48 MMA terms defined, including armbar, sprawl, ground and pound, underhook and pound-for-pound, each explained in a single line.
Mixed Martial Arts terminology is borrowed from four or five sports at once: boxing supplies the punches, wrestling the takedowns, jiu-jitsu the submissions, and the promotions supply the rest. The words related to Mixed Martial Arts below cover striking, grappling, weight classes and the way a fight is scored, and the words associated with fight night itself, from the walkout to the decision, come with them. The Mixed Martial Arts glossary further down is the quick reference.
Must-Know Mixed Martial Arts Terms, Phrases and Slang:
- Armbar
- Clinch
- Ground and pound
- Guard
- Heel hook
- Kimura
- Leg kick
- Mount
- No-contest
- Octagon
- Rear naked choke
- Submission
- Takedown
- Tap out
- Triangle choke
- Underhook
- Walkout
- Welterweight
- Featherweight
- GnP
- Jab
- Cross
- Overhand right
- Sprawl
- Striking
- Suplex
- TKO
- Vale tudo
- Weight cut
- Cage control
Mixed Martial Arts Glossary: Every Term A to Z
| Term | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Armbar | A submission trapping the arm between the legs and extending the elbow until the opponent taps. |
| Bantamweight | The weight class below featherweight, with an upper limit of 135 pounds in most promotions. |
| Cage control | Dictating where the fight happens: holding the center, or pinning the opponent against the fence. |
| Clinch | Close-range standing grappling, used to land short strikes, wear the opponent down or set up takedowns. |
| Corner | The coaches working a fighter's corner between rounds. They can stop the fight by throwing in the towel. |
| Cross | A straight power punch from the rear hand, usually thrown behind the jab. |
| Cutman | The cornerman who treats cuts and swelling between rounds so a fight can continue. |
| Decision | A result reached by the judges after the final round. It can be unanimous, split or majority. |
| Featherweight | A weight class with an upper limit of 145 pounds in most promotions. |
| Flyweight | One of the lightest men's classes, with an upper limit of 125 pounds in most promotions. |
| GnP | Short for ground and pound, used in commentary and on scorecards discussions alike. |
| Grappling | Everything done with holds rather than strikes: takedowns, control positions and submissions. |
| Ground and pound | Taking the fight to the mat, holding a dominant position and striking from the top. |
| Guard | Fighting from the back with the legs controlling the opponent above you. |
| Guillotine choke | A choke wrapping the neck from the front, often caught as an opponent shoots for a takedown. |
| Heavyweight | The top weight class, with an upper limit of 265 pounds in most promotions. |
| Heel hook | A leg lock that twists the heel and loads the knee. One of the fastest submissions to cause damage. |
| Jab | The quick straight punch from the lead hand, used to measure distance and open combinations. |
| Kimura | A shoulder lock twisting the arm behind the back, named after judoka Masahiko Kimura. |
| Knockout | A finish in which a fighter is knocked unconscious by a legal strike. Written KO. |
| Leg kick | A shin kick to the opponent's thigh or calf, thrown to slow their movement over a fight. |
| Lightweight | A weight class with an upper limit of 155 pounds in most promotions. |
| Main event | The last and most important fight on a card. The fights before it are the undercard. |
| Middleweight | A weight class with an upper limit of 185 pounds in most promotions. |
| Mount | Sitting on the opponent's torso while they are on their back. The most dominant striking position on the ground. |
| No-contest | A result thrown out because of an accidental foul, injury or failed test. Neither fighter gets a win. |
| Octagon | The eight-sided cage used by the UFC, and by extension a name for the fighting area. |
| Overhand right | A looping right hand thrown over the opponent's lead hand toward the chin. |
| Pound-for-pound | A ranking that compares fighters across weight classes by asking who is best regardless of size. |
| Rear naked choke | A choke from behind with the forearm across the neck, and the most common submission finish in the sport. |
| Referee | The official inside the cage. They enforce the rules and stop the fight when a fighter cannot defend themselves. |
| Round | One segment of a fight, five minutes long. Most bouts are three rounds, title fights are five. |
| Southpaw | A fighter who stands with the right foot and right hand forward. The opposite of orthodox. |
| Sprawl | Driving the hips down and legs back to stop a takedown attempt. |
| Striking | Punches, kicks, knees and elbows, as opposed to grappling. |
| Submission | A choke or joint lock that forces the opponent to tap out or go unconscious. |
| Suplex | A wrestling throw that lifts the opponent and drops them on their back. |
| Takedown | Bringing a standing opponent to the mat, most often with a single leg, a double leg or a trip. |
| Tap out | Tapping the mat or the opponent to concede. It ends the fight immediately. |
| TKO | A technical knockout: the referee, doctor or corner stops the fight although the fighter is still conscious. |
| Triangle choke | A choke made with the legs around the neck and one arm, usually attacked from the guard. |
| Underhook | An arm threaded under the opponent's arm in the clinch, used to control their hips and posture. |
| Upset | A win by the fighter the odds favored least. The bigger the gap, the bigger the upset. |
| Vale tudo | Portuguese for "anything goes," the Brazilian no-holds-barred contests that preceded modern MMA. |
| Walkout | A fighter's entrance to the arena, with their own music. Part theater, part routine. |
| Weigh-in | The official weighing before a bout. Missing weight costs a fighter part of their purse. |
| Weight cut | The rapid weight loss before a weigh-in, followed by rehydration before the fight itself. |
| Welterweight | A weight class with an upper limit of 170 pounds in most promotions. |
#1 Armbar
A submission maneuver where one fighter immobilizes their opponent’s arm between their legs and applies pressure to the elbow joint, often forcing them to submit. It is a staple technique in both MMA and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
#2 Clinch
A close-range grappling position where fighters hold each other, typically to deliver short strikes or attempt takedowns. The clinch is used to control an opponent when both fighters are standing up.
#3 Ground and Pound
A strategy where a fighter takes their opponent to the ground, secures a dominant position, and unleashes a series of strikes. Ground and pound is a mix of grappling and striking, which can lead to a knockout or referee stoppage.
#4 Guard
A defensive position on the ground in which the fighter on their back uses their legs to control their opponent. It allows various offensive moves like submissions or a reversal to a more dominant position.
#5 Heel Hook
A dangerous leg lock submission targeting the knee, where the attacker uses their legs to entrap their opponent’s leg and twist the heel. It puts severe torque on the knee and ankle joints.
#6 Kimura
A shoulder lock submission named after Japanese judoka Masahiko Kimura which involves isolating an opponent’s arm and applying pressure to the upper arm, causing pain to the shoulder joint. It is both a control position and a submission.
#7 Leg Kick
A leg kick in MMA is a strike delivered with the lower leg (shin) to the opponent’s thigh or calf. It is used to damage the opponent’s leg, impair mobility, and potentially lower their guard, making them susceptible to further attacks.
#8 Mount
The mount is a dominant grappling position where one fighter sits astride the torso of their grounded opponent, facing them. From the mount, the top fighter can deliver strikes or attempt submissions while the bottom fighter is significantly limited in their offensive capabilities.
#9 No-Contest
An MMA fight outcome where the match is deemed null and void due to an accidental violation or injury. No winner is declared, and the fight typically does not affect the fighters’ records.
#10 Octagon
The eight-sided cage that is the trademark feature of the UFC, where MMA fights commonly take place. Its design allows for a variety of fighting techniques while keeping the action contained.
#11 Rear Naked Choke
A chokehold applied from behind an opponent, where the aggressor’s arm encircles the opponent’s neck without the use of the gi. It’s a common submission technique aimed to cut off blood flow to the brain.
#12 Submission
A move that forces an opponent to surrender due to a hold or lock that causes pain or threatens injury. Submissions can involve joints or chokeholds and are a fundamental aspect of MMA strategy.
#13 Takedown
A technique used to bring an opponent to the ground typically involving a combination of wrestling and grappling maneuvers. Takedowns are a key component of MMA, leading to ground fighting and submission opportunities.
#14 Tap Out
A submission signal where a fighter physically taps the opponent or the mat, or uses a verbal indication to concede the fight. It’s a safety measure that communicates an inability to continue.
#15 Triangle Choke
A triangle choke is a submission technique executed from a position where the attacker is typically on their back. It involves wrapping the legs around the opponent’s neck and one arm in a configuration that resembles a triangle.
#16 Underhook
An underhook refers to a grappling maneuver where one fighter places their arm under the opponent’s arm and secures it at the back, allowing control over the opponent’s body. This position can be used to manipulate the opponent’s movement, set up takedowns, or prevent their offensive actions.
#17 Walkout
The moment when a fighter makes their entrance to the fighting arena, often accompanied by music of their choice, it sets the tone for their presence and can be a psychological tactic against their opponent.
#18 Welterweight
A weight class in Mixed Martial Arts where fighters typically weigh between 156 to 170 pounds (71 to 77 kg). It’s known for featuring athletes with a balance of speed, power, and technical skill.
#19 Featherweight
A lighter weight class where competitors usually weigh up to 145 pounds (66 kg). Fighters in this category are often admired for their quickness and agility.
#20 GnP
Short for “Ground and Pound,” a tactic where a fighter takes their opponent to the ground, achieves a dominant position, and then throws a series of strikes. It’s an effective way to damage an opponent or force a referee stoppage.
#21 Jab
A basic, quick, straight punch using the lead hand. It is fundamental in setting up combinations and keeping an opponent at distance while gauging their reactions.
#22 Cross
A power punch thrown with the rear hand, often as a follow-up to a jab. The cross is aimed to travel straight towards the target with the intent of causing significant impact.
#23 Overhand right
A punch thrown usually by a right-handed fighter, looping the arm over the opponent’s lead hand and dropping the punch over the top, often targeting the side of the head or chin.
#24 Sprawl
A defensive maneuver used to prevent a takedown by spreading the legs back and out while thrusting the hips down. This technique prevents an opponent from securing a hold around the legs or waist for a takedown.
#25 Striking
Refers to the use of punches, kicks, knees, and elbows to inflict damage upon an opponent. Striking is a fundamental component of stand-up fighting and requires precision, power, and timing for effectiveness in a match.
#26 Suplex
A powerful throw originating from wrestling, where a fighter lifts their opponent off their feet and slams them onto their back. It is a crowd-pleasing move that can lead to a dominant position or even end a fight.
#27 TKO
Short for “technical knockout,” it occurs when a fighter is unable to continue, often due to strikes, but without being completely unconscious. Referees stop the fight to protect the injured fighter, resulting in a victory for their opponent.
#28 Vale tudo
Portuguese for “anything goes,” it refers to a no-holds-barred combat sport with minimal rules that predates modern MMA. Originating in Brazil, it allowed a wide range of fighting techniques, leading to the development of modern mixed martial arts.
#29 Weight cut
A weight cut in MMA refers to the rapid weight loss process fighters undergo to qualify for a specific weight class before a bout. This often involves dehydration and dieting to meet the weight limit at the official weigh-in, followed by a rehydration period before the fight to regain strength.
#30 Cage control
Cage control describes a fighter’s ability to dictate the positioning and movement of the fight within the cage. This includes using the cage to trap the opponent, controlling the center of the octagon to dominate the striking range, or pushing the opponent against the cage to limit their mobility and execute techniques like takedowns or strikes.
FAQ
What is the term for a takedown in martial arts?
Takedown is the general term in Mixed Martial Arts. The specific ones are named after the technique: a single leg, a double leg, a trip, a body lock or a throw carried over from judo or wrestling.
What is it called when an MMA fighter wins by wrestling an opponent into a hold?
A submission win. The opponent taps out, verbally gives up, or goes unconscious in a choke, and the referee stops the fight. The result is recorded as a submission rather than a knockout.
What do you call a fight where one fighter is completely outmatched?
A mismatch, and the fighter expected to lose is the underdog. If that underdog wins anyway, the result is called an upset.
What submission puts an arm across the throat?
The rear naked choke, applied from behind with the forearm across the neck, is the best known one. From the front, the same idea becomes a guillotine choke, wrapping the neck as the opponent comes forward.
What are people who compete in mixed martial arts called?
Fighters, or mixed martial artists. They are also described by their background, such as a wrestler, a striker or a grappler, which usually tells you where a fight will go if they get their way.
They split into striking (jab, cross, overhand right, leg kick), grappling (takedown, clinch, sprawl, underhook, mount), submissions (armbar, kimura, triangle choke, rear naked choke) and the business of fight night (weigh-in, walkout, main event, decision). The Mixed Martial Arts glossary above collects them in one list.
What are some Mixed Martial Arts terms for beginners?
“Armbar,” “Clinch,” and “Takedown” are some Mixed Martial Arts terms beginners should start with. These cover techniques for submissions, close-range control, and changing the fight to ground fighting.
What are some funny Mixed Martial Arts terms?
“Heel hook” and “Rear naked choke” are some funny Mixed Martial Arts terms. Despite their serious application in combat, the phrasing can elicit a chuckle due to their suggestive nature.
What is a famous Mixed Martial Arts phrase?
“Tap out,” is a famous Mixed Martial Arts phrase, indicating a fighter is submitting to an opponent, usually to avoid injury from a submission hold, and is a term widely understood even outside the sport.
