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UFC - Mixed Martial Arts terms Category: Sport and Leisure > Ultimate Fighting Championship Date & country: 09/03/2016, USA Words: 128

Abu Dhabis / ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship
A bi-yearly grappling event in which many of the world's best gi and non-gi submission grapplers compete.

Americana
Also known as a keylock, this is a complex submission usually obtained from mount or side control position. An Americana is performed by isolating the wrist and forearm and twisting the arm to put pressure on the shoulder.

Ankle Lock
A leglock submission hold where the ankle joint is attacked and hyper-extended.

Ankle Pick
A variation of the single leg takedown commonly featured in freestyle/folkstyle wrestling. In order to perform an ankle pick, the attacker grabs and elevates their opponent's ankles off the mat, before either lifting or driving through.

Anaconda Choke
A variation of the arm-triangle choke from the front headlock position. In order to execute the choke, the choking/attacking arm is pushed through past the neck and under the armpit before locking up with the second arm's bicep, thus impeding the blood flow on both sides of the opponent's neck.

Arm-Triangle Choke
A submission hold whereby a person is choked with their own arm on one side and the attacker's arm on the other side of the neck.

Armbar
A common submission hold that entails an opponent's arm being straightened out between the instigator's thighs, before being bent and hyper-extended at the elbow to the point of submission.

Arm Throw
The idea of gaining control of your opponent's arm and using it as a lever to pull the rest of their body over your center of gravity in order to complete a high amplitude takedown.

Arm Drag
A move common in amateur wrestling, this act requires an attacker using two hands to control the wrist and tricep of their opponent and then pulling them into position to gain control of the side or back.

Bout
An alternative name for a fight or contest.

Boxing
A combat sport and form of striking where only the knuckles of the padded glove are used to strike the head and upper torso of an opponent.

Body Triangle
The act of controlling an opponent's body by wrapping one's legs around the torso. The ankle secures the lock when fitting under the knee of the other leg, thus producing a triangular shape created by both legs.

Bodylock
More commonly known as a 'bear hug'. From an upright position, a fighter's arms are wrapped around the torso of their opponent and then connected around the other side in order to set up a potential takedown.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
A grappling art first developed in Brazil in the early 1900's with a heavy emphasis placed on groundwork and submissions.

ButterflyGuard
A variation of the traditional guard, where both legs are hooked in between an opponent's legs, thus keeping the opponent inside the thighs of the fighter with his back to the ground.

Cauliflower Ear
The calcification of the ear from repeated contact during grappling.

Catchweight Bout
When a fight is made at a pre-determined weight outside of the normal weight class parameters. Can also be used to classify a bout in which one competitor or both will not be able to make weight, but that has been determined beforehand to be held at the new weight. A fight in which one of the competitors does not make weight but still takes place is not a catchweight bout.

Catch Wrestling
An amalgamation of grappling styles such as Greco-Roman Wrestling and Catch-as-Catch-Can Wrestling originated in England during the 1800's.

Choke
A generic term used in grappling to explain the restriction of blood to the brain as a result of pressure being applied around a fighter's neck.

Clinch
When two competitors mete in a standing position and grab on to one another in an attempt to exert their physical strength and gain close-quarter control.

Cornerman
Also referred to as a 'corner'. This is a source of support and advice for a fighter during a bout, whether it be a coach, assistant coach or cutman.

Counter-Punch
When a fighter evades or blocks a strike and then immediately returns with a punch of their own.

Crucifix
A grappling maneuver with the emphasis on ground control. In order to perform a crucifix, a fighter will stretch out and isolate their grounded foe's limbs with the use of their own legs and arms. Once the opponent is prone and unable to protect themselves, the attacking fighter will be free to end the fight unchallenged.

Cross
Thrown from an orthodox and upright stance, a cross is a punch performed by the rear hand and one normally delivered along a straight trajectory from the jaw to the target.

De La Riva Guard
A variation of the guard and one popularized by Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt, Ricardo De La Riva. To utilize this guard, one leg is hooked behind a standing opponent's legs from the outside, while the initiating fighter controls the ankle with a hand on the same side. The other hand holds the sleeve of the opponent.

Decision
Should a bout travel the full scheduled distance, a decision will be rendered by three judges at its conclusion. These scores will be tabulated and the winner of the bout will then be decided.

Dirty Boxing
When two opponents engage in a close-quarter stand-up battle and choose to hold and control their opponent with one hand, while throwing punches, commonly hooks and uppercuts, with their free and spare hand.

Disqualification
A loss incurred by one fighter, usually due to a rules infraction.

Double Leg Takedown
One of the two most popular takedowns in freestyle or folkstyle wrestling. In order to complete a double-leg takedown, an attacker will drop down and drive between their opponent's legs with a step. The shoulder then impacts the midsection, thus tipping the opponent's center of gravity over the attacker and creating a loss of balance. Once this shot is initiated, the attacker will then use their arms and momentum to drive through, preventing their foe from regaining balance and fully executing the takedown.

Duck Under
A common wrestling maneuver performed while standing in or close to a clinch position. The idea is to gain an advantageous position on an opponent by driving one's head under their elbow/tricep and moving to the side or back.

Fish Hook / Fish Hooking
The illegal and prohibited move of putting fingers in an opponent's mouth and then 'hooking' inside the cheek area.

Fight Camp
An intense period of sustained training, usually carried out for eight to ten weeks before a scheduled bout. It is during fight camp when trainers and sparring partners help prepare a competitor for an upcoming bout.

Fireman's Carry
A wrestling takedown performed from a tie-up position. To complete the move, an attacker holds on to their opponent's arm, ducks under and drops to both knees, while shooting their other arm through the opponent's legs and pulling them over their shoulders and on to their back.

Footwork
In the striking arts, footwork is the term used to describe one's ability to maintain balance and control distance through movement.

Foul
An illegal maneuver or conduct administered by a fighter during a bout.

Folkstyle Wrestling
A style of amateur wrestling practiced in the United States in the scholastic system and predominantly through college.

Freestyle Wrestling
One of the two Olympic amateur wrestling styles .

Front Kick
A linear kick performed by lifting the knee straight up, straightening the leg and then thrusting the ball of the foot at a target.

Gable Grip
Named after legendary Iowa wrestling coach Dan Gable, this move places emphasis on a palm-to-palm clasping of the hands with thumbs at the side of each hand, as opposed to intertwining them.

Gi
A Japanese term for a training uniform worn by many exponents of traditional martial arts such as karate and Judo.

Gogoplata
A complicated chokehold performed from the guard, and one which involves an attacker using both an arm and leg (shin) to squeeze the neck of an opponent.

Greco-Roman Wrestling
One of the two Olympic amateur wrestling styles that prohibit holds below the waist and therefore places an emphasis on throws.

Ground and Pound
A tactic originally employed by wrestlers to take an opponent to the ground and begin striking from a grounded position.

Grapevine
The concept of using one's legs to intertwine with those of an opponent in order to maintain control while on the ground.

Grappling
A general term that covers the techniques and disciplines used to gain an advantage over an opponent without the use of striking.

Gracie Family
The pioneering fighting family and celebrated originators of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Guillotine Choke
One of the most common and popular submissions, this move is sometimes performed in a standing position, but more often from the guard. It requires an attacker gripping on to the prone neck of their opponent in a front headlock position and then squeezing the grip tightly until rendering a submission.

Guard
A Brazilian Jiu Jitsu position that requires a fighter lying flat on their back and controlling an opponent's movement and position by keeping them tied up and restricted between their legs. There are many variations of this position. 2. A boxing term describing the act of keeping both hands up to protect the face.

Hammer Fist
The act of an attacking fighter using the side of their clenched fist to strike down on a grounded opponent.

Haymaker
A wild, fight-changing power punch.

Half Guard
This is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu position commonly used when full guard is unavailable. If a grounded fighter is unable to secure complete control via full guard, they will settle for trapping only one of their opponent's legs between their own in order to complete half guard.

Heel Hook
Considered one of the most dangerous submissions in the sport, this move requires an attacker immobilizing an opponent's leg and then placing their forearm on the side of the heel to twist it and force the submission.

Head and Arm Throw
An amateur wrestling takedown that requires an attacker using their opponent's head and one arm to throw them to their back.

Heavyweight
A weight-class where competitors range from 206 lbs (93.4 kg) to 265 lbs (129.2 kg) in weight.

Hip Toss
A common amateur wrestling throw performed when the attacker secures one of their opponent's arms and slides their other attacking arm around the opponent's back/waist area. The attacker then turns and lifts their opponent up, over their back and on to the ground.

Hook
A punch delivered by the lead hand in a circular motion from the standing position. 2. In grappling terms, 'hooks' refer to the act of seizing and restricting the movement of an opponent's limb to establish a dominant position.

Jab
A fundamental strike in boxing and one performed by snapping out the lead hand along a straight trajectory

Joint Lock
This describes any technique used to make a joint suffer unnatural movement or contortion, thus causing pain, discomfort, damage and potentially a submission.

Judge
One of three neutral adjudicators selected by an Athletic Commission to score and decide the outcome of a fight which goes the scheduled distance.

Judo
A grappling martial art and sport created in Japan by Kano Jigoro in the late 1800's. Judo is an Olympic sport that allows groundwork and submissions, and is commonly noted for its emphasis on throwing techniques.

Karate
A predominantly striking martial art, first developed in Okinawa/Japan and with many branches and variations.

Keylock
A submission obtained when a fighter is in the mount or side control position and isolates the wrist and forearm of their opponent in order to then twist the arm and apply pressure to the shoulder.

Kimura
A submission similar to a keylock or americana, and named after a Japanese Judoka, Masahiko Kimura, this move occurs when an opponent's arm is isolated and cranked behind their back, thus putting immense pressure on their shoulder.

Kickboxing
The generic term for a sport and style of striking that utilizes hand and foot techniques. Some forms and styles of kickboxing include the use of knees and elbow strikes as well.

Knockout
A strike that leaves an opponent unable to continue and results in a premature conclusion to a bout.

Kneebar
This submission is achieved when an opponent's knee is locked out straight by an attacker, who then places pressure on the ligaments behind the knee in pursuit of a tap.

Knee Tap
A freestyle/folkstyle wrestling takedown that requires an attacker placing one hand on the outside of their opponent's knee to prevent movement, while they drive in that same direction.

Kung Fu
A generic term that refers to the entirety of Chinese martial arts.

Leglock
A general term for the act of isolating an opponent's leg and executing any one of many possible submissions.

Level Change
When a fighter moves from an upright stance to a lower stance, by dropping down to the waist or legs of their opponent, in order to elicit a reaction or shoot for a takedown.

Lightweight
A weight-class where competitors range from 146 lbs (66.2 kg) to 155 lbs (70.3 kg) in weight.

Light Heavyweight
A weight-class where competitors range from 186 lbs (84.3 kg) to 205 lbs (92.9 kg) in weight.

Majority Draw
The decision rendered when two of the three judges rule a bout even at its conclusion.

Middleweight
A weight-class where competitors range from 171 lbs (77.5 kg) to 185 lbs (83.9 kg) in weight.

Mount
A dominant grappling position which allows the attacker to straddle their opponent's torso from the top and thus enjoy a greater sense of control.

Muay Thai
A kickboxing/striking art and the national sport of Thailand. Muay Thai specialists utilize hand, foot, knee, and elbow strikes from a stand-up position.

Neck Crank
A grappling submission and control move and one that entails an attacker applying force on an opponent's neck to create pain and discomfort and potentially force a submission.

North South Choke
A choke submission achieved when an attacker is on top and chest to chest with an opponent, but positioned in an opposite north-south direction. The attacker then proceeds to wrap one arm around the neck of their grounded opponent before squeezing to generate the submission.

No Contest
The outcome of a bout that prematurely ends due to unforeseen circumstances, with no victor rendered at the end. A stalemate.

Octagon
The eight-sided specially-designed structure where all UFC bouts take place.

Omoplata
A submission hold that requires the attacker using their legs to isolate an opponent's arm and apply pressure to the shoulder. It is most commonly obtained while utilising the guard position.

Overhand Right/Left
An arching and curved power punch thrown with the rear hand.

Overhook
Also commonly referred to as a 'whizzer', an overhook is performed in a clinch or tie-up situation by taking an opponent's arm and burying the hand in their chest or ribcage, and then moving so that both torsos are facing the same relative direction.

Over-Under Position
A very common clinch/tie-up position where both combatants have one arm around the opponent's body and the other arm over the opponent's arm, sometimes clasping hands around the back in order to set up an upper body throw.

Pankration
An ancient Greek Olympic competition and style which featured some of the same techniques and methods of today's modern mixed martial arts.

Peruvian Necktie
A variation on the front choke (i.e. guillotine, anaconda choke), this move requires the attacker briefly standing up, scooting in and sitting down, before throwing their legs up and over the back of their opponent.

Posture
One's ability to keep their torso perpendicular to the floor, especially useful when looking to avoid chokes in an opponent's guard.

Pummel
Fighters will pummel when battling for position of the arms and torso while in the clinch, with the aim of getting both arms on the inside and around the opponent's mid-section.

Push Kick
A variation of the Muay-Thai front kick, this move requires the ball of the foot moving forward in more of a linear motion, sometimes resembling a stomp. At times referred to as a teep.

Pull Guard
If a grappler is unable to take their opponent to the ground via takedowns, they will clinch and pull their opponent on top of them by wrapping their legs around the torso, initiating full guard and then looking to set up a submission or sweep from a grounded position.

Referee
An official appointed by the applicable Athletic Commission and someone fully responsible for ensuring the bout rules are adhered to and that the safety of the athletes is paramount.

Rear Naked Choke
This is a common choke applied when an attacker secures the back of their opponent and uses this advantageous position to set up a choke from the opponent's blind spot. In order to finish the choke, the attacker will sometimes vine their opponent's legs or utilize a body triangle to reduce the chance of losing position.

Round
A five-minute time period within which two fighters compete under mixed martial arts rules. Non-title bouts consist of three rounds and title fights consist of five rounds.

Sanda
Also known as San Shou, this is a modern sport and style of kickboxing widely practiced in China. Striking is combined with throws until a competitor hits the ground. The sport also incorporates a raised platform and points are awarded for taking an opponent out of the competition area.

Sambo
A relatively modern Russian martial art and sport and a hybrid of submission arts and amateur wrestling. Sambo tournaments incorporate both grappling and striking.

Shrimping
A grappling technique utilized by a mounted fighter, who will look to turn to their side, pull their knee through to the chest and secure a more positive half guard position.

Sit-Out
A grappling technique most common in folkstyle wrestling, this move occurs when a fighter claims their opponent's back in a sitting or standing position, only for the position to then be reversed when the fighter in the disadvantageous position reaches back between their foe's legs to grab a knee and switch positions.

Side Control
Sometimes referred to as 'side mount' or 'cross mount', this is a grappling position that positions the attacker on top of their opponent's torso and perpendicular to them on their back.

Single Leg Takedown
One of the two most common takedowns in freestyle/folkstyle wrestling, and one performed when an attacker grabs an opponent's leg with both hands and drives them to the mat. There are many variations of this particular technique.

Southpaw
A striking term used to describe a competitor who fights with their right hand and right foot forward and throws a jab with their right hand.