Fight sports are often bewildering. The aim is straightforward: incapacitate your rival. Everyone comprehends this notion. Yet, the structured nature of mixed martial arts injects rules and principles that can confuse casual UFC spectators.

You don’t have to clarify how Conor McGregor claimed the featherweight title by knocking out Jose Aldo at UFC 194, or who triumphed when McGregor succumbed to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229. But the question of whether Alexander Volkanovski genuinely defeated Max Holloway in their second encounter? That will be a lasting topic of discussion.

With UFC becoming more available through the fresh Paramount+ partnership, let’s dive into a detailed examination of how UFC matches conclude, which moves are deemed illegal, the scoring protocols, and the requirements for achieving championship status in the UFC.

How fights are decided

There are four distinct types of fight ends: knockouts, submissions, judges’ decisions, and disqualifications. Here’s a breakdown of each:

• Knockout (KO): Typically, when a fighter is incapable of smartly defending themselves. A TKO occurs when a competitor shows signs of being hurt under a barrage of strikes, without defending adequately.
• Submission: This can happen via a physical tap-out, verbal acknowledgment of surrender, or a technical submission due to unconsciousness or injury to bones or joints.
• Decision: Each match is evaluated by three ringside judges. A unanimous decision indicates all judges favored one fighter, while a split decision means two judges supported one competitor and one favoured the other. Technical decisions arise if a fight is halted prematurely due to an inadvertent foul.
• Disqualification (DQ): Rarely used, a DQ can occur if a fighter intentionally injures their opponent or repeatedly breaches rules.

What actions are prohibited in MMA?

MMA is officially endorsed as a sport. Here’s a discussing point for family gatherings when asked about your interest in ‘barbaric’ cage fighting.

Common fouls include head butting, eye-gouging, groin strikes, and biting. Differentiating intent plays a significant role as referees often hesitate to penalize fighters. Although referees can deduct points for serious or repeated offenses, this rarely occurs. Recent cases like an eye poke incident involving Tom Aspinall have increased scrutiny in unforeseen foul situations.

Specific target areas are off-limits: strikes to the spine, throat, and back of the head are not allowed. Also, kneeing or kicking a grounded fighter is prohibited.

Scoring intricacies

Fighting is composed of three five-minute segments, with championship matches occasionally extending to five rounds. Judges award points separately, typically scoring in 10-point systems where the victor in a round secures 10 points, with the opponent earning nine or fewer.

Winning the Fight

Most fights are won on a majority decision, but complexities arise. Please remember that rounds are valued independently, and confusion amongst fans and judges remains prevalent. Each round’s victor tends to be the fighter who engaged in impactful, dominant, and prolonged combat towards a verdict.

This guide should serve you well in discussions about MMA at holiday dinners or as a solid footing for understanding the sport.