How long are muay thai rounds

We now move on from Muay Thai rules to the complex art of Muay Thai scoring. Muay Thai scoring actually differs from other combat sports like boxing or MMA. This is why fight fans who are more familiar with the two sports are prone to misjudge Muay Thai bouts that are closely-fought. This guide here will serve to clear some doubts and help you understand how fights are scored in Muay Thai. In order to understand the way a Muay Thai fight is scored, you need to know the criteria used in scoring.

These are basic but established rules that every judge utilizes in every fight to help them decide the outcome. As to how points are awarded, a judge gives 10 points to the fighter that is thought to have won the round.

The fighter who lost the round is given 9, 8, or 7 points accordingly depending on number of standing 8-counts given. If a round is considered a draw then both fighters will be awarded 10 points each.

There are a few things that judges look for, namely:. This is the most important criteria for judges. What this means is that the fighter is able to land clean and powerful strikes while using all of his weapons. The strike is still going to score.

It is also about quality over quantity when it comes to effective striking. Effective strikes are clean strikes that inflict damage, throw the opponent off-balance, or leave them wobbly. Unchecked kicks to the arms can and do add up in terms of damage. Arms can and have been broken this way sometimes in Muay Thai. A fighter who is good at forcing the action and going after an opponent who is always moving backward is going to score.

A fighter will be rewarded for the ability to control the opponent and set the tempo of the fight. A technically superior fighter can score in this aspect by defusing aggressive attacks as ring control is favored over aggression. He will also be more poised to win when he shows dominance with sweeps and effective counter moves. This is important in Muay Thai, particularly since you have a lot of weapons at your disposal.

The cleaner and more technically proficient strikes will score, as well as the more powerful ones. The judges are keen to see how the strikes are disrupting the movements of the opponent. Also important in their eyes are the balance as well as the timing of each fighter. If a strike can knock a fighter off balance, then that scores highly for the judges. All things equal, kicks and knees do score more favorably over punches but boxing does matter when effectively utilized. Combinations and strikes that lead to heavy blows are also favored.

Each of those rounds is important and figure heavily in how the fight is scored. In Western boxing, fans are used to seeing fighters come out smoking from the opening bell. Most boxers are aggressive from the very start of the fight. How long is a kickboxing round? How long does it take to be good in Muay Thai? Does Muay Thai get you in shape? Is Kung-Fu or Muay Thai better? Can a Muay Thai fighter beat a boxer? Is Muay Thai useful in a street fight?

Is Muay Thai or boxing better for street fighting? Can a boxer beat a kickboxer? Is Muay Thai Good for beginners? Is 30 too old for Muay Thai? Is Muay Thai difficult to learn? Can you train Muay Thai without fighting?

Is sparring a real fight? Fairtex Muay Thai gloves are high-quality, durable and offer premium protection for Muay Thai fighters. We are massive fans, so check them out! In sanctioned Muay Thai bouts, including fights at the prestigious Lumpinee and Rajadamnern Stadium , rounds last three minutes. Female Muay Thai fights are sometimes sanctioned for two-minute rounds instead of the traditional three minutes.

Most people are used to watching boxing or MMA fights where fighters rest for one minute between rounds. The long two-minute break allows fighters to recover in between rounds.

Thai fights usually start slow until the pace intensifies in the money rounds rounds four and five. The Muay Thai vs Kickboxing debate has been around for decades. There are many differences between the two combat sports, including how many rounds the fight is sanctioned for. Knockouts might happen in round 2 from time to time, but round 1 mostly serves to get to know your opponent and discover his weak spots.

Judges score the bout as a whole, so these rounds will not carry much weight on their scorecards. Fighters are ready to risk more. Usually, a fighter with better skills and cardio leaves a better impression on judges. Some of them honestly believe the competition kicks off at the beginning of round 3. Well, this is a very specific parameter. There is no need to waste too much energy because judges will hardly give the victory to his foe. Yet, the losing ring warrior must march forward.

When the fighters were even throughout the previous part of the match, they will continue throwing everything they have at each other. But if the dominant competitor destroys his opponent in the first two or three minutes of round 5, he might relax tempo and focus on the defensive aspect of the game.

Their logic looks like this. The first two periods are slow or very slow. Rounds 3 and 4 bring amazing domination of one fighter. The dominant fighter defends in the final round of the match, outworks his foe, and wins via decision. Rules say five, but everybody has a different way to view the world. I like to say seven, while diehard fans of violent exchanges stick to numbers two or three.