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TKO vs KO: Learn The Differences Between These Two Decisions

By Alex Potranco · · Updated

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Photo by U.S. Department of Defense Current Photos, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Knock Out! One of the thrilling words a fighter could hear from a referee during a round.

In sports like mixed martial arts and boxing, you can easily win or lose due to a simple technicality.

Of course, with the many terms and jargon they use, you may not always catch up with what's happening within the ring.

But...

Not anymore! Because in this article, we'll discuss the two commonly interchanged terms in both MMA and boxing, which is the TKO vs KO. Let's get started.

Main Differences Between TKO vs KO

The main differences between TKO vs KO are:

  • KO stands for knockout, whereas TKO stands for technical knockout.
  • A KO is declared when a fighter is knocked unconscious or can't rise (in boxing, before the referee's 10-count ends), whereas a TKO may be declared even though the fighter is on their feet.
  • A TKO comes from a stoppage: the referee, the ringside doctor, or the fighter's corner ends the bout because the fighter can't safely continue.
  • In MMA there is no count, so the referee stops the fight once a fighter stops intelligently defending.

By Definition

A knockout means a fighter is no longer able to continue because of legal strikes. Under MMA rules, it's recorded as a "knockout by failure to rise from the canvas."

Once a knockout occurs, the fight ends and the winner is announced.

Don't confuse a knockout with a knockdown. A knockdown is when a fighter goes down but can get back up and continue, and a quick "flash" knockdown often doesn't end the fight at all.

Now, let's talk about technical knockouts.

A technical knockout is a stoppage. Unlike a knockout, it doesn't require you to be unconscious or unable to get up.

A referee may declare it when they decide you're no longer safe to continue. Under the MMA rules used by U.S. commissions, the ringside physician can also stop a bout, and so can an injury from a legal technique.

In some boxing bouts, a "three-knockdown rule" also ends the fight with a TKO when a fighter is knocked down three times in one round, but many major bouts don't use it.

In Boxing

Knockout (KO)

Boxing match ending in a KO

When a fighter falls to the ground after an opponent's strike, and they are still conscious, the referee will then begin to use a so-called 10-second countdown.

Within those 10 seconds, the fighter must get up and show they're ready to continue. If not, the referee declares a knockout.

Appearing "ready" does not only mean having your fists in position to strike but also being able to respond to the referee's questions. If the referee determines you are unable to respond, they will register a knockout, regardless of the fact that you are on your feet.

If a fighter is clearly unconscious, the referee doesn't need to finish the count and will stop the fight right away so the doctor can step in.

Technical Knockout (TKO)

In boxing, a TKO happens when the referee or ringside physician stops the fight, or when the boxer's corner stops it (by throwing in the towel or not letting the boxer come out for the next round).

Even if the boxer is on their feet and wants to continue, the fight ends if one of these officials decides they're in danger.

Technical knockouts exist because a boxer who can't defend themselves is at real risk of serious injury.

One example is when a fighter keeps taking punches without defending or firing back. Another is a bad cut or injury that the doctor rules too dangerous to fight through.

In Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)

Knockout (KO)

In MMA, how a fighter loses consciousness matters. Some fights that end with an unconscious fighter are recorded as submissions, not knockouts.

For example, chokes are legal in MMA. If a fighter is choked unconscious instead of tapping, the result is recorded as a technical submission, not a knockout.

For a knockout to be declared in MMA, a fighter must be knocked out by legal strikes, such as punches, kicks, knees, or elbows.

MMA knock out

Unlike boxing, MMA has no count. Fighters can keep striking a downed opponent within the rules.

So if a fighter is knocked down but can still defend themselves, the fight continues. It ends with a knockout, a stoppage, a submission, or the final bell.

Technical Knockout (TKO)

In MMA, a TKO usually happens when a fighter is trapped against the fence or pinned on the ground taking strikes and stops intelligently defending.

Ground and pound in an MMA bout

Photo by John McStravick from Dallas, Texas, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

As discussed earlier, an MMA fight isn't stopped just because a fighter is knocked down. The referee steps in when the downed fighter can't protect themselves.

Like in boxing, an MMA fight can also end by TKO when the doctor stops it for an injury or when a fighter's corner or the fighter refuses to continue between rounds.

Knock-Out Point: Knowing to box is good but getting into the competition is better! Learn the basics of pro boxing here -- How To Become A Professional Boxer.

Watch This!

Frequently Asked Questions

Does TKO count as a KO?

In most record books, yes. Boxing records usually lump KOs and TKOs together as "wins by knockout," and the UFC's stats list them together as "KO/TKO."

The difference is the reason. A knockout means the fighter was knocked out or couldn't rise, while a technical knockout means an official stopped the fight to protect the fighter.

Either way, a fighter who's been stopped should be checked for a concussion, which a blow or jolt to the head can cause.

How many KOs does Floyd Mayweather have?

Floyd Mayweather retired from pro boxing 50-0, with 27 wins by knockout.

His fight with Oscar De La Hoya in May 2007 is one of his most famous, but it went the distance and he won by split decision. His most famous stoppage of that era came against Ricky Hatton later in 2007.

Who has the most Knocked Unconscious Wins in boxing history?

Archie Moore, the longtime light heavyweight champion, is credited with the most knockouts in boxing history. Most counts give him 131 or 132, while some unofficial tallies go as high as 141.

He fought professionally from 1935 to 1963 and won about 185 pro fights.

Why do boxers throw in the towel?

"Throwing the towel" is a common phrase used to describe one's quitting in defeat.

However, in boxing, throwing the towel means that the fighter's trainer or cornerman literally threw a towel into the boxing ring.

This signals that the corner wants the fight stopped. Coaches do it when they see their fighter is overwhelmed, badly hurt, or at risk of serious injury.

It means the opponent wins by TKO, but it can save a fighter from damage that lasts far beyond one loss.

Is tapping out a form of KO and TKO?

No. Tapping out is an MMA thing. Under MMA rules, a physical tap or a verbal tap is recorded as a submission, even when a fighter taps because of strikes.

Boxing has no tap. A boxer who quits during the fight or refuses to answer the bell loses by knockout or TKO.

Conclusion

A knockout means a fighter was knocked out or couldn't rise. A technical knockout means the referee, doctor, or corner stopped the fight to protect the fighter.

The exact rules vary by sport and by commission, so a stoppage in boxing may not work the same way in MMA or Muay Thai.

We hope this cleared things up.

Sources

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