Last updated: May 11, 2026
Quick Definition
A backfist is a strike that lands with the back of the knuckles rather than the front. In MMA, the term most often refers to the spinning backfist, where a fighter rotates the body to generate power before the back of the rear hand connects with the opponent.
What is a backfist?
The backfist is a hand strike that uses the back of the knuckles as the contact surface. Its roots are in traditional martial arts, particularly karate, where the technique is called uraken uchi, which translates as “back-fist strike.”
What makes the backfist different from a standard punch is the angle of attack. A jab or cross travels in a straight line and lands with the front knuckles. The backfist follows a different path. The hand whips around in a horizontal or downward arc so the back of the knuckles strikes the target. That whipping path lets the strike arrive from outside the opponent’s normal field of vision, which is its main appeal.
In modern MMA, the basic standing backfist appears only occasionally. The spinning variant, by contrast, has produced some of the sport’s most memorable knockouts. Shonie Carter knocked out Matt Serra with a spinning backfist at 4:51 of round three at UFC 31 in May 2001, the first spinning backfist knockout in UFC history, according to Tapology and UFC.com.
How the backfist works
The mechanics depend on the variant. A standing backfist is generated by snapping the elbow and wrist forward, so the back of the hand flicks out in a short, fast arc. It is more a tool for speed and disruption than for raw power.
The spinning backfist gets its force from full-body rotation. The fighter pivots on the lead foot and turns the torso, then lets the rear hand swing in a horizontal arc as the spin completes. Most of the power comes from the centrifugal momentum of the rotation rather than from the arm itself.
A clean strike lands with the back of the knuckles. A mistimed one connects with the forearm or wrist instead, which is one reason the technique misses far more often than it lands.
Types of backfist
Two variants account for nearly all backfists thrown in MMA.
| Type | Power source | When it’s thrown |
|---|---|---|
| Standing (lead) backfist | Wrist and elbow snap | As a quick disrupter or distraction off the lead hand |
| Spinning backfist | Full-body rotation from the lead foot | Often as a counter after a missed kick, or off a feint when the opponent steps in |
A rarer variation seen in recent years is the double spinning backfist, where the fighter chains two rotations together in sequence. Shara Magomedov has used this version in the UFC.
Backfist vs. hammerfist
These two strikes are often confused, but the contact surface and motion are different.
| Backfist | Hammerfist | |
|---|---|---|
| Striking surface | Back of the knuckles | Pinky-side base of the closed fist |
| Motion | Whipping arc or rotational swing | Downward or sideways swing, like a hammer |
| Common use in MMA | Standing exchanges, counter striking | Top-position ground-and-pound, close-range mauling |
The backfist is more of a precision strike, with the temple and jaw as its most common targets. The hammerfist is a blunt-trauma weapon, often used from a dominant position on the ground where a tight closed-fist punch is harder to deliver cleanly.
Is the backfist legal in MMA?
Yes. Under the Association of Boxing Commissions Unified Rules of MMA, the standard governing professional MMA in the United States and most other jurisdictions, the backfist is a legal striking technique in both standing and spinning forms. It does not appear among the prohibited fouls.
Some amateur sanctioning bodies place restrictions on the spinning version. Mixed Martial Arts Australasia, for example, bans “punches thrown while rotating (Spinning Back Fist)” in its lowest-tier amateur class.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a backfist and a backhand?
A backhand is an open-palm slap delivered with the back of the hand. A backfist lands with a closed fist, specifically the back of the knuckles, and is the form used in MMA and traditional martial arts.
Why is the spinning backfist so risky?
The full-body rotation forces the fighter to take their eyes off the opponent for an instant and exposes the back. If the strike misses or is timed by the opponent, it leaves the fighter off-balance and open to counters or a takedown.
Who landed the first spinning backfist knockout in UFC history?
Shonie Carter, against Matt Serra at UFC 31 on May 4, 2001, per UFC.com and Tapology records.
Is a spinning backfist the same as uraken mawashi uchi?
Essentially, yes. Uraken mawashi uchi is the karate term for a spinning back-fist strike powered by full body rotation, and the MMA version is the same technique brought across from karate into the cage.
Sources
- Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports. “Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts.” 2022.
- UFC. “Legends Lookback: Matt Serra.” UFC.com.
- Tapology. “Shonie Carter vs. Matt Serra, UFC 31.”
- Sportskeeda. “5 of the best spinning backfist knockouts in UFC history.”
- Black Belt Wiki. “Back Fist – Martial Arts Striking Technique.”
- Fight Encyclopedia. “Backfist” and “Spinning Backfist.”
- Wikipedia. “Shonie Carter.”
- Mixed Martial Arts Australasia Inc. “MMAA Unified Rules for MMA.” 2021.
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