How can a wrestling bout end?
B · Beginner · Scoring and winning · 5 of 6A bout is won by fall, by technical superiority, on points, by the opponent's injury, by the opponent's three cautions, by forfeit or by disqualification. Each kind of win carries classification points, 5 down to 3, which rank wrestlers in the tournament.
How it works
| Result | Code | Classification points, winner : loser |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | VFA | 5 : 0 |
| Injury | VIN | 5 : 0 |
| Three cautions against the opponent | VCA | 5 : 0 |
| Forfeit: the opponent does not appear or fails the weigh-in | VFO | 5 : 0 |
| Disqualification | DSQ | 5 : 0 |
| Technical superiority, loser scoreless | VSU | 4 : 0 |
| Technical superiority, loser scored | VSU1 | 4 : 1 |
| On points, loser scoreless | VPO | 3 : 0 |
| On points, loser scored | VPO1 | 3 : 1 |
- If both wrestlers are disqualified, injured or forfeit, both get 0.
- From 7th place down, wrestlers are ranked on classification points, then on falls, superiority wins and technical points.
- No protest is possible once the winner has been declared on the mat.
Tricky cases
Does a loser get anything for scoring?
Yes. A wrestler who loses on points or by technical superiority but scored technical points gets 1 classification point.
Can a result be changed after the bout?
No. The rules allow no protest after a match, and a result may not be changed once victory has been declared on the mat.
Why the rule exists
Grading the wins gives wrestlers a reason to go for the fall, and gives the tournament a way to rank those who did not reach the medal bouts.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| UWW rules, all styles | As above | W 29; W 41; W 53 |
From the rule book
United World Wrestling International Wrestling Rules, Articles 8, 29, 41 and 53. Edition dated January 2026. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: UWW International Wrestling Rules (PDF).