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Mixed Martial Arts

Ways to win an MMA fight

Amy Kaplan
Ways to win an MMA fightJeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Methods of victory in MMA fights can vary.

Mixed Martial Arts victories can come in many shapes and sizes. Sometimes fighters win via a wild, viral knockout. Sometimes they can squeak out a win via a close-fought decision. Below we'll discuss several different ways fighters can see their hands raised at the end of a fight. 

Types of KO/TKO wins in an MMA fight

KO and TKO wins are some of the more exciting ways to win a fight. There are several ways a fighter could win via this method. KO/TKOs can come via a single punch, a kick, a knee, ground and pound, or other methods that render a fighter unable to fight back. 

Types of submission wins in an MMA fight

Submissions happen often in MMA fights and can be just as exciting as a knockout if done right. A submission is when a fighter taps into something like a choke, an armbar, or a heel hook. A technical knockout comes when a fighter is put to sleep and is rendered unable to tap out. There's also something called a verbal submission when a fighter screams out in pain. This sometimes happens when a bone is broken or when the fighter's hands are incapable of making the tapping motion. 

Types of decision wins in an MMA fight

A decision win comes when the fight goes the full three or five rounds without a result. The judge's scores will be tallied to determine a winner either unanimously, split, or even a draw. Some fans think a decision win isn't as exciting as a finish but all-out brawls can be exciting and still end in a decision. 

Other types of wins in an MMA fight

There are a few other ways an MMA fight can be won. One of those is a win via disqualification. This happens when your opponent does something to be pulled from the fight. It's rare, but it does happen. A fighter can also win via corner stoppage. This is when the opponent's coaches "throw in the towel" and call off a fight. A doctor can also step in and call off a fight for something like a cut or a gruesome injury. Those kinds of stoppages would fall under a TKO. 


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