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

Basic MMA Terminology

1. Armbar: A submission hold targeting the elbow joint, applying pressure to hyperextend or break the arm.
2. BJJ (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu): A grappling martial art focusing on ground fighting, submissions, and positional control.
3. Cage: The enclosed fighting area, typically an octagon shape, where MMA bouts take place.
4. Cardio: A fighter's cardiovascular endurance and ability to maintain a high pace throughout a fight.
5. Clinch: A close-quarters position where fighters grapple, jockey for position, and attempt takedowns or strikes.
6. Decision: The outcome of a fight determined by the judges' scorecards if it goes the full distance without a finish.
7. Elbow: A devastating striking weapon used in close range, often resulting in cuts and knockdowns.
8. Fight Camp: The intensive training period leading up to a fight, typically involving sparring, conditioning, and strategy development.
9. Gassed: When a fighter is exhausted and unable to maintain their pace, often due to poor conditioning or a grueling fight.
10. Gi: The traditional uniform worn in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, consisting of a jacket, pants, and belt.
11. Grappling: The aspect of MMA involving wrestling, takedowns, and ground fighting, aiming for control and submissions.
12. Ground and Pound: A dominant position where a fighter controls their opponent on the ground and delivers strikes.
13. Judges: The officials responsible for scoring each round and determining the winner in the absence of a finish.
14. Main Event: The featured fight on a card, typically involving the most high-profile fighters and championship bouts.
15. Mount: A dominant ground position where one fighter sits on their opponent's chest, controlling their movement and delivering strikes.
16. No Contest: A fight that ends prematurely due to an accidental foul or injury, resulting in no winner or loser.
17. Octagon: The eight-sided cage where most MMA fights take place, providing a contained and safe fighting environment.
18. Pay-Per-View (PPV): A system where viewers pay a fee to watch a specific MMA event on television.
19. Pound-for-Pound: A ranking comparing fighters' skills and accomplishments regardless of weight class.
20. Referee: The official in charge of enforcing the rules during the fight, ensuring fair play and safety.
21. Round: A five-minute segment of an MMA fight, separated by one-minute rest periods.
22. Submission: A technique that forces an opponent to tap out or verbally submit, ending the fight.
23. Tap Out: A physical or verbal signal of submission, indicating that a fighter can no longer continue.
24. Technical Knockout (TKO): A stoppage by the referee when a fighter is deemed unable to continue due to injury or overwhelming dominance.
25. Weight Class: The various weight divisions in MMA, ensuring fighters compete against opponents of similar size and strength.
26. Wrestling: A grappling sport focused on takedowns, control, and pinning opponents to the ground.
27. Catchweight Fight: A bout where both fighters agree to fight at a weight that does not fit into a traditional weight class.
28. Feint: A deceptive movement meant to mislead the opponent into reacting defensively, creating openings for an attack.
29. Fish Hook: An illegal move where a fighter uses their fingers to pull at the opponent's mouth, nostrils, or eyes.
30. Cutting Off the Cage: A strategy where a fighter restricts their opponent's movement by limiting their escape routes inside the cage.
31. Ground Control: A fighter’s ability to maintain dominant positions on the ground, controlling the opponent's movements.

Submission Techniques

1. 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.
2. Guillotine Choke: A choke where the attacker wraps an arm around the opponent’s neck from the front.
3. Heel Hook: A dangerous leg lock targeting the ankle and knee joint.
4. Kimura: A shoulder lock submission named after Masahiko Kimura.
5. Omoplata: A shoulder lock using the legs to isolate the arm.
6. Rear-Naked Choke: A choke applied from back control that restricts blood flow to the brain.
7. Triangle Choke: A submission using the legs to trap the opponent’s neck and arm.
8. Anaconda Choke: A front headlock choke compressing the neck using the arm.
9. Baseball Choke: A choke using grip positioning similar to holding a baseball bat.
10. Bulldog Choke: A front headlock choke applying pressure to the airway.
11. D’Arce Choke: A choke threading an arm under the neck and locking on the bicep.
12. Ezekiel Choke: A choke using the forearm across the neck, often from mount.
13. Gogoplata: A rare choke using the shin to compress the trachea.
14. Japanese Necktie: A choke combining arm pressure and leg control from the front headlock.
15. Keylock: A shoulder lock similar to an Americana.
16. Kneebar: A leg lock hyperextending the knee joint.
17. Modified Ezekiel Choke: A variation of the Ezekiel applied from side control.
18. Peruvian Necktie: A choke involving leg pressure around the neck and head.
19. Rolling Kneebar: A kneebar entered by rolling into the submission.
20. Scissor Sweep: A sweep using the legs to off-balance and reverse an opponent.
21. Submission Defense: Techniques used to prevent or escape submissions.
22. Americana: A shoulder lock applied by isolating the opponent’s arm.
23. Von Flue Choke: A counter choke applied against a guillotine attempt.
24. Toe Hold: A leg lock twisting the foot to apply pressure to the ankle and knee.

Striking Techniques

1. Elbow: A close-range strike often causing cuts.
2. Flying Knee: A jumping knee strike aimed at the head or body.
3. Foot Stomp: A downward stomp to the opponent’s foot.
4. Head Kick: A kick targeting the head.
5. Inside Leg Kick: A kick to the inner thigh.
6. Knee: A powerful strike using the knee.
7. Leg Kick: A kick aimed at weakening the opponent’s legs.
8. Overhand Right: A looping rear-hand punch.
9. Push Kick (Teep): A front kick used to manage distance.
10. Spinning Back Elbow: A spinning elbow strike.
11. Spinning Backfist: A spinning strike using the back of the hand.
12. Spinning Back Kick: A spinning kick to the body or head.
13. Spinning Heel Kick: A spinning kick using the heel.
14. Superman Punch: A punch thrown with exaggerated forward momentum.
15. Switch Kick: A kick thrown after switching stance.
16. Spinning Wheel Kick: A spinning heel kick delivered horizontally.
17. Backfist: A strike with the back of the fist.

Grappling & Ground Techniques

1. Back Mount: A dominant control position where a fighter controls the opponent from behind using hooks or a body triangle.
2. Body Lock: A clinch grip where both arms wrap around the opponent’s torso to control position or set up takedowns.
3. Body Triangle: A leg configuration from back control where the attacker locks their legs around the opponent’s waist to restrict movement.
4. Butterfly Guard: An open guard using inside hooks with the feet to elevate and off-balance an opponent.
5. Cage Control: Using positioning and pressure against the cage to limit an opponent’s movement and dictate where exchanges happen.
6. Catch Wrestling: A grappling style focused on controlling, pinning, and submitting an opponent, influential in MMA.
7. Closed Guard: A ground position where the bottom fighter wraps their legs around the opponent’s waist to control posture and set up attacks.
8. Crucifix: A control position where the opponent’s arms are trapped, often allowing strikes and limiting defense.
9. Double Leg Takedown: A takedown attack where the fighter drives in and captures both legs to bring the opponent to the ground.
10. Full Mount: A top control position where the attacker sits on the opponent’s torso, enabling strikes and submissions.
11. Guard: A ground position where the bottom fighter uses their legs to control distance, posture, and movement.
12. Guard Passing: The process of moving around or through an opponent’s legs to achieve a dominant top position.
13. Half Guard: A guard position where the bottom fighter traps one of the top fighter’s legs to control and set up sweeps or submissions.
14. Inside Trip: A takedown where the attacker uses an inside leg hook or reap to off-balance and bring the opponent down.
15. Mat Return: Bringing a standing opponent back to the ground after they begin to rise or after a takedown attempt.
16. North-South Choke: A choke applied from a north-south position using shoulder and arm pressure to compress the neck.
17. Open Guard: A guard position where the legs are not locked, allowing mobility for sweeps, submissions, and distance management.
18. Over-Under Clinch: A clinch position where each fighter has one underhook and one overhook, used for control and takedown setups.
19. Plum Clinch (Thai Clinch): A clinch using head control (often double collar ties) to set up knees and close-range strikes.
20. Scramble: A fast, transitional exchange where both fighters fight for position after a takedown or positional change.
21. Side Control: A dominant top position where the attacker controls the opponent from the side, often used to set up strikes or submissions.
22. Single Leg Takedown: A takedown where the attacker captures one leg and uses leverage to bring the opponent down.
23. Sprawl: A takedown defense where the fighter throws their hips back and down to neutralize a shot.
24. Sweep: A technique from the bottom that reverses position and puts the attacker on top.
25. Suplex: A takedown involving lifting and throwing an opponent, typically over the attacker’s body.
26. Inverted Guard: A guard position where the bottom fighter inverts their body to create angles for attacks and transitions.
27. Leg Lace: A control technique that traps both of an opponent’s legs together to limit movement and advance position.
28. Cobra Clutch: A grappling hold applied around the neck and upper body to control posture and movement.
29. Open Scoring: A scoring system where judges’ scores may be revealed during the fight, round by round.
30. Walkout Gear: Clothing and equipment worn by fighters during their entrance to the cage.
31. Octagon Control: A judging and strategy concept referring to who dictates positioning and where the fight takes place.

Fighter Archetypes

1. Brawler: A fighter who relies on aggression, toughness, and power to overwhelm opponents.
2. Counter Striker: A fighter who excels at timing and punishing opponents when they attack.
3. Grappler: A fighter who specializes in takedowns, control, and ground-based offense.
4. Gatekeeper: A seasoned fighter who tests rising contenders and separates prospects from top-level competition.
5. Journeyman: An experienced fighter who competes frequently and provides tough opposition, but is not typically a title threat.
6. Knockout Artist: A fighter known for finishing fights with devastating strikes.
7. Point Fighter: A fighter who emphasizes clean scoring, movement, and winning rounds over chasing finishes.
8. Pressure Fighter: A fighter who constantly advances, forcing exchanges and wearing down opponents through pace.
9. Submission Specialist: A fighter known for consistently securing submission finishes.
10. Veteran: A highly experienced fighter with years of competition and strategic awareness.
11. Well-Rounded Fighter: A fighter skilled across striking, wrestling, and grappling with few weaknesses.

MMA Leagues & Championships

1. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC): The largest global MMA promotion, featuring elite fighters across divisions.
2. Bellator MMA: A major MMA organization known for high-level competition and tournament-style events.
3. ONE Championship: A global combat sports promotion based in Asia, featuring MMA and other disciplines.
4. Professional Fighters League (PFL): A promotion structured around regular-season fights leading to playoffs and a championship.
5. Invicta FC: A women’s MMA promotion showcasing top female talent.
6. Rizin Fighting Federation: A Japanese promotion known for spectacle and unique rule variations.
7. Cage Warriors: A prominent European MMA promotion that has developed many top fighters.
8. Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA): A developmental league often seen as a pathway to larger promotions.

MMA Events & Culture

1. Cage Announcer: The announcer who introduces fighters and reads official results inside the arena.
2. Cutman: A corner specialist who treats cuts and swelling between rounds to keep a fighter able to continue.
3. Fight Card: The scheduled lineup of bouts for an event.
4. Fight Night Bonus: Extra money awarded for standout performances such as “Fight of the Night” or “Performance of the Night.”
5. Main Card: The featured portion of an event, typically containing the biggest fights.
6. Matchmaker: The person responsible for pairing fighters and building event lineups.
7. Open Workout: A public training session held before an event for media and fans.
8. Post-Fight Interview: An interview conducted immediately after a bout, often in the cage.
9. Press Conference: A media event where fighters and promoters discuss upcoming fights.
10. Trash Talk: Verbal hype, taunts, or promotional talk used to build interest in a fight.
11. Walkout Music: The music a fighter chooses for their entrance.
12. Weigh-In: The official pre-fight weight check to confirm fighters made their division limit.
13. Call Out: When a fighter publicly challenges a specific opponent after a win.

MMA Rules & Judging

1. Unified Rules of MMA: The standardized ruleset used by most major MMA organizations, ensuring consistency and safety across the sport.
2. Rankings: Lists maintained by various organizations and media outlets, ranking fighters within each weight class based on their performance and accomplishments.
3. Title Contender: A fighter who is considered a top contender for a championship belt, often based on their ranking and recent performances.
4. Title Eliminator: A fight between two top contenders, with the winner earning a shot at the championship title.
5. Decision Win: A victory awarded by the judges’ scorecards when a fight goes the full distance without a finish.
6. 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.
7. Exclusive Contract: A contract that binds a fighter to a specific MMA organization, preventing them from fighting for other promotions.
8. Free Agent: A fighter who is not under contract with any specific MMA organization and can negotiate with multiple promotions.
9. Interim Titles: Awarded in major organizations when the reigning champion is unable to defend their title.
10. Champion Clause: A contractual clause that allows a champion to negotiate more favorable terms for title defenses.
11. Contender Series: A reality show format used by some organizations to scout and sign new talent.
12. Legacy Fighter: A fighter who has competed in multiple organizations throughout their career, often with a long and storied history in the sport.
13. Promotional Rankings: Rankings maintained by individual MMA organizations, often used to determine title contenders and matchmaking decisions.
14. Title Defense: A fight where the champion defends their title against a challenger.

Weight Classes

1. Strawweight: Fighters weighing up to 115 pounds.
2. Flyweight: Fighters weighing up to 125 pounds.
3. Bantamweight: Fighters weighing up to 135 pounds.
4. Featherweight: Fighters weighing up to 145 pounds.
5. Lightweight: Fighters weighing up to 155 pounds.
6. Welterweight: Fighters weighing up to 170 pounds.
7. Middleweight: Fighters weighing up to 185 pounds.
8. Light Heavyweight: Fighters weighing up to 205 pounds.
9. Heavyweight: Fighters weighing up to 265 pounds.
10. Catchweight: A fight agreed upon at a non-standard weight outside official divisions.

Slang & Expressions

1. Beast Mode: A fighter entering an aggressive, dominant state.
2. Banger: A fight that is highly entertaining, action-packed, and competitive.
3. Can: A fighter considered an easy opponent, often used to pad another fighter’s record.
4. Chinny: A fighter who is easily hurt or knocked out.
5. Fight IQ: A fighter’s tactical intelligence and decision-making ability during a fight.
6. Gatekeeper: A veteran fighter who tests whether prospects are ready for top-level competition.
7. Glass Jaw: A fighter who is easily knocked out.
8. Journeyman: A fighter with many bouts who often faces rising talent.
9. Pillow Fists: A fighter who lacks knockout power.
10. Smothered: When a fighter’s offense is neutralized by pressure or control.
11. War: A brutally competitive fight with constant exchanges.