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MMA Glossary: 200+ Terms Every Fan and Fighter Should Know
MMA Glossary: 200+ Terms Every Fan and Fighter Should Know
Basic MMA Terminology
- Armbar: A submission hold targeting the elbow joint, applying pressure to hyperextend or break the arm.
- BJJ (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu): A grappling martial art focusing on ground fighting, submissions, and positional control.
- Cage: The enclosed fighting area, typically an octagon shape, where MMA bouts take place.
- Cardio: A fighter's cardiovascular endurance and ability to maintain a high pace throughout a fight.
- Clinch: A close-quarters position where fighters grapple, jockey for position, and attempt takedowns or strikes.
- Decision: The outcome of a fight determined by the judges' scorecards if it goes the full distance without a finish.
- Elbow: A devastating striking weapon used in close range, often resulting in cuts and knockdowns.
- Fight Camp: The intensive training period leading up to a fight, typically involving sparring, conditioning, and strategy development.
- Gassed: When a fighter is exhausted and unable to maintain their pace, often due to poor conditioning or a grueling fight.
- Gi: The traditional uniform worn in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, consisting of a jacket, pants, and belt.
- Grappling: The aspect of MMA involving wrestling, takedowns, and ground fighting, aiming for control and submissions.
- Ground and Pound: A dominant position where a fighter controls their opponent on the ground and delivers strikes.
- Judges: The officials responsible for scoring each round and determining the winner in the absence of a finish.
- Main Event: The featured fight on a card, typically involving the most high-profile fighters and championship bouts.
- Mount: A dominant ground position where one fighter sits on their opponent's chest, controlling their movement and delivering strikes.
- No Contest: A fight that ends prematurely due to an accidental foul or injury, resulting in no winner or loser.
- Octagon: The eight-sided cage where most MMA fights take place, providing a contained and safe fighting environment.
- Pay-Per-View (PPV): A system where viewers pay a fee to watch a specific MMA event on television.
- Pound-for-Pound: A ranking comparing fighters' skills and accomplishments regardless of weight class.
- Referee: The official in charge of enforcing the rules during the fight, ensuring fair play and safety.
- Round: A five-minute segment of an MMA fight, separated by one-minute rest periods.
- Submission: A technique that forces an opponent to tap out or verbally submit, ending the fight.
- Tap Out: A physical or verbal signal of submission, indicating that a fighter can no longer continue.
- Technical Knockout (TKO): A stoppage by the referee when a fighter is deemed unable to continue due to injury or overwhelming dominance.
- Weight Class: The various weight divisions in MMA, ensuring fighters compete against opponents of similar size and strength.
- Wrestling: A grappling sport focused on takedowns, control, and pinning opponents to the ground.
- Catchweight Fight: A bout where both fighters agree to fight at a weight that does not fit into a traditional weight class.
- Feint: A deceptive movement meant to mislead the opponent into reacting defensively, creating openings for an attack.
- Fish Hook: An illegal move where a fighter uses their fingers to pull at the opponent's mouth, nostrils, or eyes.
- Cutting Off the Cage: A strategy where a fighter restricts their opponent's movement by limiting their escape routes inside the cage.
- Ground Control: A fighter’s ability to maintain dominant positions on the ground, controlling the opponent's movements.
Submission Techniques
- Arm Triangle Choke: A submission hold applied from side control or mount, using the attacker's arm and shoulder to compress the opponent's neck and carotid artery.
- Guillotine Choke: A submission hold where the attacker wraps their arm around the opponent's neck, simulating a guillotine blade.
- Heel Hook: A dangerous leg lock targeting the ankle and knee joint, capable of causing serious injury.
- Kimura: A shoulder lock submission, named after Japanese judoka Masahiko Kimura.
- Omoplata: A shoulder lock submission where the attacker uses their legs to isolate and hyperextend the opponent's shoulder joint.
- Rear-Naked Choke: A powerful submission hold applied from behind, restricting blood flow to the brain and causing unconsciousness.
- Triangle Choke: A submission hold where the attacker uses their legs to form a triangle around the opponent's neck and one arm, restricting blood flow.
- Anaconda Choke: A variation of the D'Arce choke, where the attacker wraps their arm around the opponent's neck and traps their own bicep, applying pressure to the carotid artery.
- Baseball Choke: A chokehold where the attacker wraps their arm around the opponent's neck from behind and grips their own bicep, applying pressure to the carotid artery.
- Bulldog Choke: A chokehold applied from the front headlock position, where the attacker wraps their arms around the opponent's neck and squeezes, restricting airflow.
- D'Arce Choke: A submission hold that involves threading one arm under the opponent's neck and securing a grip on the bicep, applying pressure to the carotid artery.
- Ezekiel Choke: A chokehold applied from the crucifix position, where the attacker threads their arm under the opponent's armpit and across their neck, squeezing to restrict airflow.
- Gogoplata: A rare and complex submission hold where the attacker uses their shin to compress the opponent's trachea, causing them to submit or pass out.
- Guillotine Choke: A submission hold where the attacker wraps their arm around the opponent's neck, simulating a guillotine blade.
- Japanese Necktie: A variation of the Peruvian Necktie, where the attacker applies pressure to the opponent's neck and spine using their legs from a mounted position.
- Keylock: A shoulder lock submission similar to the Kimura, but applied with the attacker's legs instead of their arms.
- Kneebar: A submission hold targeting the knee joint, applying pressure to hyperextend or break the leg.
- Modified Ezekiel Choke: A variation of the Ezekiel choke applied from side control, offering a different angle of attack.
- Peruvian Necktie: A rare and complex submission hold that involves wrapping the attacker's legs around the opponent's head and neck, applying pressure to the spine and neck.
- Rolling Kneebar: A variation of the kneebar submission, where the attacker uses their legs to roll and apply pressure to the opponent's knee joint.
- Scissor Sweep: A sweep technique where the bottom fighter uses their legs to trap and elevate the opponent's leg, causing them to fall.
- Submission Defense: Techniques used to prevent or escape submission attempts, such as recognizing choke setups and defending leg locks.
- Americana: A shoulder lock submission, where the attacker's arm is threaded under the opponent’s arm and bent backwards, applying pressure on the shoulder.
- Von Flue Choke: A submission hold that counters the guillotine choke by using shoulder pressure on the opponent's neck while in side control.
- Toe Hold: A leg lock submission that targets the ankle and foot, twisting the foot backward to cause pain and potential injury.
Striking Techniques
- Elbow: A devastating striking weapon used in close range, often resulting in cuts and knockdowns.
- Flying Knee: A spectacular striking technique where a fighter leaps into the air and delivers a knee strike to the head or body.
- Foot Stomp: A downward strike with the foot, often targeting a downed opponent's legs or body.
- Head Kick: A powerful kick targeting the head, often used to finish fights or score knockdowns.
- Inside Leg Kick: A kick targeting the inside of the opponent's thigh, often used to disrupt their balance and set up other strikes.
- Knee: A powerful striking weapon used in the clinch or on the ground, targeting various parts of the body.
- Leg Kick: A strike to the opponent's leg, often targeting the thigh or calf to reduce their mobility and power.
- Overhand Right: A powerful punch thrown with the rear hand in a downward arc, often targeting the temple or top of the head.
- Push Kick (Teep): A front kick used to create distance, disrupt the opponent's rhythm, or set up other strikes.
- Spinning Back Elbow: A dynamic striking technique where the fighter spins and delivers an elbow strike with their back arm.
- Spinning Backfist: A spinning strike with the back of the fist, often targeting the head or jaw.
- Spinning Back Kick: A spinning kick with the heel, targeting the opponent's midsection or head.
- Spinning Heel Kick: A spinning kick with the heel, often targeting the head or liver.
- Superman Punch: A leaping punch where the fighter extends their rear leg behind them, adding power and momentum to the strike.
- Switch Kick: A kick thrown with the rear leg after switching stances, often surprising opponents and creating openings.
- Spinning Wheel Kick: A powerful spinning kick where the heel is used to strike the opponent, often targeting the head or body.
- Backfist: A striking technique where the fighter strikes with the back of their fist, usually delivered in a spinning motion.
Grappling & Ground Techniques
- Back Mount: A dominant ground position where one fighter controls their opponent's back, limiting their movement and creating opportunities for chokes and strikes.
- Body Lock: A clinch position where one fighter wraps their arms around the opponent's torso, controlling their movement and setting up takedowns or trips.
- Body Triangle: A grappling control position where the attacker's legs form a triangle around the opponent's torso from the back mount, limiting movement and creating opportunities for chokes.
- Butterfly Guard: A guard position where the bottom fighter uses their legs to control the opponent's hips and create space for sweeps and submissions.
- Cage Control: A fighter's ability to dictate where the fight takes place within the cage, often pushing their opponent against the fence or controlling the center of the octagon.
- Catch Wrestling: A grappling style emphasizing takedowns, pins, and submissions, with roots in traditional wrestling and early MMA.
- Closed Guard: A ground position where the bottom fighter has their legs wrapped around their opponent's waist, creating a defensive barrier and opportunities for submissions.
- Crucifix: A dominant ground position where the attacker pins the opponent's arms to the mat, leaving them vulnerable to strikes.
- Double Leg Takedown: A wrestling technique where the attacker grabs both of their opponent's legs and drives them to the ground.
- Full Mount: The most dominant ground position, where one fighter sits on their opponent's chest, controlling their movement and delivering strikes.
- Guard: A ground position where the bottom fighter uses their legs to control and defend against the top fighter.
- Guard Passing: The process of moving past an opponent's legs on the ground to achieve a more dominant position, such as side control or mount.
- Half Guard: A ground position where the bottom fighter has one of their opponent's legs trapped between their own, offering some control and defensive options.
- Inside Trip: A takedown technique executed from the clinch, where the attacker uses their leg to trip the opponent's leg and bring them to the ground.
- Mat Return: A technique used to bring a fight back to the ground after an opponent attempts to stand up or escape.
- North-South Choke: A submission hold applied from the north-south position, where the attacker compresses the opponent's neck using their chest and shoulder.
- Open Guard: A ground position where the bottom fighter has their legs wrapped around their opponent, creating opportunities for submissions and sweeps.
- Over-Under Clinch: A clinch position where one fighter controls the opponent's head with an underhook and the other arm over the opponent's arm.
- Plum Clinch (Thai Clinch): A clinch position where both fighters have double underhooks, often leading to knee strikes and takedown attempts.
- Scramble: A chaotic exchange on the ground where both fighters are actively trying to improve their position and gain control.
- Side Control: A dominant ground position where one fighter controls their opponent's side, pinning them to the mat and limiting their movement.
- Single Leg Takedown: A wrestling technique where the attacker grabs one of their opponent's legs and drives them to the ground.
- Sprawl: A defensive maneuver used to avoid takedowns, involving spreading the legs and pushing the opponent away.
- Sweep: A technique used on the ground to reverse positions, taking the top position from the bottom.
- Suplex: A powerful takedown where the attacker lifts their opponent and slams them to the ground.
- Inverted Guard: A guard position where the fighter is upside down, using their legs to control the opponent and set up sweeps or submissions.
- Leg Lace: A technique used to trap an opponent’s legs together on the ground, limiting their ability to escape or counter.
- Cobra Clutch: A wrestling hold where the attacker wraps one arm around the opponent’s neck and uses the other to trap their arm, often leading to a choke or submission attempt.
- Open Scoring: A system where judges' scores are revealed after each round, giving fighters and corners real-time updates on how the fight is being judged.
- Walkout Gear: The clothing and accessories worn by fighters during their entrance to the cage, often branded by sponsors.
- Octagon Control: A criterion used in judging, referring to a fighter's ability to dictate the pace and location of the fight within the cage.
Fighter Archetypes
- Brawler: A fighter who relies on aggression, power, and relentless pressure, often engaging in wild exchanges.
- Counter Striker: A fighter who excels at capitalizing on their opponent's mistakes, waiting for openings to land precise counterattacks.
- Grappler: A fighter who specializes in takedowns and ground fighting, aiming for control and submissions.
- Gatekeeper: An established fighter who serves as a test for up-and-coming prospects, separating contenders from pretenders.
- Journeyman: A seasoned fighter who provides valuable experience to up-and-coming prospects but may not be in title contention.
- Knockout Artist: A fighter known for their devastating power and ability to end fights with a single strike.
- Point Fighter: A fighter who prioritizes scoring points and winning rounds, often relying on technique and strategy over finishing moves.
- Pressure Fighter: A relentless fighter who constantly pushes the pace, forcing their opponent to fight at a high intensity.
- Submission Specialist: A fighter who excels at grappling and securing submissions on the ground.
- Veteran: An experienced fighter with a long and storied career, often nearing the end of their competitive journey.
- Well-Rounded Fighter: A fighter proficient in both striking and grappling, capable of adapting to various styles and situations.
MMA Leagues & Championships
- Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC): The most prominent and globally recognized MMA organization, featuring the sport's top talent and hosting major events worldwide. The UFC championship belt is the pinnacle of achievement in MMA.
- Bellator MMA: A major MMA promotion known for its competitive roster and exciting fight cards.
- ONE Championship: A rapidly growing MMA organization based in Asia, featuring a mix of MMA, Muay Thai, and kickboxing bouts.
- Professional Fighters League (PFL): A unique MMA league with a season format, culminating in a playoff and championship event.
- Invicta FC: An all-female MMA promotion showcasing the skills and talent of women fighters across various weight classes.
- Rizin Fighting Federation: A Japanese MMA organization known for its exciting fights and unique rule set, allowing soccer kicks and stomps to a downed opponent.
- Cage Warriors: A European MMA promotion that has served as a launching pad for many successful UFC fighters.
- Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA): A feeder league for the UFC, providing a platform for up-and-coming fighters to showcase their skills and earn a shot at the big leagues.
MMA Events & Culture
- Cage Announcer: The voice of the event, introducing fighters, announcing results, and building excitement.
- Cutman: A skilled professional who treats cuts and swelling between rounds, helping fighters continue competing.
- Fight Card: The lineup of fights scheduled for an MMA event.
- Fight Night Bonus: Additional compensation awarded to fighters for outstanding performances, such as Fight of the Night, Knockout of the Night, and Performance of the Night.
- Main Card: The main portion of an MMA event, featuring the most high-profile fights and championship bouts.
- Matchmaker: The person responsible for pairing fighters for bouts, considering factors like skill level, style, and rankings.
- Open Workout: A public training session where fighters showcase their skills and interact with fans before an event.
- Post-Fight Interview: An interview conducted immediately after a fight, capturing the fighter's emotions and thoughts on their performance.
- Press Conference: A media event where fighters and promoters answer questions and promote upcoming events.
- Trash Talk: Verbal exchanges between fighters, often used to build hype and intimidate opponents.
- Walkout Music: The music chosen by fighters to accompany their entrance to the cage, setting the tone for their performance.
- Weigh-In: The official pre-fight ceremony where fighters are weighed to ensure they meet the weight requirements for their division.
- Call Out: A public challenge issued by a fighter to another, often used to build hype and secure a desired matchup.
- Cutting Weight: The often controversial process of rapidly losing weight to make a specific weight class, often involving dehydration and strict dieting.
- Face-Off: A tense pre-fight or post-fight encounter where fighters stand face-to-face, often exchanging words and intense stares.
- Fight Island: A nickname for Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, UAE, where the UFC hosted several events during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Fight Week: The week leading up to a major MMA event, filled with media obligations, weigh-ins, and promotional activities.
- Hype Train: The growing excitement and anticipation surrounding a fighter or upcoming fight, often fueled by social media and promotional efforts.
- Post-Fight Press Conference: A media event where fighters and officials answer questions and discuss the event's outcomes.
- Pre-Fight Press Conference: A media event held before a fight, featuring face-offs, interviews, and promotional activities.
- Reebok Deal: A controversial sponsorship deal between the UFC and Reebok, requiring fighters to wear Reebok apparel during fight week and events.
- Rematch: A second fight between two opponents who have previously faced each other.
- Title Shot: An opportunity to fight for a championship belt.
- Trash Talk: Verbal exchanges between fighters, often used to build hype, intimidate opponents, or sell the fight.
- Walkout Song: The music chosen by a fighter to accompany their entrance to the cage, often reflecting their personality or fighting style.
MMA Rules & Judging
- Unified Rules of MMA: The standardized ruleset used by most major MMA organizations, ensuring consistency and safety across the sport.
- Rankings: Lists maintained by various organizations and media outlets, ranking fighters within each weight class based on their performance and accomplishments.
- Title Contender: A fighter who is considered a top contender for a championship belt, often based on their ranking and recent performances.
- Title Eliminator: A fight between two top contenders, with the winner earning a shot at the championship title.
- Decision Win: A victory awarded by the judges' scorecards when a fight goes the full distance without a finish.
- Doctor Stoppage: When the ringside physician determines that a fighter is unable to continue due to injury, resulting in a TKO victory for their opponent.
- Exclusive Contract: A contract that binds a fighter to a specific MMA organization, preventing them from fighting for other promotions.
- Free Agent: A fighter who is not under contract with any specific MMA organization and can negotiate with multiple promotions.
- Interim Titles: Awarded in major organizations like the UFC and Bellator when the reigning champion is unable to defend their title.
- Champion Clause: A contractual clause that allows a champion to negotiate more favorable terms for title defenses.
- Contender Series: A reality show format used by some organizations, such as the UFC, to scout and sign new talent.
- Legacy Fighter: A fighter who has competed in multiple organizations throughout their career, often with a long and storied history in the sport.
- Promotional Rankings: Rankings maintained by individual MMA organizations, often used to determine title contenders and matchmaking decisions.
- Title Defense: A fight where the champion defends their title against a challenger.
Weight Classes
- Bantamweight: A weight class in MMA, typically ranging from 125 to 135 pounds.
- Catchweight: A non-standard weight agreed upon for a specific fight, falling outside the traditional weight classes.
- Featherweight: A weight class in MMA, typically ranging from 135 to 145 pounds.
- Flyweight: A weight class in MMA, typically ranging from 115 to 125 pounds.
- Lightweight: A weight class in MMA, typically ranging from 145 to 155 pounds.
- Middleweight: A weight class in MMA, typically ranging from 170 to 185 pounds.
- Welterweight: A weight class in MMA, typically ranging from 155 to 170 pounds.
- Women's Bantamweight: A weight class in women's MMA, typically ranging from 125 to 135 pounds.
- Women's Featherweight: A weight class in women's MMA, typically ranging from 135 to 145 pounds.
- Women's Flyweight: A weight class in women's MMA, typically ranging from 115 to 125 pounds.
- Women's Strawweight: The lightest weight class in women's MMA, with an upper limit of 115 pounds.
Slang & Expressions
- Beatdown: A one-sided fight where one fighter dominates and inflicts significant damage on their opponent.
- Bread and Butter: A fighter's go-to techniques or strategies, their most reliable weapons in the cage.
- Bum Rush: An aggressive, all-out attack at the start of a fight or round, aiming to overwhelm the opponent.
- Cabbage Patch: A humorous term for a fighter's cauliflower ear, a common deformity caused by repeated blows to the ear.
- Cardio King: A fighter known for their exceptional cardiovascular endurance and ability to maintain a high pace.
- Cheeseburger: A derogatory term for an easy opponent or a fight that is perceived as a guaranteed win.
- Cinderella Story: An underdog fighter who unexpectedly achieves success, often overcoming significant challenges.
- Fight IQ: A fighter's ability to make intelligent decisions and adapt their strategy during a fight.
- Gatekeeper: An established fighter who serves as a test for up-and-coming prospects, separating contenders from pretenders.
- Ground and Pound: A dominant position where a fighter controls their opponent on the ground and delivers strikes.
- Hype Train: The growing excitement and anticipation surrounding a fighter or upcoming fight, often fueled by social media and promotional efforts.
- Lay and Pray: A derogatory term for a fighter who secures a takedown but then focuses on maintaining control rather than actively pursuing a finish.
- Leg Hump: A humorous term for a fighter who repeatedly attempts leg locks, often to the point of frustration for their opponent.
- McGregor Walk: The distinctive strut adopted by Conor McGregor during his walkouts, often imitated by fans and other fighters.
- Murderer's Row: A series of difficult opponents or challenges faced by a fighter in a short period.
- Pillow Fists: A humorous term for punches that lack power or impact.
- Potato Punch: A powerful punch that lands with a thud, often resulting in a knockout or knockdown.
- Sack: To get knocked out or submitted decisively.
- Sandbagging: Deliberately competing in a lower weight class or skill level to gain an advantage.
- Scramble: A chaotic exchange on the ground where both fighters are actively trying to improve their position and gain control.
- Showtime Kick: A spectacular spinning kick, often associated with Anthony Pettis's iconic Showtime Kick against Benson Henderson.
- Smesh: A combination of smash and mesh, used to describe a powerful and impactful strike.
- Spinning Shit: A general term for flashy spinning techniques, such as spinning backfists, back kicks, and elbows.
- Tap City: A humorous term for a fight where one fighter repeatedly taps out to submissions.
- Toe-to-Toe: When two fighters stand directly in front of each other and exchange punches without backing down.
- Tomato Can: A derogatory term for an easy opponent, often used to describe journeymen or fighters with losing records.
- Walk-Off KO: A knockout so devastating that the victorious fighter walks away confidently before the referee even starts the count.
- Ankle Picker: A fighter who specializes in takedowns that target the ankles, often used to describe someone who repeatedly goes for low-level takedowns.
- Barn Burner: An action-packed, high-energy fight with non-stop exchanges, often considered a fan favorite.
- Big Dog: A top-ranked fighter or champion, considered one of the most dominant forces in their division.
- Bonus Money: Extra money awarded to fighters for exceptional performances, such as Fight of the Night, Knockout of the Night, and Performance of the Night.
- Brass Balls: A term used to describe a fighter’s courage, toughness, and willingness to take risks in the cage.
- Buzzer Beater: A knockout or significant strike landed just before the bell rings to end a round.
- Cage Rust: Similar to ring rust in boxing, it refers to a fighter’s decline in performance due to inactivity or a long layoff from competition.
- Camp: Short for training camp, this term refers to the period before a fight when a fighter prepares through sparring, conditioning, and strategy development.
- Catchphrase: A memorable phrase or saying associated with a particular fighter or personality in the MMA world, often used in promotional materials or interviews.
- Champion’s Clause: A contractual provision that grants a champion more favorable terms and control over their title defenses.
- Comeback: A fighter’s return to competition after a significant layoff, injury, or retirement, often marked by a resurgence in performance.
- Decision Robbery: A controversial decision where fans and analysts believe the wrong fighter was declared the winner, often sparking debate.
- Eye Poke: An accidental or intentional foul where a fighter’s finger makes contact with their opponent’s eye, often leading to a temporary stop in the fight.
- Gym Wars: Intense sparring sessions between training partners, often simulating real fight scenarios, sometimes leading to minor injuries or bad blood.
- McDojo: A derogatory term for a martial arts gym that prioritizes profit over proper training and fighter development, often churning out poorly prepared students.
- Ring Rust: A decline in a fighter’s performance due to a long layoff or inactivity, often used to describe fighters returning after extended breaks.
- Rivalry: An ongoing feud or competition between two fighters, often resulting in multiple high-stakes bouts and significant media coverage.
- Sandbagger: A fighter who deliberately competes below their actual skill level, often in lower-tier competitions or weight classes to gain an unfair advantage.
- Shark Tank: A grueling training drill where a fighter spars continuously with fresh partners, testing their endurance, skill, and mental toughness.
- Weight Bully: A fighter who cuts an excessive amount of weight to compete in a lower weight class, gaining a size and strength advantage over opponents.
- Zombie: A fighter who appears hurt or dazed but continues to fight relentlessly, showing incredible toughness and resilience.
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