The Combat Sports Lexicon
What’s “Mai Thai?” How is the UFC different from MMA? And what the hell is a ‘smoker?’ This is your one stop shop for all things combat sports terminology.
0-9
10-7 - the score for a fighter who dominantly wins a round during competition, or whose opponent both badly lost the round and had a point deducted for a foul.
10-8 - the score for a fighter who dominantly wins a round during competition, or whose opponent both lost the round and had a point deducted for a foul.
10-9 - the score for a fighter who wins a round during competition.
10-point must system - the scoring system by which most combat sport competitions are judged.
A
activity - a fighter’s frequency of competition.
ammy - an amateur competitor.
B
bagwork - training against any form of punching bag.
blue corner - one fighter’s designated side of the ring or cage at the start of a competition and between rounds. Traditionally this fighter is considered the “challenger” and walks out first.
bottom game - in sports involving grappling, a participant’s ability to effectively attack or defend from below their opponent.
boxing - a combat sport held in a ring where combatants are only permitted to throw punches.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu - a ground-based combat sport that uses leverage, joint locks, and choke holds to submit an opponent. Though traditionally practiced while wearing a gi, it may also be trained without.
C
cage - the apparatus in which MMA contests are held. Commonly referred to as the ‘Octagon,’ although they may have fewer sides.
cage work - techniques to be used in MMA while fighting against the cage. Also called wall work.
camp - the period of time when a fighter is actively preparing for an upcoming competition.
cardio - a fighter’s endurance over the span of training or a competition.
chin - a fighter’s ability to absorb strikes to the head without appearing to be impacted.
clinch - very close range, in-tight fighting. The rules and permitted strikes vary depending on the sport (MMA, muay thai, boxing, wrestling).
co-main event - the co-headlining bout of a combat sports event.
Combat Jiu-Jitsu - a type of jiu-jitsu that allows open palm strikes to a grounded opponent.
corner - the coaches or experienced training partners who provide verbal support to a fighter mid-competition and advice, water, and/or medical attention between rounds. May also be used as a verb (“cornering” a fighter) or the literal place that the fighter sits in between rounds.
cut - 1. The process of dropping body weight to reach the weight class a competitor has registered for. Also called a water cut.
2. To be removed from an organization’s roster.
D
decision - when neither participant in a combat sports event is able to finish their opponent, leaving the victor to be determined by the judge(s).
Dutch kickboxing - a variety of kickboxing that involves punching, kicks, and knees (the application of which may vary depending on the organization and rule set). It is generally an aggressive style of striking that emphasizes using one side of the body to chamber an attack from the other.
drilling - repetitive practice of a specific technique or sequence in order to build understanding and muscle memory.
E
ego rolling - live training in jiu-jitsu where the personal emphasis is on domination or ‘winning’ (in a context where such an idea doesn’t apply) over practicing technique. Generally frowned upon and considered poor etiquette.
eight count - in many striking sports, when a fighter has been dazed or knocked down and is given eight seconds by the referee to gather their bearings enough to continue. Receiving an eight count generally results in the fighter losing a point, to ‘meet the eight count’ results in the end of the fight.
F
fight IQ - a fighter’s ability to make sound tactical decisions in the midst of a competition.
finish - a knockout, TKO, submission, or any other end to a combative sport event that doesn’t require a judge’s decision.
flow rolling - light, relaxed sparring in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Often used as a warm-up, it emphasizes smooth, controlled movement, low resistance, and fine-tuning technique versus aggressive competition between training partners.
G
game - 1. A fighter’s unique, personal style of combat.
2. to be eager and ready to compete or participate.
gas tank - a competitor’s cardiovascular endurance. May be referenced as ‘gassed’ or ‘gas out.’
gi - the uniform worn for various martial arts, such as judo, jiu-jitsu, or karate consisting of a jacket, pants, and a belt.
grappling - often used interchangeably with no-gi jiu jitsu, but it technically encompasses many close-contact combat sports, including wrestling.
ground game - a person’s skill in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
H
heavy bag - a traditional, often floor-length punching bag.
I
J
Judo - a grappling sport that takes place while wearing a gi. Grips on the sleeve, collar, belt, or elsewhere on the gi are utilized to throw the opponent to the ground. May or may not involve the application of some submissions.
K
kickboxing - a broad term for a style of striking that consists primarily of punching and kicking.
KO - knockout. When one competitor inflicts a strike or multiple strikes that renders their opponent unconscious. It is one method by which a fighter may win a competition where striking is allowed.
L
M
main card - the highest profile matches of a combat sports event. Usually consists of championship bouts, fan favorites, or fighters with more experience and better records.
main event - the headlining bout of a combat sports event
MMA - mixed martial arts. This is the name of the sport practiced by competitors in the UFC and other organizations.
Muay Thai - a striking sport originating from Thailand. Also called ‘Thai boxing’ or ‘the art of eight limbs,’ it consists of punches, kicks, elbow and knee strikes, and off-balancing techniques.
N
no-gi - the style of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practiced in athletic wear versus a gi. In this style of jiu-jitsu, grabbing the opponent’s clothing is not permitted.
O
One Championship - a prominent combat sports organization based primarily in Asia and showcasing MMA, jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai, and more.
open mat - unstructured training time, most often used for live sparring. Often open to fighters from other gyms to encourage cross-training and promoting the sharing of knowledge between schools
P
padwork - a dynamic form of training in which a coach or training partner holds padded targets for their partner to strike.
play sparring - a low-intensity form of sparring that emphasizes cooperation between training partners, clean technique, and relaxation over heavy impact. Very commonly practiced by Thai fighters.
“position before submission” - a common saying/principle in submission grappling that emphasizes the importance of controlling a position before hunting for the finishing attack.
prelims - the lower profile fights that open up a combat sports event. Generally consists of fighters with less experience or poorer records.
pro - a professional fighter.
pro debut - a fighter’s first professional bout.
puffies - MMA sparring gloves, nicknamed for their additional padding and ‘puffy’ appearance
Q
R
rash guard - the shirt commonly worn during no-gi jiu-jitsu. Usually made of sweat-wicking, higher durability material than normal workout tops.
red corner - one fighter’s designated side of the ring or cage at the start of a competition and between rounds. Traditionally this fighter is considered the “champion” and walks out second.
ring - the apparatus in which boxing, Muay Thai, kickboxing, and occasionally MMA competitions are held.
ring rust - when a fighter’s performance is impacted after a long time away from training or competition.
roll - live sparring in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. It may be (but is not commonly) simply referred to as ‘sparring’ within pure jiu-jitsu gyms.
S
sandbag - misrepresenting oneself as having less skill for the purpose of facing lower-level competition
shadowboxing - a training exercise, performed solo and without making contact with any kind of target, to warm up, refine movement, and provide low-intensity practice.
shark tank - when fresh training partners are rotated in throughout a sparring session against a single fighter.
shinnies - shin guards
slap and bump - the traditional start to a sparring match or competition in jiu-jitsu. Both participants highfive, then fistbump, immediately prior to beginning. Also referred to as ‘slap hands.’
smoker - a low-stakes exhibition match, usually between novice competitors, for the purpose of experience rather than building a win-loss record.
sparring - live application of techniques versus a training partner. The intensity may range from very light contact to near fight pace depending on the situation.
spats - the leggings commonly worn during no-gi jiu-jitsu. Usually made of sweat-wicking, higher durability material than normal workout leggings.
split decision - when two out of three judges agree on the winner of a bout.
stand-up - may refer to combat sports that take place exclusively on the feet (like kickboxing or boxing) or the portion of grappling sports that begin on the feet but are meant to take the opponent to the mat (such as throws, takedowns, or trips).
sub-only - a ruleset in jiu-jitsu competitions where victory can only be accomplished by the successful application of a submission by either opponent.
submission - a joint lock or choke hold that is used offensively in jiu-jitsu and other grappling sports. Applying a submission to the point of a tap or referee stoppage is one means by which a competitor might win a bout. Often referred to as a ‘sub.’
submission wrestling - another name for no-gi jiu-jitsu.
submit - when one opponent taps to the other’s applied submission in MMA, or any form of jiu-jitsu, to avoid significant injury.
T
tap - a physical and/or verbal indication that a submission has been successfully applied to an opponent or training partner, before physical damage is done, in order to avoid significant injury. It may be spoken aloud (“tap!”) or indicated by three successive pats of the hand or foot, against the mat or either participant’s body.
TKO - technical knockout. This is when a competitor is inflicting significant, repetitive damage on an opponent with no intelligent defense from said opponent, forcing the referee to step in and end the bout. It is one method by which a competitor may win a competition.
top game - in sports involving grappling, a participant’s ability to effectively attack or control from on top of their opponent.
U
UFC - Ultimate Fighting Championship. The premier MMA organization in the world, the UFC is to mixed martial arts what the NFL is to American football
unanimous decision - when all judges agree on the winner of a bout.
V
W
walkout - the path a competitor takes to the ring, cage, or mat leading up to a competition. Usually accompanied by music, lights, and other spectacles to excite the audience.
wall work - techniques to be used in MMA while fighting against the cage. Also called cage work.
water cut - the acute dehydration process intended to drop body weight and reach the weight class a competitor has registered for. Also referred to as a cut.
white belt - someone who is either brand new or very new to combat sports
wrestling - a close-contact combat sport that uses throws, grip and postural control, and off-balancing to take the opponent to the ground and pin them. Rules vary significantly depending on the style (i.e. Greco-Roman versus freestyle).
