How can a mixed martial arts fighter win by submission?

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Two mixed martial arts fighters face off inside a caged ring, viewed through the chain-link fence with a referee and audience in the background. — mixed martial arts Two fighters competing in a mixed martial arts contest.

In mixed martial arts, a fighter can win a bout by forcing their opponent to submit. This occurs when a competitor signals that they have had enough, either by physically tapping their hand against the opponent or the mat, or by providing a verbal indication of submission to the referee.1

Submission is one of the primary ways a match can conclude, alongside a knockout or a decision by a panel of judges if the fight goes the full distance.1