If you're a complete newcomer to MMA, you should check out the first part of our guide to give you a general introduction to the sport. Today, we bring you a guide to MMA phrases you're sure to hear over and over again.
General cliches
This is your classic grappler vs striker: Probably the most overused cliche in the sport. It is used to describe a fight between a wrestler and a fighter who prefers striking i.e. a kickboxer or a boxer. It is not as applicable to as many fights as most MMA pundits might like to think as the modern sport requires fighters to be well-versed in several disciplines.
Never Leave It in the Hands of the Judges: This MMA adage will do the rounds whenever there's a controversial split decision. Essentially, it means that fighters should ensure victory by finishing their opponent instead of letting it go to the judges scorecards.
It has become a way to make allowances for poor judging decisions. A recent example of an abysmal decision was at Fight Night 42. The judges gave Diego Sanchez the split decision victory despite being clearly beaten over three rounds by Ross Pearson. You can tell by the reaction of the crowd that the decision was controversial. Amazing considering Sanchez was fighting in his hometown.
Wrestling Is the Best Base for MMA: This cliche actually rings true. Fighters with a background in wrestling tend to excel at MMA. All you have to do is look at the belt-holders. Jon Jones, Johny Hendricks, TJ Dillashaw and Chris Weidman are all examples of current UFC champions who were stand out wrestlers in high school or college.
Middleweight contender Yoel Romero is a prime example of an elite wrestler who's shone in the UFC. He is an Olympic Freestyle Wrestling siver medalist.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnnURs1Bvzc
Gatekeeper: This is a fighter that is unlikely to make a run at the belt but is too good to be cut from the promotion. Conor McGregor might refer to them as a "jobber". They usually get matched up against young fighters to see if they have the mettle to compete in the UFC.
Stacked Card: An excellent event with a lot of marquee fighters on the main card. UFC Dublin is certainly not a stacked card.
Grinder: A fighter that has a penchant for winning in an unspectacular fashion. They rarely finish fights or try to get involved in a striking match. Generally, they try to control the fight from the clinch. Pat Healy is a good example of a grinder in the UFC
Vai Morrer!: The chant of choice by Brazilian MMA fans. It translates as "You're going to die". Hearing a stadium full of fight fans making the chant can be a very intimidating experience for foreign mixed martial artists fighting in Brazil.
On the Mat
Lay and Pray: A tactic employed by wrestlers where they hold their opponent on the ground, negating their fighting style and avoiding taking any damage. This is primarily used by grinders looking to scrape a win, which is rarely well-received by the crowd.
You've Gotta Work: An instruction shouted by cornermen and referees. If a fighter is "laying and praying" or not throwing any strikes on the ground, then the referee can deem them to not be "working" and make the fighters stand back up where the fight will resume.
Pull Guard: A Brazillian-jiu-jitsu technique where a downed fighter uses their legs to tie up their opponent and restrict their movement. Watch how Paul Sass does it to eventually get into a position where he can submit his opponent.
Posture Up: A way a fighter can counter a guard pull. It is where they keep their torso upright so that they can unleash their ground and pound from the mount position. It is a difficult manoeuvre to pull off from inside the guard.
Ground and Pound: When a fighter throws strikes from the dominant mount or top position while his opponent's on the ground.
Light heavyweight champion Jon Jones has one of the most vicious ground and pound in the sport.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=turP-ZLntrg
Kimura: A submission where a fighter isolates his opponent's arm and cranks it behind their back putting pressure on their shoulder. If the fighter does not tap out it can result in a lot of damage like Frank Mir did to Antonio Nogueira in 2011. Warning: not for the feint-hearted.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH9a7Uelzgo
Armbar: A submission involving a fighter straightening out their opponent's arm between their legs and bending it back towards their body. UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey is notorious for finishing fights using this method.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Iyuo9Kvy0s
Guillotine: One of the most popular submission techniques. It is essentially a headlock in which a fighter attempts to force their opponent to tap out by choking them out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KG5Q3DgPIhM
Clinches
Elbows/knees!: Shouted by coaches and cornermen. It is used to prompt the fighter to start landing elbows and knees in the clinch as opposed to trying to out-wrestle their opponent.
Wall and Stall: When a fighter holds their opponent against the cage, tying up their arms so that they can't do any damage. It is generally implemented by grinders.
Circle Out: Shifting momentum in the clinch to get your back off the cage . It's a way to counter fighters who wall and stall.
Takedown: Any way in which a fighter forces their opponent to the ground.
Stuffing: The act of stopping someone from taking you down to the ground. The most common method of stuffing a takedown is a sprawl. This involves throwing your legs behind you and dropping your weight to the ground.
Striking
Stand and Bang: Not as filthy as it sounds. When both fighters engage in an all out war on the feet and trade blow for blow as opposed to taking the fight to ground or engaging in a grappling match.
The first fight between Eddie Alvarez and Michael Chandler in Bellator is a prime example of both fighters willing to stand and bang. It was later voted as Fight of The Year in 2011.
In the Pocket: Directly in front of your opponent within striking distance. This is where fighters will predominately be if they are standing and banging.
Throwing Bombs: Another cliche of choice by commentators. It is used to describe when fighters throw punches with all their power to try to knock their opponent out.
He Tagged Him: A more macho way of saying he landed a strike.
On the Button: A more macho way of saying the strike was landed cleanly.
For example, Dong Hyun Kim's spinning elbow landed on the button here.
That Rocked Him: A more macho way of saying that the strike hurt or caused his opponent trouble.
Check out part one of our Bluffers Guide to MMA here.
