How Does Mixed Martial Arts End – Snap, Tap or Nap

Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a combat sport that incorporates both striking and grappling. But how does mixed martial arts end? How can you tell if the fight is over? It depends on the circumstances, and there are more possibilities than you might think. Let’s take a look at the different ways an MMA fight can end in detail.

Disclaimer: This article was published for entertainment and educational purposes. It should not be used as personal or professional or medical advice. Please consult your doctor before deciding to engage in any new exercise activities or nutritional regimen. Take care!

Knockout – The Ultimate Decisive Victory

mma fighting

If one fighter knocks the other out cold, there can be little wondering who wins. It doesn’t matter how good you are at fighting if you’re unconscious. The knockout is often considered the most decisive form of victory because of this. It’s also the method of winning that casual fans are most likely to be impressed by.

Submission – Snap, Tap or Nap

Winning by submission is often referred to as winning by tap out because tapping with a hand or foot is how fighters usually concede victory in grappling contests.

When a fighter is caught deep in a lock-hold or or chokehold, they can either tap or face the consequences (a broken limb – snap – or being put down for a nap).

Some people consider a submission victory even more decisive than a knockout because it forces the defeated combatant to decide between giving up in the moment or facing potential injury. In addition to tapping, fighters can verbally submit if necessary.

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Referee Stoppage

There are a number of reasons why a referee can and will stop the fight – let’s see how many we can uncover!

Technical Knockout (TKO)

One of the most common reasons a referee will stop an MMA fight is if they judge one of the fighters to be unfit to continue. This is known as a TKO.

Common causes of TKOs in MMA are when a fighter is absorbing too much ground and pound without the ability to properly defend, or when a fighter is “out on their feet”.

Throwing In The Towel

If a fighter’s corner crew (usually made up of their coaches and/or training partners) feels like they are absorbing too much punishment, they can throw in the towel. This can come in the form of them literally throwing a towel into the ring or via verbal communication with the referee.

Doctor Stoppage

This usually happens when fighters are badly cut or otherwise damaged but both they and their corner want the fight to continue.

Doctors check on fighters between rounds and examine them when necessary. Referee can also call for a pause to the fight in order to have a doctor check a fighter’s wounds at any time.

Disqualification

If one fighter violates the rules of MMA badly enough, they can be disqualified. Fighters are usually given warnings and/or point deductions before being disqualified, but obvious willing use of illegal attacks can result in an immediate DQ.

No Contest

If both fighters are unable to continue or if one of them is accidentally injured by an illegal move such as an eye poke, the referee can stop the fight and award a no contest.

These are fairly rare but due to the unpredictable nature of MMA they happen every so often.

Judges’ Decision

If the fight continues through all of the rounds without a victory being awarded, the result gets decided by a panel of three judges.

The judges all score the fight using the same criteria but often have very different takes on what is important.

Unanimous Decision

This is the most decisive victory a fighter can hope for when they leave it in the hands of the judges. A unanimous decision is awarded when all three judges score the fight for one fighter.

Majority Decision

A majority decision is awarded when two judges score the fight for one fighter and one scores the fight a draw.

Split Decision

A split decision is when two judges side with one fighter while the third judge thinks the other fighter won. These are the most controversial results as they often leave fans and fighters feeling like the wrong fighter got awarded victory.

Majority Draw

A majority draw is when both fighters score equal points from two judges and one judge declares a winner.

Draw

Draws are perhaps the most frustrating end to a fight as they usually leave each fighter feeling like they should have won. A draw is awarded when both fighters score equal amounts of points with all three judges.

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How Does Mixed Martial Arts End? Now We Know

In MMA, a fight can end in many ways. The different methods of winning can be categorized as knockout, submission, referee stoppage, and judges’ decision.

So how does mixed martial arts end? It depends on the fighter and their opponent’s strategy. One of the things fans love about mixed martial arts is how unpredictable it can be.

Learning mixed martial arts means embracing the unpredictable nature of the sport. It’s a practice in which you truly must hope for the best and prepare for the worst!