A submission in MMA is a way of winning a fight by forcing your opponent to give up, usually by making them “tap out” to escape a choke or a joint lock before they are choked unconscious or a joint is damaged. Along with a knockout and a judges’ decision, it is one of the primary ways a bout ends. A submission is a controlled surrender: the losing fighter concedes the position to protect themselves, and the referee stops the contest at once.
How a submission ends a fight
A submission works by putting an opponent in a hold they cannot safely escape. Faced with the choice of surrendering or suffering real harm, the trapped fighter signals that they give up. The moment that signal is given and recognized, the referee steps in and stops the bout, and the fighter who applied the hold is declared the winner by submission. The whole point is that the fight ends before serious injury occurs.
Tapping out and other ways to submit
The best-known way to submit is the physical tap. A fighter repeatedly and clearly taps their opponent’s body, the mat, or themselves with a hand or foot. This unmistakable signal tells the referee they concede. There are other recognized ways to submit as well:
- Verbal tap: the fighter tells the referee out loud that they submit.
- Technical submission: the referee stops the fight without a tap, for example if a fighter goes unconscious in a choke or an injury is clearly imminent.
In every case, the outcome is the same: the bout is over and the win is recorded as a submission.
Chokes
Chokes are the first major family of submissions. They work by restricting either blood flow to the brain or air to the lungs. A blood choke, such as a rear-naked choke or triangle, compresses the arteries in the neck and can render an opponent unconscious in seconds if they do not tap. An air choke restricts breathing instead. Because a choke can end consciousness quickly, fighters are trained to tap promptly once escape is no longer realistic.
Joint locks
Joint locks are the second major family. Instead of threatening consciousness, they threaten a joint, applying pressure that hyperextends or rotates it beyond its safe range. An armbar attacks the elbow, a kimura attacks the shoulder, and leg locks target the knee or ankle. The trapped fighter must submit to avoid a torn ligament, dislocation, or break. As with chokes, tapping in time is the responsible way to accept a lost position.
Common submissions to know
A handful of techniques appear again and again. Among chokes, the rear-naked choke, guillotine, and triangle are staples. Among joint locks, the armbar and kimura are foundational. Each has countless variations, but they all share the same logic: control the opponent’s body, isolate a vulnerable target, and apply pressure until they concede.
Getting to that finishing position is itself a battle. A fighter usually has to pass their opponent’s guard, take a dominant position such as mount or back control, and neutralize the defensive grips that would let the other fighter escape. This is why grappling exchanges can look like a slow, methodical chess match before a submission suddenly appears. The lock or choke is only the final step of a longer sequence of control.
The referee’s role
The referee is central to how a submission is resolved safely. Their job is to watch for the tap, listen for a verbal concession, and judge the moment a fighter can no longer intelligently defend. If a fighter is caught in a fully locked choke and goes limp, or the referee sees that an injury is about to happen, they will stop the bout even without a tap. This authority is what allows submissions to be a decisive but controlled way to end a fight, protecting a competitor who cannot or will not tap in time.
Why tapping is respected, not shameful
Tapping out is sometimes misunderstood as quitting, but within the sport it is regarded as the correct, mature response to a losing position. Submitting ends one bout and protects a fighter’s long-term health so they can compete again. It is a normal and expected part of grappling. To round out your understanding of how MMA fights are contested and decided, see how competitors are matched in MMA weight classes explained and how judges score bouts that go the distance in how MMA scoring works.
Frequently asked questions
How does a fighter tap out?
By repeatedly and clearly tapping their opponent, the mat, or themselves with a hand or foot. This physical signal tells the referee they submit, and the referee immediately stops the fight.
What is the difference between a choke and a joint lock?
A choke restricts blood flow to the brain or air to the lungs, forcing a fighter to submit or risk losing consciousness. A joint lock hyperextends or rotates a joint, such as the elbow or shoulder, forcing a submission to avoid injury.
What is a technical submission?
It is when a fighter is compelled to stop without tapping, for example if they lose consciousness in a choke, or the referee sees an injury is imminent and steps in. The result is still recorded as a submission.
Can you submit by verbal tap?
Yes. A fighter can verbally tell the referee they submit, which is called a verbal tap. It carries the same effect as a physical tap and ends the bout.
Is tapping out considered giving up?
Tapping is the accepted, responsible way to concede a losing position and protect yourself from serious injury. It ends that bout but is a normal, expected part of the sport rather than a failure of nerve.
What are some common submissions?
Common chokes include the rear-naked choke, guillotine, and triangle. Common joint locks include the armbar and the kimura. Each forces the opponent to tap or risk being choked unconscious or having a joint damaged.
