Looking for an explanation on the difference between KO (knockout) and TKO (technical knockout) in MMA or boxing? Then let us help!
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TKO v KO
TKO v KO means technical knockout & knockout.
What does TKO (technical knockout) mean in MMA?
A fight is ended due to technical knockout in MMA when a fighter has been rendered so incapacitated by their opponent that they are no longer able to intelligently defend themselves, howevery they are still conscious.
A technical knockout can take place on the feet, when a fighter is still standing, but they are no longer ‘in’ the fight. This can happen when a fighter shells up against the cage and continues to absorb unanswered strikes from their opponent.
A referee will tell the fighter to fight back or else he will stop the fight. If they receive no physical response, then they will call off the fight due to a TKO.
A TKO can also happen on the ground. If a fighter has been the victim of ground and pound, then they may be unable to defend themselves and the referee may jump in and call off the fight and class the stoppage as TKO.
What does TKO (technical knockout) mean in boxing?
A technical knockout in boxing has the same criteria as MMA, but there is a slight difference.
A TKO in boxing occurs when a fighter is ‘out on his feet’, taking relentless punishment from his opponent, without answering back with any intelligent punches of their own because he / she is physically unable to, yet they are still conscious. The referee will call off the fight and call it a TKO.
However, unlike in MMA, boxing has a 10 count, which means that a fighter can hit the canvas, or go down on 1 knee and he / she will have 10 seconds to get back to their feet and show that they can continue to fight.
If a fighter’s team decide that their fighter can no longer continue, or they want to stop him /her taking anymore punishment, then they can throw in the towel, and the referee will stop the fight, and class the outcome as a TKO.
Other times, a fighter may stand up after receiving their 10 count and say that they are ready to continue fighting, however, if they are swaying around on their feet, or the referee thinks they should not fight any longer, then the ref will wave off the fight, and the outcome will be a TKO loss for that fighter.
What does KO (knockout) mean in MMA?
A fight ends via KO in MMA when a fighter goes fully unconscious due to strikes of some kind, and is therefore unable to continue fighting.
When a fighter goes fully unconscious due to strikes, the referee will call off the fight immediately, to prevent the fighter from taking any more damage from their opponent.
What does KO (knockout) mean in Boxing?
A knockout in boxing occurs when a fighter has taken such a heavy blow, or blows, that they have been separated from their consciousness. They will hit the canvas, and be unable to get up. The referee will call off the fight immediately and call it a knockout.
Sometimes, a referee will begin a 10 count even when a fighter is unconscious. Once the referee sees that the fighter is completely unable to continue fighting, they will stop counting to 10 and they will wave off the fight.
