Full Mount: Dominant Ground Position Sitting on the Opponent
Full mount is a dominant ground position where a fighter sits on top of the opponent's torso, straddling their hips with knees on the ground on either side. From this position, the top fighter has access to devastating strikes and numerous submission attacks, while the bottom fighter has extremely limited offensive options. Achieving full mount is often the beginning of the end of a fight.
Origins and Usage
The mount position has been recognized as dominant in grappling arts for centuries, from medieval wrestling traditions through judo and into modern Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The early UFC events demonstrated the mount's effectiveness to a mainstream audience, as grapplers used the position to control and finish opponents who had no ground defense.
From full mount, a fighter can deliver ground and pound with both hands, attack armbars, and set up chokes. The bottom fighter must expend enormous energy to escape, often creating further openings for the top fighter in the process.
In Underground Fighting
In underground fighting, full mount on a hard surface is an extremely dangerous position for the bottom fighter. Without the cushion of a mat, ground and pound from mount drives the back of the bottom fighter's head into concrete or packed earth with each impact. This amplifies the damage significantly compared to the same position on a regulation canvas.
Underground fighters who achieve full mount are often given free reign to finish the fight, as the position is so dominant that continued resistance from the bottom can result in unnecessary damage. Experienced underground competitors will tap out or verbally surrender from mount rather than absorb sustained punishment on a hard surface.
Related Terms
- Mount -- General term for the top ground control position
- Ground and Pound -- Striking from mount position
- Guard -- Bottom position that fighters try to establish to escape mount
See Also
- Armbar -- Submission commonly attacked from full mount
- Arm Triangle -- Choke that can be applied from the mount