Mixed martial arts words · Intermediate

The words that make the commentary make sense. They build on the beginner words.

I · Intermediate · 40 words · Step 2 of 2

Basic setup terms

Instant replay

Replay may be used only to review a fight-ending sequence, and only after the fight has been officially stopped. Once it has been used, the fight cannot resume.

See also: Bout

Winning terms

Intelligently defending

The test the referee uses to stop a bout for strikes. If a fighter cannot defend intelligently the referee may stop it as a KO; if they are not doing so it is a TKO.

Corner stoppage

A TKO that happens when a fighter's own corner stops the bout.

Doctor stoppage

A TKO due to medical stoppage: the ringside physician stops the bout because a fighter is injured or cannot continue safely.

See also: Bout

Technical decision

A result when a bout is stopped early because of an injury from an accidental foul, after the halfway point of the scheduled bout, and one fighter is ahead on the scorecards. A bout stopped earlier is a no contest.

See also: Bout, No contest, Accidental foul

Technical draw

A result when an intentional foul injures a fighter, the bout continues, and a later stoppage after the halfway point finds the injured fighter even or behind on the scorecards.

Scoring and judging

Effective striking and grappling

The first and most important criterion. Striking is judged by the impact and effect of the legal strikes landed. Grappling is judged by successful takedowns, submission attempts, advantageous positions and reversals.

Effective aggressiveness

The second criterion: making aggressive attempts to finish the fight.

See also: Bout

Fighting area control

The third criterion: who is dictating the pace, place and position of the bout.

See also: Bout

10-8 round

A round scored 10-8 when a fighter wins by a large margin through the impact, dominance and duration of striking or grappling. A 10-7 round is for a fighter who is completely dominated.

Impact, dominance and duration

The three measures judges use to decide how big a round's margin is. Merely holding a dominant position does not count as dominance; what the fighter does with it does.

Also called: margin measures
See also: Judges

Rules and fouls

Intentional foul

A foul committed on purpose. If it injures an opponent so badly that the bout stops, the offender is disqualified. If the bout continues the offender loses two points. A fighter who is hurt while trying to foul gets no relief.

See also: Bout

Accidental foul

A foul that was not on purpose. If it injures an opponent so badly that the bout stops before the halfway point, the result is a no contest, and after it, a technical decision for the fighter ahead.

Foul procedure

After a foul the referee calls time, checks the fouled fighter, and decides on deductions. A fighter hit in the groin may have up to five minutes to recover, and a doctor's evaluation after a foul can take up to five minutes.

Pile driver

A foul: a throw in which the thrower holds the opponent's feet up in the air and forces their head straight down into the floor. A throw with an arc is legal, and a fighter caught in a submission may slam out of it.

Also called: spiking
See also: Submission

Fish hooking

A foul: using the fingers in the opponent's mouth, nose or ears and stretching the skin.

Back of the head

A foul area: strikes to the back of the head, from the crown down to the occipital junction and across the nape, and to the spine and tailbone, are illegal.

Stomping

A foul: lifting the leg and striking a grounded opponent with the bottom of the foot or heel. Axe kicks and stomping a standing opponent's foot are not fouls.

Timidity

A foul: purposely avoiding contact, running from the action, or stalling for time by faking an injury or dropping the mouthpiece.

Holding the fence

A foul: gripping the fence or ropes with fingers or toes to control body position. Pushing off the fence with hands, or putting toes through it, is legal. The referee may deduct a point if it had a substantial effect.

Small joint manipulation

A foul: attacking a finger or toe on its own. Fingers and toes are small joints; wrists, ankles, knees, shoulders and elbows are large. Grabbing the majority of the fingers or toes at once is allowed.

Grounded fighter

A fighter is grounded when any part of the body other than the hands or feet is touching the canvas, such as a knee. Knees and kicks to the head of a grounded fighter are fouls. This definition applies from 1 November 2024. Before it, a fighter with both hands on the floor also counted as grounded, so putting the hands down no longer protects a fighter from knees and kicks to the head.

Also called: grounded opponent, downed fighter

12-6 elbow

An elbow strike brought straight down, like a clock hand moving from twelve to six. It was a foul until the ABC removed it from the list of fouls in 2024, and it has been legal under the Unified Rules since 1 November 2024.

Also called: downward elbow, downward pointing elbow
See also: Strike

Fingers outstretched

A foul: reaching toward the opponent's face with an open hand, fingers pointing at the eyes. Fighters are told to close the fist or point the fingers straight up.

Weights and matchmaking

Weight cutting

Losing weight quickly to make the weigh-in, then regaining it before the fight. The Unified Rules do not use the term.

See also: Bout

Catchweight

A bout at an agreed weight outside the standard classes. With a contracted catchweight no spread is allowed so long as both fighters are below the agreed weight, and a commission may refuse the bout if the gap seems unsafe. If a fighter misses weight and the two are in different classes, the heavier opponent may not be more than five pounds over.

See also: Bout

Striking terms

Overhand

A looping punch thrown over an opponent's guard, similar to the boxing version but common in MMA due to varied stances.

Teep

A push kick using the ball of the foot, aimed at keeping an opponent at distance rather than causing damage.

Superman punch

A jumping punch where the fighter fakes a kick before springing forward with a punch.

Body lock clinch

A clinch position where a fighter wraps both arms around the opponent's torso to control them against the cage.

Muay thai clinch

A clinch position gripping behind the opponent's head, often used to deliver knee strikes.

Also called: plum clinch
See also: Clinch

Grappling and ground terms

Half guard

A ground position where one of the top fighter's legs is trapped between the bottom fighter's legs.

Back mount

A dominant position where a fighter controls the opponent from behind, often leading to a choke attempt.

Kimura

A shoulder lock submission applied by controlling the opponent's wrist and rotating the arm behind their back.

Guillotine choke

A front facing choke applied around the opponent's neck, often used when defending a takedown attempt.

Scramble

A fast, chaotic exchange on the ground where both fighters compete for a better position.

Wall walk

Using the cage to help stand back up after being taken down.

Posturing up

Straightening the upper body while on top of a grounded opponent to create room for strikes.

General terms

Ring rust

A perceived decline in sharpness after a long period away from competition.

Fight IQ

A fighter's ability to read situations and make smart tactical decisions during a bout.

See also: Bout

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