MMA Glossary: 200+ Terms Every Fan and Fighter Should Know

Boxing, a sport steeped in history and tradition, boasts a unique and vibrant vocabulary. The sweet science, as it's often called, has a language all its own, filled with colourful phrases and technical terms that capture the essence of the sport. Whether you're a seasoned fan or new to the world of boxing, understanding the lingo adds depth and appreciation to your experience.

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.