Underground Fighting Glossary: 200+ Terms Defined
This is the hub page for every underground fighting term you need to know. Each entry includes a brief definition and links to the full glossary page where available. Terms are organized alphabetically for quick reference.
A
| Term | Definition | Full Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Armbar | A joint lock targeting the elbow by hyperextending the arm. | armbar |
| Arm Triangle | A chokehold using the opponent's own arm and the attacker's arms to compress the neck. | arm triangle |
| Athletic Commission | Government body regulating combat sports in a jurisdiction. | athletic commission |
B
| Term | Definition | Full Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Backyard Fighting | Informal combat conducted outdoors, typically in residential settings. | backyard fighting |
| Bare Knuckle | Fighting without gloves, with or without hand wraps. | bare knuckle |
| Beef | A personal dispute or grudge, often the motivation for unsanctioned fights. | beef |
| Blood4Blood | Format where the fight continues until one fighter bleeds. | blood4blood |
| Body Lock | A clinch position where one fighter wraps both arms around the opponent's torso. | body lock |
| Body Shot | A punch targeting the torso rather than the head. | body shot |
| Brawler | A fighter who relies on power and aggression over technique. | brawler |
| Breakaway | When the referee separates clinched fighters. | breakaway |
| Bucket Brigade | Corner team responsible for providing water, towels, and basic care between rounds. | bucket brigade |
C
| Term | Definition | Full Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Cage | Enclosed fighting area used in MMA and some underground promotions. | cage |
| Card | The full schedule of fights at an event. | card |
| Catchweight | A non-standard weight agreed upon by both fighters. | catchweight |
| Champion Belt | Physical championship award given to division winners. | champion belt |
| Chin Check | A punch that tests an opponent's ability to absorb strikes. | chin check |
| Clinch | Close-range grappling position where fighters hold each other. | clinch |
| Code of Honor | Unwritten rules governing fair conduct in underground fights. | code of honor |
| Combination | A series of strikes thrown in rapid sequence. | combination |
| Concrete Fighting | Fighting on hard surfaces like concrete or asphalt. | concrete fighting |
| Corner | The team supporting a fighter during a bout. | corner |
| Corner Stoppage | When a corner ends the fight by throwing in the towel. | corner stoppage |
| Counter Puncher | A fighter who waits for opponents to attack and capitalizes on openings. | counter puncher |
| Cross | A straight power punch thrown with the rear hand. | cross |
| Cut | A laceration caused by a strike, common in bare knuckle fighting. | cut |
| Cutman | A specialist who treats cuts between rounds. | cutman |
D
| Term | Definition | Full Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Dambe | West African martial art originating in Nigeria. | dambe |
| Double Leg | A takedown where the attacker drives through both of the opponent's legs. | double leg |
| Ducking | Avoiding a fight or opponent; also a defensive head movement. | ducking |
E
| Term | Definition | Full Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Exhibition | A fight held for entertainment with no official record impact. | exhibition |
F
| Term | Definition | Full Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Fence Grab | Illegal act of grabbing the cage fence during a fight. | fence grab |
| Fight Camp | Intensive training period leading up to a scheduled bout. | fight camp |
| First Blood | Rule where the fight ends when one fighter bleeds. | first blood |
| Flash KO | A sudden knockout that catches both fighters by surprise. | flash ko |
| Flying Knee | A knee strike delivered while airborne. | flying knee |
| Footwork | Controlled movement and positioning during a fight. | footwork |
| Full Mount | A dominant ground position sitting on the opponent's torso. | full mount |
G
| Term | Definition | Full Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Gate | Total ticket revenue from an event. | gate |
| Ground and Pound | Striking an opponent while in a dominant ground position. | ground and pound |
| Guard | A defensive ground position with the back on the mat. | guard |
| Guillotine | A front headlock choke applied from standing or guard. | guillotine |
| Guns Down Gloves Up | Streetbeefs motto promoting fighting over gun violence. | guns down gloves up |
H
| Term | Definition | Full Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Half Guard | A ground position where one of the opponent's legs is controlled. | half guard |
| Hay Bale Ring | Fighting enclosure made from stacked hay bales. | hay bale ring |
| Haymaker | A wild, powerful punch with maximum force but low accuracy. | haymaker |
| Hook | A circular punch targeting the side of the head or body. | hook |
| Hooligan Fighting | Organized fights between football hooligan firms. | hooligan fighting |
| Hype Crew | Group that builds excitement and promotes fighters on social media. | hype crew |
I-J
| Term | Definition | Full Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Jab | A quick, straight punch with the lead hand. | jab |
K
| Term | Definition | Full Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Kimura | A double wristlock shoulder joint lock. | kimura |
| Knee Bar | A leg lock targeting the knee joint. | knee bar |
| KO (Knockout) | Victory by rendering the opponent unconscious or unable to continue. | ko |
L
| Term | Definition | Full Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Liver Shot | A body punch targeting the liver, causing extreme pain and potential shutdown. | liver shot |
| London Prize Ring Rules | 1838 bare knuckle boxing ruleset. | london prize ring rules |
| Low Kick | A kick targeting the opponent's legs, typically the thigh. | low kick |
M
| Term | Definition | Full Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Main Event | The headlining fight on a card. | main event |
| Marquess of Queensberry Rules | 1867 boxing rules introducing gloves and timed rounds. | marquess of queensberry rules |
| Mount | A dominant position straddling the opponent's torso. | mount |
| Mufflers | Historical term for early boxing training gloves. | mufflers |
N-O
| Term | Definition | Full Entry |
|---|---|---|
| No Rules | Fighting format with minimal or no technique restrictions. | no rules |
| Orthodox | A right-handed fighting stance with the left foot forward. | orthodox |
| Overhand | A looping power punch thrown over the opponent's guard. | overhand |
P
| Term | Definition | Full Entry |
|---|---|---|
| P4P (Pound for Pound) | Ranking system comparing fighters regardless of weight class. | p4p |
| Parry | Deflecting an incoming punch with the hand. | parry |
| Power Shot | Any punch thrown with maximum force and intent to finish. | power shot |
| Pressure Fighter | A fighter who constantly moves forward to overwhelm opponents. | pressure fighter |
| Purse | Guaranteed payment for competing in a fight. | purse |
R
| Term | Definition | Full Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Rear Naked Choke | A chokehold applied from behind the opponent. | rear naked choke |
| Referee Stoppage | When the referee ends a fight to protect a fighter. | referee stoppage |
| Ring General | A fighter who controls the pace and positioning of a fight. | ring general |
| Ringside | The area immediately surrounding the fighting surface. | ringside |
| Rope-a-Dope | Defensive strategy of absorbing punishment while conserving energy. | rope a dope |
| Round | A timed period of fighting. | round |
S
| Term | Definition | Full Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Sanctioned vs. Unsanctioned | The distinction between regulated and unregulated fights. | sanctioned vs unsanctioned |
| Sand Circle | A fighting area marked in sand, used in some traditional formats. | sand circle |
| Scramble | A chaotic exchange of positions, typically on the ground. | scramble |
| Scratch Line | The line fighters must reach to continue under London Prize Ring Rules. | scratch line |
| Second | A fighter's cornerman or assistant. | second |
| Shin Check | Blocking a kick by raising the shin. | shin check |
| Single Leg | A takedown attacking one of the opponent's legs. | single leg |
| Slip | A defensive head movement to avoid a punch. | slip |
| Southpaw | A left-handed fighting stance with the right foot forward. | southpaw |
| Sprawl | A defensive technique to counter a takedown attempt. | sprawl |
| Square Up | To face an opponent and prepare to fight. | square up |
| Stance | A fighter's base position and foot placement. | stance |
| Standing Eight Count | A referee's count given to a standing but hurt fighter. | standing eight count |
| Sucker Punch | An unexpected punch thrown without warning. | sucker punch |
| Superman Punch | A flying straight punch with exaggerated forward momentum. | superman punch |
T
| Term | Definition | Full Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Takedown | Taking an opponent from standing to the ground. | takedown |
| Tap Out | Submitting by tapping the opponent or mat. | tap out |
| The Yard | Common name for the fighting area in backyard promotions. | the yard |
| TKO (Technical Knockout) | Victory when the referee stops the fight due to a fighter's inability to defend. | tko |
| Tomato Can | A fighter expected to lose, typically used to build another fighter's record. | tomato can |
| Triangle Choke | A submission using the legs to choke the opponent. | triangle choke |
U-V
| Term | Definition | Full Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Undercard | The fights preceding the main event. | undercard |
| Uppercut | An upward punch targeting the chin. | uppercut |
| Vale Tudo | Brazilian "anything goes" fighting tradition. | vale tudo |
W
| Term | Definition | Full Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Waiver | Legal document releasing the promotion from injury liability. | waiver |
| Walkout | A fighter's entrance to the fighting area. | walkout |
| Weigh-In | Pre-fight weight check to confirm weight class compliance. | weigh-in |
Terms by Category
Striking Techniques
Jab | Cross | Hook | Uppercut | Overhand | Body Shot | Liver Shot | Haymaker | Superman Punch | Flying Knee | Low Kick
Grappling Techniques
Armbar | Kimura | Guillotine | Rear Naked Choke | Triangle Choke | Double Leg | Single Leg | Takedown
Positions
Full Mount | Guard | Half Guard | Mount | Ground and Pound
Defense
Parry | Slip | Sprawl | Shin Check | Footwork
Fight Outcomes
KO | TKO | Tap Out | Corner Stoppage | Referee Stoppage
Historical Rules
London Prize Ring Rules | Marquess of Queensberry Rules | Scratch Line
