UFC Weight Classes and How Fights Are Scored

A UFC card can look confusing at first: different divisions, three-round and five-round fights, and results that read "TKO (doctor stoppage)" or "split decision." This guide covers the weight classes, how judges score a fight and every way a bout can end.

The weight classes

Men compete from flyweight to heavyweight. The women's divisions are strawweight, flyweight, bantamweight and featherweight.

Weigh-ins

Fighters weigh in the day before the event. In a title fight, both fighters must be at or under the division limit. Non-title fights allow one extra pound. A fighter who misses weight usually forfeits part of their purse to the opponent, and the bout may proceed at a catchweight or be canceled.

Rounds

Every round lasts five minutes. Most fights are scheduled for three rounds. Championship fights and main events are scheduled for five.

How judges score a fight

Three cageside judges score each round independently using the 10-point must system. The fighter who wins the round gets 10 points, and the other usually gets 9. A dominant round can be scored 10-8, and a completely one-sided round 10-7. Point deductions for fouls are subtracted from a fighter's total.

Every way a fight can end

• KO or TKO: a knockout, or a stoppage by the referee, the ringside doctor or a fighter's corner.
• Submission: a fighter taps out or verbally submits to a hold, or is rendered unable to continue by it (a technical submission).
• Decision: the fight goes the distance and the judges decide. All three judges agree in a unanimous decision; two of three in a split decision; in a majority decision, two pick the same winner and the third scores it even.
• Draw: the scorecards do not produce a winner.
• Disqualification: a fighter commits a serious or repeated foul.
• No contest: the fight is voided, for example after an accidental foul ends it early or a result is overturned.

Follow every fight week with our UFC and MMA news.