Combat Sports Glossary

Terms

KO (Knockout)

A fight-ending strike that renders the opponent unconscious or unable to continue.

TKO (Technical Knockout)

A stoppage called by the referee, doctor, or corner when a fighter is unable to intelligently defend themselves.

Submission

A grappling technique that forces an opponent to tap out, including chokes, joint locks, and pain-induced surrender.

Decision

A fight result determined by judges' scorecards when no stoppage occurs. Includes unanimous, split, and majority decisions.

No Contest (NC)

A fight result voided due to accidental rule violations, injuries, or other circumstances outside fighter control.

Weight Cut

The process of reducing body weight before a weigh-in to qualify for a specific weight class, typically through dehydration.

Reach

The distance between a fighter's outstretched fingertips, measured fingertip to fingertip.

Stance

A fighter's primary fighting position — orthodox (left foot forward), southpaw (right foot forward), or switch (alternates).

Clinch

A standing grappling position where fighters control each other's bodies and arms, common in Muay Thai and MMA.

Guard

In BJJ and MMA, a ground position where the bottom fighter uses their legs to control the top fighter.

Mount

A dominant ground position where one fighter sits on the opponent's torso.

Sprawl

A defensive movement to counter takedown attempts by extending the legs back and dropping the hips.

Jab

A quick, straight punch with the lead hand — boxing's most fundamental tool.

Cross

A straight punch with the rear hand, typically the most powerful basic strike in boxing and MMA.

Hook

A curved punch thrown horizontally to the side of an opponent's head or body.

Uppercut

A vertical punch thrown upward, typically targeting the chin or solar plexus.

TeepMuay Thai

A pushing front kick in Muay Thai used to maintain distance or set up combinations.

Round Kick

A circular kick striking with the shin, common in Muay Thai, kickboxing, and MMA.

TakedownWrestling

Any technique used to bring an opponent from standing to the ground.

Double LegWrestling

A wrestling takedown where both of the opponent's legs are attacked simultaneously.

Single LegWrestling

A wrestling takedown where one of the opponent's legs is attacked.

ArmbarBJJ

A submission hold that hyperextends the elbow joint.

Triangle ChokeBJJ

A submission using the legs to compress the opponent's neck and shoulder.

Rear Naked Choke

A blood choke applied from the back position by wrapping the arm around the opponent's neck.

Pro Record

A fighter's professional fight history, traditionally written as Wins-Losses-Draws (e.g., 12-3-1).

Amateur Record

A fighter's record from non-professional bouts, kept separate from the pro record.

Title Fight

A bout for an official championship belt or title.

Main Event

The featured fight at the top of a card, typically the last bout of the night.

Undercard

All fights on a card before the main event.

Catchweight

A bout fought at a weight other than the standard divisions, usually negotiated between the fighters.