Mixed martial arts words · Beginner

The words you will hear in your first match, grouped the way you meet them.

B · Beginner · 36 words · Step 1 of 2

Basic setup terms

Cage

The enclosed fighting area where a bout takes place. The Unified Rules refer to a cage or a ring; fouls such as holding the fence and throwing an opponent out of the area apply to both.

Also called: octagon, ring
See also: Bout, Holding the fence

Bout

A single contest between two fighters, of one to five rounds.

Also called: fight

Round

A professional round lasts five minutes, with one minute of rest between rounds. A bout may have up to five rounds and may not exceed 25 minutes, and no fighter may fight more than five rounds in 24 hours.

Referee

The sole arbiter of a bout and the only person who can stop it. The referee's authority starts when the inspectors leave the cage and ends when they come back in after the fight.

Mouthpiece

Every fighter must wear one, and the round cannot begin without it. If it falls out the referee calls time to replace it at the first safe opportunity. Spitting it out on purpose can cost points.

Corner

A fighter's team between rounds. Only a licensed cornerman or an approved cutman may apply petroleum jelly to the face. Corners may not interfere with the referee, and there is no coaching during time-outs.

Also called: seconds, cornerman, cutman
See also: Referee

Winning terms

Knockout (KO)

A win when the referee stops the bout because the opponent cannot intelligently defend themselves, due to strikes. A fighter does not have to be unconscious.

Also called: KO
See also: Bout, Referee

Technical knockout (TKO)

A win when the bout is stopped because a fighter is not intelligently defending themselves. The stopping can be by the referee (strikes, a laceration, a corner stoppage, not answering the bell), or a medical stoppage (a doctor, a laceration, or loss of bodily function).

Also called: TKO
See also: Bout, Referee, Corner, Intelligently defending, Corner stoppage

Submission

A win when the opponent gives up, by tapping out with the body, tapping out verbally, or by a technical submission, in which a legal submission causes unconsciousness or a broken or dislocated bone or joint.

Also called: tap out

The ruleHow does a submission work in MMA?

Decision

A win on the judges' scorecards when the bout goes the scheduled distance. It can be unanimous, split or majority. A bout stopped early by an accidental foul can end in a technical decision.

Unanimous decision

All three judges score the bout for the same fighter.

Also called: split, majority decision
See also: Bout, Judges

Disqualification

A loss given when an intentional foul causes an injury that ends the bout, when multiple fouls have been called, or when a fighter flagrantly disregards the rules or the referee's commands.

Also called: DQ
See also: Bout, Referee, Intentional foul

Tap out

A fighter's signal that they give up, by physically tapping with the body or by saying or screaming in pain or distress. The referee then stops the bout.

Also called: tap
See also: Bout, Referee

Split decision

Two judges score the bout for one fighter and the third scores it for the other.

Majority decision

Two judges score the bout for the same fighter and the third scores it a draw.

Draw

A result when the scorecards do not give a winner. It can be unanimous (all three score a draw), majority (two do), or split (all three score differently and the totals are even).

No contest

A result when a bout is stopped for an unforeseen reason or an accidental injury before enough of it has been fought to be scored. Half the scheduled rounds plus one second must be completed for scorecards to be used.

Scoring and judging

Judges

At least three judges score every bout, using the ten-point must system. Their scorecards decide a bout that goes the distance.

Ten-point must system

The standard scoring system. The winner of a round gets 10 points and the loser nine or fewer, except in a rare even round, which is 10-10.

Judging criteria

In order of weight: effective striking and grappling, then effective aggressiveness, then control of the fighting area. The second and third count only if the first is even.

Rules and fouls

Foul

An act the rules prohibit, such as head butts, eye gouging, biting, fish hooking, hair pulling, strikes to the spine or back of the head, throat strikes, groin attacks, kneeing or kicking the head of a grounded opponent, stomping a grounded opponent, holding the fence, small joint manipulation, and attacking after the bell. There are 26 since November 2024, when the downward elbow was taken off the list. The referee may deduct points and, if the foul is serious, disqualify.

Also called: illegal strike, illegal move
See also: Referee, Fish hooking, Back of the head, Stomping, Holding the fence

Point deduction

A penalty taken off the fouling fighter's score for a round. The referee may deduct points for a foul, and for an intentional foul that injures an opponent but lets the bout go on, a deduction of two points is mandatory.

See also: Bout, Referee, Intentional foul

Stand-up

When the referee restarts fighters in a standing position after inactivity on the ground.

Weights and matchmaking

Weight class

A division defined by an upper weight limit. The Unified Rules list 15, from atomweight (up to 105 lb) to super heavyweight (over 265 lb). Fighters who weigh in within the same contracted division face no extra weight allowance. Other promotions use different lists.

Striking terms

Strike

Any punch, kick, knee or elbow thrown at an opponent.

Jab

A quick straight punch thrown with the lead hand, used to measure distance and set up other strikes. See the boxing glossary.

Also called: cross, hook, uppercut

Leg kick

A kick aimed at the opponent's thigh, often used to wear down mobility over time.

Clinch

A close-range grappling position where fighters hold onto each other, often used to control position or land short strikes/knees.

Ground and pound

A strategy where a fighter who has taken an opponent down strikes them while both are on the ground.

Grappling and ground terms

Takedown

Bringing an opponent from standing to the ground. Judges count effective takedowns as part of effective grappling.

Guard

A ground position where a fighter (usually on their back) uses their legs to control or defend against an opponent on top of them.

Mount

A dominant ground position where a fighter sits on top of their opponent's torso, allowing strong striking or submission opportunities.

Side control

A dominant ground position where a fighter pins their opponent from the side, restricting movement.

Submission hold

A grappling technique (like a joint lock or choke) intended to force an opponent to tap out.

Rear-naked choke

A choke applied from behind, with one arm around the opponent's neck and the other locking it in place. It needs no clothing to grip.

Also called: armbar, triangle choke

Sprawl

A defensive move used to stop an opponent's takedown attempt by quickly extending the legs back and dropping the hips.