Mixed Martial Arts Terminology

Mixed Martial Arts

Term	Definition	Category
MMA	An abbreviation for Mixed Martial Arts - A combat sport in which fighters from different martial disciplines compete.	General
Submission	When a fighter taps out or verbally concedes the match due to pain, to avoid injury, being choked out, or a desire to end the match.	General
Knock Out	When a fighter is knocked unconscious due to strikes or other impact.	General
Technical Knock Out	When a fighter is unable to continue, usually due to injury.	General
Tap Out	A method in which a fighter submits to his opponent by tapping his opponent, himself or the mat. Verbal tap outs are also allowed.	General
Choke Out	When a fighter is choked until he loses consciousness.	General
The Octagon	An octagonal shaped ring on which mixed martial artists compete.	General
Cage	A fenced in ring, usually in the shape of an octagon, in which mixed martial artists compete.	General
Dirty Boxing	This is in close boxing from a clenched position. In traditional boxing, fighters would be separated from this position, but in MMA they are allowed to fight from the clench.	General
Ground & Pound	This is a strategy first employed by wrestlers with limited submission skills. It consists of taking a fighter to the ground, placing them in an inferior position, and striking them until they are knocked out, tap out, can be submitted or the match is stopped.	General
Guard	A semi-defensive position in which a fighter on his back keeps his opponent between his legs.	Position
Open Guard	A guard position in which the feet are not interlocked.	Position
Closed Guard	When a fighter holds an opponent in his guard by interlocking his feet behind the opponent.	Position
Half Guard	A guard position in which only one of the opponent's legs are held between the grounded fighter's legs.	Position
Butterfly Guard	An open guard position where the feet are hooked on the inside of the fighter's legs.	Position
Rubber Guard	This is a guard in which the bottom fighter brings one leg high up on the top fighter's back and hooks the leg under their own arm. It controls the top fighter while freeing up one arm for the bottom fighter to attack.	Position
Guard Pass	A technique used by one fighter in another fighter's guard to move into a mount position.	Position
Mount	A control position in which one fighter is on top of another fighter	Position
Side Mount	When one fighter is on top of another and their heads are at 90° from each other, also known as a side control.	Position
Front Mount	A mount position in which the top fighter is squared to the bottom fighter with his legs straddling the bottom fighter.	Position
Rear Mount	A mount position in which the bottom fighter has his back turned to the top fighter.	Position
Reverse Mount	A mount position in which the fighters' heads are facing in opposite directions. Also known as a North/South mount.	Position
Hooks In	When a fighter has a rear mount and locks his feet between the legs of the mounted fighter, he is said to have his "hooks in." This prevents the mounted fighter from turning into his opponent to improve his position.	Position
Kesa-Gatami	A control position similar to a side mount except the top fighter's body is turned more towards the bottom fighter and the top fighter's arm is wrapped around the bottom fighter's head.	Position
Muay Thai Clinch	This is a clinch position taken from Muay Thai boxing where a fighter will grab his opponent behind the head with both hands using his elbows to create distance and apply knee strikes to his opponent.	Position
Armbar	A lock in which the arm is straightened hyper extending the elbow. In MMA this is most often done by trapping the arm between the legs and extending the hips upward.	Submission
Keylock	An arm-lock applied by the fighter on top where the bottom fighter's arm is bent at a 90° angle, the wrist is held while the other arm wraps underneath and is lifted to apply pressure to the shoulder.	Submission
Kimura	An arm-lock position in which the arm is bent behind the fighter leading to an arm break or shoulder dislocation if the fighter doesn't tap out. Named after the Japanese fighter, Masahiko Kimura.	Submission
Omoplata	A Kimura lock using the leg to trap the fighter's arm instead of the arm.	Submission
Choke	A submission hold applied to the neck that restricts air flow, blood flow, or both. A choke is designed to cause the other fighter to tap out or be choked out.	Submission
Guillotine Choke	A choke applied in a reverse headlock position where the forearm is used in an upward manner to apply pressure to the fighter's neck.	Submission
Triangle Choke	This choke can be applied with either the legs or the arms. Using the arms, the choking fighter drives his shoulder into the armpit of the defending fighter and wraps his arm around the neck grabbing his own hand, arm or head to create pressure. Using the legs, the attacker places the defender's neck in the crux of his knee while the other leg comes up under the defender's opposite arm. The foot is hooked under the crux of the other knee and the hips are raised while the defender's head is pulled down to create pressure.	Submission
Jab	A lead hand strike used to stun a fighter.	Strike
Straight Punch	A reverse hand punch that flies straight towards its target.	Strike
Overhand Punch	A haymaker style punch that swings up and over. It is very powerful and has been very effective.	Strike
Hook Punch	A punch with the arm bent that is thrown across the body to strike the opponent from the side.	Strike
Uppercut Punch	A bent arm punch where the punch is thrown straight up.	Strike
Liver Shot	A combination between a hook punch and an uppercut thrown to the right side of an opponent designed to strike where the liver is. A very painful punch.	Strike
Superman Punch	An overhead punch in which the fighter leaps at his opponent in an attempt to avoid his defense.	Strike
Flying Knee	A jumping knee strike designed to penetrate the opponent's defense.	Strike
Escape	Where a fighter escapes from a submission or choke hold.	Escape/Reversal
Reversal	When a fighter moves from an inferior position to a superior position.	Escape/Reversal
Upa	A roll in which a mounted fighter reverses position ending in the guard of the other fighter.	Escape/Reversal
Double Leg Takedown	A takedown similar to a football tackle. A fighter lowers his head and hooks both legs with his arms and applies pressure to the defender's body driving the fighter to the ground.	Takedown
Single Leg Takedown	Similar to a double leg takedown except only one leg is hooked.	Takedown
Scissor Takedown	A takedown where one fighter places his legs on either side of a standing fighter and uses a twisting motion to trip the standing fighter with his legs.	Takedown
Body Slam	When one fighter picks up the other fighter and throws them to the ground.	Takedown
Sprawl	A take down defense where a fighter spreads his legs away from the attacking fighter and applies his weight to the fighter's back in an effort to deny access to his legs and attain a superior position.	Takedown