157-ufc-156-why-frankie-edgar-is-the-toughest-fighter-in-mma-today |title=Why Frankie Edgar Is the Toughest Fighter in MMA Today |work=Bleacher Report |date=2013-02-01 |access-date=2016-09-04}}</ref> * Fedor Emelianenko<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fighters.com/07/28/5-reasons-why-fedor-emelianenko-could-beat-dan-henderson |title=5 Reasons Why Fedor Emelianenko Could Beat Dan Henderson | MMA News |website=Fighters.com |date=2014-06-20 |accessdate=2016-03-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305223352/https://www.fighters.com/07/28/5-reasons-why-fedor-emelianenko-could-beat-dan-henderson/ |archive-date=2016-03-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref> * Tony Ferguson<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lowkickmma.com/justin-gaethje-wasnt-stunned-at-tony-fergusons-chin-doesnt-understand-recent-knockouts/|title=Justin Gaethje Wasn't Stunned at Tony Ferguson's Chin, Doesn't Understand Recent Knockouts|date=28 May 2020}}</ref> * Don Frye<ref>{{cite web|last=Lima |first=Orlando |url=http://www.complex.com/sports/2011/08/the-50-best-submissions-in-the-history-of-mma/ufc-frye-abbott |title=Don Frye vs Tank Abbott - The 50 Best Submissions in the History of MMA |website=Complex.com |date=2011-08-26 |accessdate=2016-03-02}}</ref> * Kelvin Gastelum<ref>[https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2021/8/20/22633613/diggin-deep-on-ufc-vegas-34-can-cannonier-crack-the-chin-of-gastelum Diggin’ Deep on UFC Vegas 34: Can Cannonier crack the chin of Gastelum?] Dayne Fox, Bloody Elbow (August 20, 2021)</ref> * Dan Henderson<ref name="B/R"/><ref>{{cite web|author=Liam Ward |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/627874-strikeforce-32-dan-henderson-and-the-top-10-chins-in-mma-today |title=Strikeforce Columbus: Dan Henderson and the Top 10 Chins in MMA Today |work=Bleacher Report |date=2011-03-06 |access-date=2016-03-02}}</ref> * Mark Hunt<ref name="Mark Hunt profile">{{cite web |url=http://www.bestmmafighters.com/profiles/mark-hunt.html |title=Mark Hunt |publisher=Best MMA Fighters |accessdate=2016-03-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325153051/http://www.bestmmafighters.com/profiles/mark-hunt.html |archive-date=2012-03-25 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bjpenn.com/mmanews/jcvd-believes-conor-mcgregor-could-move-to-hollywood/ |title=Mark Hunt Recalls the Several Times He has Seen the Grim Reaper |website=bjpenn.com |date=2015-06-15 |accessdate=2016-03-22}}</ref> * Blagoy Ivanov<ref>{{cite web|title=UFC 274: Blagoy Ivanov Addresses Whether He Has the Best Chin in MMA |date=8 May 2022 |url=https://cagesidepress.com/2022/05/07/ufc-274-blagoy-ivanov-address-whether-he-has-the-best-chin-in-mma/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=How Blagoy Ivanov cheated death to become a UFC contender |date=30 January 2023 |url=https://www.espn.in/mma/story/_/id/26890759/how-blagoy-ivanov-cheated-death-become-ufc-contender}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Marcin Tybura vs. Blagoy Ivanov: Best Bet for UFC Fight Night |url=https://www.oddschecker.com/us/picks-parlays/boxing/mma/20230204-marcin-tybura-vs-blagoy-ivanov-best-bet-for-ufc-fight-night}}</ref> * Quinton Jackson<ref>{{cite web|author=Darren Wong |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/355049-top-10-threats-to-fedor-emelianenko-and-11-non-threats-to-be-fair |title=The Top 10 Threats To Fedor Emelianenko (and 12 Non-Threats) |work=Bleacher Report |date=2010-03-02 |access-date=2016-03-02}}</ref> * Jon Jones<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportbible.com/ufc/news-dana-white-picks-his-ultimate-ufc-fighter-20200610.amp.html|title=Dana White picks his ultimate UFC fighter|website=sportbible.com|date=28 July 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.in/mma/story/_/id/28080000/experts-debate-how-dangerous-dominick-reyes-jon-jones |title=Experts debate: How dangerous is Dominick Reyes for Jon Jones? |date=2019-11-23 |access-date=2020-11-23 |website=espn.in}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.essentiallysports.com/dominick-reyes-gives-huge-compliment-to-jon-jones-after-five-round-battle-at-ufc-247/|title=Dominick Reyes Gives Huge Compliment to Jon Jones After Five Round Battle at UFC 247|date=11 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/mma/news/ten-greatest-light-heavyweight-fighters-in-mma-history-jon-jones-tops-the-list-but-whos-no-2/amp/|title=Ten greatest light heavyweight fighters in MMA history: Jon Jones tops the list, but who's No. 2? |date=14 April 2020 }}</ref> * BJ Penn<ref>{{cite web|author=Dustin Filloy |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2200732-ranking-the-7-best-and-worst-chins-in-mma-history |title=Ranking the 7 Best (and Worst) Chins in MMA History |publisher=Bleacher Report |date=2014-09-17 |access-date=2016-03-02}}</ref> * Yoel Romero<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bjpenn.com/mma-news/ufc/joe-rogan-on-yoel-romero-the-man-is-made-out-of-some-other-worldly-material/|title = Joe Rogan on Yoel Romero: "The man is made out of some other worldly material"|date = 18 August 2019}}</ref> * Diego Sanchez<ref name="B/R"/><ref name="Bleacher Report">{{cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2095494-ranking-the-10-best-chins-in-boxing-today |title=Ranking the 10 Best Chins in Boxing Today |work=Bleacher Report |date=2014-06-13 |access-date=2014-06-17 |first1=Briggs |last1=Seekins}}</ref> * Robbie Lawler<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportsjoe.ie/mma/insane-stat-shows-robbie-lawlers-superhuman-ability-to-absorb-damage-57616|title=Insane stat shows Robbie Lawler's insane ability to absorb damage|website=sportsjoe.ie|date=3 January 2016 }}</ref> {{div col end}} * Marlon Vera<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/mma/marlon-vera-4-active-ufc-fighters-best-chin|title = Marlon Vera and 4 other active UFC fighters with the best chin | date = 28 March 2024}}</ref>

==See also== * Knockout

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chin (Boxing)}} Category:Boxing terminology Category:Kickboxing terminology Category:Martial arts terminology