How does a draw happen in MMA?

HOLLYWOOD, FL - JUNE 26: The octagon is seen during the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships at the Seminole Hard Rock & Casino on June 26, 2021 in Hollywood, Florida. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, FL - JUNE 26: The octagon is seen during the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships at the Seminole Hard Rock & Casino on June 26, 2021 in Hollywood, Florida. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images) /
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While rare, a draw does happen in MMA, but how?

In MMA, there are four primary ways that a victory can occur. A KO, TKO, submission, or decision are those outcomes. But there are also times where a winner can’t be declared, and in those instances, a draw is the result.

But the question is, how? Well, fights are scored on a 10-point must system, as the judges look for striking, grappling, aggression, and cage control. That criteria helps make viewing the fights rather easy to understand, although mistakes can be made. Though draws aren’t exactly mistakes by the judges, it does leave a bit of uncertainty in the eyes of the public.

Gustavo Lopez vs. Alantengheli ended in a draw

A draw can happen in multiple ways, but the most common infraction is a foul. The second UFC Vegas 37 fight between Gustavo Lopez and Alatengheli provided fans with a direct example of what a draw looks like.

In a razor-close fight, Alatengheli grabbed the fence which prompted the referee to deduct one point from his overall total. Without the grab, Alatengheli would have walked away with a 29-28 decision win, but instead, the outcome of the fight will remain unknown until further notice.

At press time, two of the first three fights have been finishes from Las Vegas, NV.

Next. UFC Vegas 37: Anthony Smith vs. Ryan Spann live results and highlights. dark

UFC Vegas 37 took place on Saturday, Sept. 18, live from the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, NV. Follow along with FanSided MMA, who is on site, for all your live results and highlighs.