This MMA glossary explains the terms you will hear most often on broadcasts and in the gym. Because mixed martial arts combines boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, its vocabulary borrows from all of them, from striking terms such as jab, cross and leg kick to grappling terms such as guard, mount, side control, armbar and rear-naked choke. The terms below are grouped by theme so you can learn them in context: striking, clinch and wrestling, ground positions, submissions, and rules and fight results. Rules and definitions can vary by promotion and athletic commission, so check the current rules for details on fouls and scoring.
Quick reference
| Term | Short meaning |
|---|---|
| Clinch | Standing grappling position |
| Takedown | Bringing the opponent to the mat |
| Guard | Bottom fighter using legs to control the opponent |
| Mount | Sitting on the opponent’s torso |
| Submission | Forcing an opponent to tap |
| TKO | Technical knockout, stopped by the referee or doctor |
| Octagon | The UFC’s eight-sided cage |
Striking terms
Jab: A quick, straight punch with the lead hand, used to measure distance and set up other strikes.
Cross: A straight punch with the rear hand, usually a power shot.
Hook: A punch thrown in a horizontal arc to the side of the head or body.
Uppercut: An upward punch, most effective at close range.
Leg kick: A kick to the opponent’s thigh or calf, often a round kick with the shin.
Teep: A push kick, usually with the lead leg, used to keep distance.
Check: Lifting the shin to block an incoming leg kick.
Southpaw: A left-handed stance with the right foot forward.
Orthodox: A right-handed stance with the left foot forward.
Counterpunch: A strike thrown in response to an opponent’s attack.
Feint: A fake movement used to draw a reaction.
Clinch and wrestling terms
Clinch: A standing grappling position where fighters tie up at close range.
Underhook: An arm under the opponent’s arm, used for control.
Overhook: An arm wrapped over the opponent’s arm.
Double leg: A takedown attacking both of the opponent’s legs.
Single leg: A takedown attacking one leg.
Sprawl: Defending a takedown by throwing the legs back and dropping the hips.
Level change: Lowering the hips, often to shoot a takedown.
Cage wrestling: Clinch work and takedown attempts against the fence.
Whizzer: An overhook used to defend a single-leg takedown.
Body lock: Wrapping the arms around the opponent’s torso.
Ground positions
Full guard: The bottom fighter wraps their legs around the opponent.
Half guard: The bottom fighter controls one of the opponent’s legs.
Side control: A top position across the opponent’s chest, with the legs to the side.
Mount: Sitting on the opponent’s torso, a dominant top position.
Back mount: Controlling the opponent from behind, often with hooks in.
Hooks: Placing the feet inside the opponent’s thighs when on their back.
Ground and pound: Striking from a top position on the ground.
Guard pass: Moving past the opponent’s legs to a better top position.
Sweep: Reversing position from the bottom to the top.
Scramble: A fast exchange of positions, often after a takedown attempt.
Submission terms
Armbar: A submission that hyperextends the elbow.
Rear-naked choke: A choke applied from the back without using the uniform.
Guillotine: A front choke around the neck.
Triangle choke: A choke using the legs around the opponent’s neck and one arm.
Kimura: A shoulder lock that rotates the arm behind the back.
Americana: A shoulder lock that rotates the arm upward, usually from top position.
Heel hook: A leg lock that twists the heel and knee.
Tap out: Signaling submission by tapping the opponent or mat, or verbally.
Rules and fight results
KO: Knockout: a fighter is rendered unable to continue by a strike.
TKO: Technical knockout: the referee or doctor stops the fight.
Decision: The judges determine the winner after the scheduled rounds.
Split decision: Two judges favor one fighter and one favors the other.
10-point must system: The scoring system used by judges for each round.
Weigh-in: The official check that fighters meet their weight class limit.
Cutting weight: Reducing weight before weigh-ins, which carries health risks.
Octagon: The UFC’s eight-sided cage.
Foul: An illegal action such as a groin strike or headbutt.
No contest: A result declared when a fight cannot be decided, such as after an accidental foul early in a bout.
Training and gym terms
Sparring: Practice fighting with a partner, usually at controlled intensity and with protective gear.
Rolling: Live grappling practice, common in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and MMA gyms.
Drilling: Repeating a technique with a cooperative partner to build skill and muscle memory.
Pad work: Striking focus mitts or Thai pads held by a coach or partner.
Fight camp: The focused training period, often several weeks long, before a scheduled fight.
Shadowboxing: Practicing strikes and movement alone without a target.
Positional sparring: Live training that starts from a specific position, such as guard or against the cage.
Tapping early: Submitting before a technique is fully applied to avoid injury in training.
Fight and event terms
Card: The list of fights at an event, usually split into prelims and a main card.
Main event: The final and usually most important fight on a card.
Title fight: A bout for a championship, typically scheduled for five rounds.
Weight class: A division based on weight limits, such as lightweight or welterweight.
Missed weight: Failing to make the weight class limit at weigh-ins, which can lead to fines or a canceled bout.
Corner: The coaches who support a fighter between rounds.
Walkout: The fighter’s entrance to the cage or ring.
Stoppage: Any end to a fight before the final bell, such as a KO, TKO or submission.
Styles and disciplines
MMA fighters often describe their backgrounds by the disciplines they trained first. A striker focuses on punches, kicks, knees and elbows, often from boxing, kickboxing or Muay Thai. A wrestler specializes in takedowns and top control. A grappler or jiu-jitsu specialist excels in submissions and ground positions. A well-rounded fighter combines skills from all areas. Terms like pressure fighter, who moves forward constantly, and counterstriker, who waits to punish attacks, describe fighting styles rather than disciplines. Understanding these labels helps you follow commentary, predictions and post-fight analysis, and it makes conversations at the gym much easier to follow.
How to learn MMA terms quickly
- Start with positions: guard, mount, side control and back mount.
- Learn common submissions: armbar, rear-naked choke, guillotine and triangle.
- Learn striking terms from boxing and Muay Thai.
- Watch fights with commentary and listen for terms in context.
- Ask coaches to explain terms used in class.
Common mix-ups to avoid
- KO and TKO: a KO is a clean knockout; a TKO is a stoppage by the referee or doctor.
- Full guard and half guard: full guard traps the body with both legs; half guard controls one leg.
- Underhook and overhook: under the arm versus over it.
- Kimura and Americana: the arm rotates in opposite directions.
Frequently asked questions
What is ground and pound in MMA?
Striking an opponent from a top position on the ground.
What does TKO mean?
Technical knockout, when the referee or a doctor stops the fight because a fighter cannot continue safely.
What is the difference between guard and mount?
Guard is a bottom position using the legs to control the opponent; mount is a top position sitting on the opponent’s torso.
