Side Control

Last updated: April 12, 2026

What is side control?

Side control (also called side mount or cross mount) is one of the most common positions in mixed martial arts groundfighting. The top fighter lies chest-to-chest at a right angle on top of their opponent, using upper body weight and arm positioning to hold them flat on the mat. In judo, the same concept goes by yoko shiho gatame.

What separates side control from other ground positions is the leg situation. The top fighter’s legs are completely free. They are not tangled with the opponent’s legs at all, which is the detail that distinguishes side control from half guard, where one leg remains trapped.

In the grappling positional hierarchy, side control sits below mount and back control but above half guard and full guard. Fighters most often reach side control after passing their opponent’s guard or completing a takedown, making it one of the first dominant positions established on the ground. From there, the top fighter can attempt submissions, deliver ground-and-pound strikes, or transition to a higher-control position like mount.

How side control works

When a viewer watches a fight go to the ground and sees one fighter lying across the other at a 90-degree angle, that is side control. The top fighter distributes their weight through the chest and hips to make the bottom fighter feel as heavy and immobilized as possible.

Two control points are common in this position. The crossface involves draping one arm across the opponent’s face or neck, turning their head away to limit movement. The underhook threads the other arm underneath the opponent’s far shoulder, controlling that side of their body.

The fighter on top uses side control to pursue one of several goals: hold the opponent down while landing elbows and short punches, set up a submission like the americana or kimura, or work toward a more dominant position like mount or back control. The fighter on the bottom, meanwhile, tries to create space using frames (forearms and elbows as barriers), recover their guard by getting a knee or leg back into the space between them, or scramble to their feet.

Variations of side control

Not every instance of side control looks identical. These are the main forms a viewer will notice during a fight:

Standard side control is the default version. The top fighter kneels beside the opponent with a crossface and underhook, chest pressing into their opponent’s chest. This is the variation used most often in MMA and BJJ.

Kesa gatame (scarf hold) comes from judo. Instead of the crossface and underhook, the top fighter wraps one arm around the opponent’s head and controls the near arm, turning slightly sideways with legs spread wide for base. This version applies heavy pressure to the ribcage.

Reverse kesa gatame (sometimes called twister side control) has the top fighter facing toward the opponent’s legs rather than their head. This variation opens up leg attacks and certain transitions that are not available from the standard position.

Knee on belly is a related position where the top fighter places one knee on the opponent’s stomach while standing on the other foot. It is not technically side control, but fighters frequently move between the two.

Side control vs. mount

Side control and mount are the two positions viewers see most when a fight goes to the ground, and they get confused with each other regularly. The core difference is body orientation.

In side control, the top fighter is beside the opponent, lying perpendicular. The upper body does the pinning work, and the legs are free. In mount, the top fighter sits on top of the opponent’s torso with legs straddling their body. The legs do most of the pinning work, which leaves the hands free to strike or hunt for submissions.

Mount ranks higher in the grappling positional hierarchy. Under IBJJF Brazilian jiu-jitsu rules, achieving mount scores four points, while passing the guard (which typically leads to side control) scores three. In MMA, no points are awarded for positions, but judges tend to score mount as more dominant.

Side control has its own advantages, though. It is easier to maintain against a skilled opponent because the perpendicular angle makes bridging and bucking less effective. Many experienced grapplers and MMA fighters prefer side control as a working position for that reason, even if mount is theoretically more dominant.

	Side control	Mount
Body orientation	Perpendicular (beside opponent)	On top of opponent, legs straddling
What does the pinning	Upper body and chest pressure	Legs, hips, and body weight
Hands free to strike?	Limited (one arm often used for control)	Yes (both hands free)
Stability	High (hard for opponent to escape)	Moderate (opponent can bridge and roll)
BJJ competition points	3 points (for guard pass)	4 points

Frequently Asked Questions

Does side control score points in BJJ competition?

Side control itself does not have a dedicated point value in IBJJF rules. The three points awarded when a fighter reaches side control are for the guard pass that preceded it.

Is side control better than mount?

Mount is ranked higher in the positional hierarchy, but side control is easier to maintain. Some fighters prefer side control because the risk of being reversed is lower.

What submissions are common from side control?

The americana (keylock), kimura, arm triangle choke, and north-south choke are among the most frequent submissions attempted from side control.

Can fighters strike from side control in MMA?

Yes. The top fighter can land short punches, hammer fists, and elbows to the head and body. Side control is a common platform for ground-and-pound, though the striking options are more limited than from mount.

---

Sources

1. Wikipedia. “Side control.” Accessed April 2026.
2. Grapplearts. “What is Side Control in BJJ and Submission Grappling?” Accessed April 2026.
3. Evolve MMA. “BJJ 101: Side Control.” Accessed April 2026.
4. Evolve MMA. “3 Escapes From The Side Control In BJJ.” Accessed April 2026.
5. Elite Sports. “Side Control: Attacking, Defending and Escaping Side Control.” Accessed April 2026.
6. BJJ More. “Side Control: 10 Tips For Top & Bottom Side Control BJJ.” Accessed April 2026.

Related MMA Terms