FIGHT TERMINOLOGY
UFC
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American-based mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion and is currently the world's leading and largest MMA organization.
MMA
MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) is a combat sport that allows athletes from various martial arts to compete under a unified set of rules.
OCTAGON
An eight-sided, mesh-wire enclosed competition area used for MMA bouts. It features two entry gates and stands 1.8 meters high.
TAP OUT
A submission signal given by a fighter to stop the match, performed by tapping the opponent, their own body, or the canvas multiple times.
KNOCKOUT (KO)
A finishing move where a fighter loses consciousness or falls to the ground due to the impact of strikes, becoming unable to continue the bout.
TKO (TECHNICAL KNOCKOUT)
An abbreviation used when the referee, doctor, or corner stops a fight because a fighter can no longer defend themselves due to injury or damage.
DECISION
When a fight goes the full distance, the result is rendered from the scores of three judges.
NO CONTEST (NC)
No contests are fights that end with an accidental illegal strike (like an eye poke) or when somebody wins but fails their drug test. Bout ends with no winner or loser and is not scored a draw.
POUND-FOR-POUND
A ranking of the best fighters, regardless of weight class.
GROUND & POUND
A tactic where a fighter takes their opponent to the ground and delivers strikes from a dominant top position.
STANCE
A fighter's fundamental body posture, foot placement, and balance used while standing. It determines a fighter's offensive range, defensive mobility, and ability to transition between striking and grappling.
POSITION TERMS
GUARD
A defensive grappling position utilized by a fighter on their back, using their legs to control distance and prevent strikes.
HALF GUARD
A grappling position where the fighter on the bottom controls the top opponent by securing one of the opponent's legs between their own two legs.
BUTTERFLY GUARD
A guard variation where the bottom fighter places their feet (hooks) inside the opponent's thighs to control distance and elevate them for sweeps.
MOUNT
A dominant grappling position where one fighter sits on top of the opponent's torso, controlling their hips and limiting their ability to move or escape. This position is highly advantageous for ground and pound or setting up submissions.
SIDE CONTROL
A dominant top position where the fighter pins the opponent from the side, keeping their body perpendicular (at a 90-degree angle) to the opponent.
FULL MOUNT
A position where the top fighter sits astride the opponent's chest or waist, allowing for effective striking (Ground & Pound) or submission setups.
REAR MOUNT
Also known as "Taking the Back," this is when a fighter controls the opponent from behind, usually with their legs hooked around the waist.
REVERSE MOUNT
A position where the top fighter sits on the opponent but faces towards their legs, typically used to set up leg locks like kneebars.
MUAY THAI CLINCH
A standing grappling hold where a fighter locks their hands behind the opponent's neck (plum), pulling the head down to disrupt balance and deliver knee strikes.
SUBMISSION TERMS
ARMBAR
A classic joint lock where the fighter isolates the opponent's arm between their legs and hyperextends the elbow joint by raising their hips.
KEYLOCK
A shoulder lock where the opponent's arm is bent at a 90-degree angle. The fighter applies pressure to the wrist and shoulder simultaneously to immobilize the joint.
KIMURA
A double-joint arm lock where the fighter forces the opponent's arm behind their back, twisting the shoulder joint toward a breaking point.
OMOPLATA
A shoulder lock submission applied using the legs instead of the arms. It functions as a variation of the Kimura, using the legs to torque the opponent's arm.
CHOKE
A grappling hold applied to the neck that restricts air flow, blood flow to the brain, or both. The goal is to force a submission or cause unconsciousness.
GUILLOTINE CHOKE
A front headlock submission applied by wrapping an arm around the opponent's neck, resembling a guillotine blade. It is often used to counter a takedown attempt.
REAR-NAKED CHOKE (RNC)
A dominant chokehold applied from the opponent's back. It is considered one of the most effective and fundamental submissions in MMA, cutting off blood flow to the brain.
ARM TRIANGLE CHOKE
A choke where the fighter traps the opponent's head and one arm. By squeezing with their arm and driving the opponent's own shoulder into their neck, they restrict blood circulation.
TRIANGLE CHOKE (LEG)
The fighter uses their legs to trap the opponent's head and one arm, securing the lock by connecting their ankle behind the knee of the opposite leg. Pressure is applied by squeezing the thighs and driving the hips forward, restricting blood flow and forcing the opponent to submit.
ANACONDA CHOKE
Arm triangle choke hold applied from front headlock position, facing the opponent, with the opponent's arm trapped and rendered defenseless.
D'ARCE CHOKE
A blood choke performed from a front headlock position, similar to the Anaconda but differing in the hand placement. The fighter's arm passes under the opponent's armpit and tightens across the neck, locking onto their own bicep to restrict blood flow.
NORTH-SOUTH CHOKE
A submission choke applied from the North-South position (head-to-head, stomach-to-stomach). The fighter wraps an arm deep around the opponent's neck and uses chest pressure.
STRIKING TERMS
JAB
The quickest straight punch delivered with the lead hand. It is primarily used to measure distance, set up heavier strikes, and disrupt the opponent's rhythm.
CROSS
A powerful straight punch thrown with the rear hand. It travels across the body and is often used in combination immediately following a jab, serving as a primary knockout blow.
HOOK
A half-circular punch thrown with the arm bent at a 90-degree angle. It can target the head or the body and is devastating when landed cleanly on the temple or jaw.
UPPERCUT
A vertical punch that travels upwards, aimed at the opponent's chin or solar plexus (body). It is most effective in close range or when the opponent is ducking.
OVERHAND
A curved, looping punch thrown with the rear hand, traveling over the top of the opponent's lead shoulder and guard. It is a compact, powerful strike known for creating knockouts.
BODYSHOT
Any strike (punch, kick, or knee) aimed at the opponent's torso or ribs. The goal is often to drain the opponent's gas tank, take his breath away or cause acute pain, leading to a stoppage.
HIGH KICK (HEAD KICK)
A powerful, high-arcing kick aimed at the opponent's head or neck. It is considered one of the most dynamic and fight-ending strikes in MMA.
LOW KICK (LEG KICK)
A powerful kick delivered with the shin to the opponent's thigh (usually the outer thigh) or calf. It is used to compromise the opponent's mobility and balance over the course of a fight.
PUSH KICK (TEEP)
A straight, snapping thrusting kick delivered with the ball of the foot. It is used to maintain distance, interrupt the opponent's forward movement, or momentarily stun them.
OBLIQUE KICK
A straight, thrusting kick delivered with the heel or toes, directly targeting the opponent's front knee or thigh. It is primarily intended to injure the knee joint by overstretching it.
KNEE
A strike delivered with the knee, typically targeting the head or body when the opponent is in the clinch, or the torso when they are bent over.
ELBOW
A short-range, cutting strike delivered with the point of the forearm. Due to their sharp nature, elbows are primarily used in close range or ground-and-pound to cause lacerations that can stop a fight.
COMBINATION
A sequence of two or more strikes (punches, kicks, knees, or elbows) thrown in rapid succession. The primary goal is to overwhelm the opponent's defense, open up vulnerabilities for a finishing blow, or disguise an attack leading to a takedown.
ORTHODOX STANCE
A strike delivered with the knee, typically targeting the head or body when the opponent is in the clinch, or the torso when they are bent over.
SOUTHPAW STANCE
The mirror image of Orthodox, used by left-handed fighters, where the right foot is forward and the left foot/hand are in the rear.
SWITCH STANCE
The technique of rapidly and purposefully changing between Orthodox and Southpaw mid-fight. This is used to create unexpected striking angles and close distance quickly.
PHILLY SHELL STANCE
A defensive boxing stance where the lead shoulder is pointed toward the opponent and the lead arm is held low. Strikes are mainly slipped or deflected off the shoulder and forearm.
WIDE / BLADED STANCE
A stance where the feet are spread far apart and the body is turned almost sideways toward the opponent. This limits the target area for body/leg kicks and increases takedown defense (sprawl ability).
TAKEDOWN TERMS
DOUBLE-LEG TAKEDOWN
The fighter leans towards their opponent's legs, grasps both legs with their arms, and applies pressure to their body, bringing their opponent down.
SINGLE-LEG TAKEDOWN
A takedown where the fighter secures one of the opponent's legs with both hands or an arm/leg combination. The fighter then executes a lift, drive, or trip to take the opponent down.
SCISSOR TAKEDOWN
A rarely used, high-risk takedown where the fighter attempts to take the opponent down by wrapping their legs around the opponent's torso or legs in a scissor motion, often aimed at creating a sweep or trip.
BODY SLAM
A powerful, aggressive takedown where the fighter lifts the opponent entirely off the mat and forcefully throws them down onto their back.
SUPLEX
Fighter locks their arms around the opponent's body or waist from rear, lifts them off the ground, and throws them over their own head or shoulders, landing the opponent forcefully on their back or neck.
SPRAWL
The primary defensive technique against a takedown shot. The fighter quickly throws their hips back, spreading their legs wide and flat to the mat to prevent the opponent from establishing a grip on the legs.
TRIP
A takedown executed by hooking or sweeping the opponent's leg while simultaneously pushing or pulling their upper body, causing them to lose balance and fall. It is often utilized in the clinch.
SWEEP
The fighter quickly kicks or pushes the opponent's lead foot or ankle with their own foot, causing them to fall or lose position.