🥊MMA

Strikes, takedowns, submissions and the language of a fight week.

16 concepts

Columns follow the languages switched on at the top. Gender after the word (m/f/n); IPA beneath; notes, alternatives and origins underneath — nothing is hidden.

Concept	English	Français	Español
jab noun	jab The lead-hand straight punch.	jabm also: direct du bras avant	jabm also: directo
hook noun	hook Short /ʊ/, not /uː/ — 'hook', never 'hoke'.	crochetm	ganchom
uppercut noun	uppercut	uppercutm	gancho ascendentem also: uppercut
low kick noun	low kick A kick to the thigh. 'Leg kick' in American commentary.	low kickm	patada bajaf
knee (strike) noun	knee As a verb too: 'he kneed him in the clinch'.	coup de genoum	rodillazom
takedown noun	takedown Also a verb: 'to take someone down'.	amenée au solf also: takedown	derribom
sprawl noun	sprawl Hips down, legs back — the answer to a takedown.	sprawlm	sprawlm Spanish adds an e- before s + consonant: e-sprawl.
clinch noun	clinch	corps-à-corpsm	clinchm
guard noun	guard Two senses: hands up, or legs around the opponent on the ground.	gardef	guardiaf
submission noun	submission Stress on MISS. A choke or a joint lock that ends the fight.	soumissionf	sumisiónf
to tap out verb	tap out Tapping the mat or the opponent = I quit. Also a noun: 'the tap'.	abandonner Also 'taper' in gym slang.	rendirse Gym slang: 'dar golpecitos'.
knockout (KO) noun	knockout The k in 'knock' is silent. TKO = technical knockout.	knock-outm Usually just 'KO', said /ka o/.	nocautm Spanish respells the English.
round noun	round Five minutes in MMA, three in boxing.	roundm also: reprise	asaltom also: round
referee noun	referee Stress on the LAST syllable. Short form: 'ref'.	arbitrem	árbitrom
weigh-in noun	weigh-in 'Weigh' rhymes with 'day' — the gh is silent.	peséef	pesajem
cage / octagon noun	cage The UFC's is eight-sided: the Octagon.	cagef Same spelling as English, different sounds throughout.	jaulaf