Last updated: 7 November 2026
Reviewed by Jordan Morley, FA Level 2 Football Coach
A significant strike, as UFC Stats classifies it, is either a power strike landed at distance or in the clinch, or any strike at all landed while a fighter is on the ground — the idea being that a shot with real weight behind it, or one landed when an opponent can't easily retreat, counts for more than a glancing blow exchanged at close range. It's the single stat broadcasters and judges reference most when talking about who's "winning the striking."
- A power strike landed at distance (not a light jab in a clinch)
- Any clinch strike thrown with real power, not just controlling contact
- Any strike at all — power or not — landed on a grounded opponent
- Not counted: light "feeling out" strikes in the clinch, blocked strikes, or strikes that clearly miss
UFC-wide significant strike accuracy averages 43–46% — meaning a bit under half of attempted significant strikes actually land clean. Fighters landing above 50% are considered unusually precise. Volume varies a lot by style: pressure fighters and volume strikers often land 7–10+ significant strikes per minute (SSPM), while patient counter-strikers may land only 3–5/min but at a noticeably higher accuracy. Significant strike defence — strikes absorbed divided by strikes attempted against a fighter — is tracked the same way and is just as predictive of a fighter's durability over a full fight.
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Significant strikes in MMA scoring (power strikes landed at distance, or any strike landed while grounded) are weighted more heavily by judges than less impactful strikes thrown in close range during clinch exchanges, which is why a fighter landing fewer total strikes but more significant ones can win a round on the judges' scorecards over an opponent who lands a higher total volume of lighter strikes.
FAQ
What is a significant strike?
A significant strike is a power strike landed at distance or in the clinch, or any strike at all landed on a grounded opponent, as classified by UFC Stats. It excludes light, glancing or clearly blocked strikes.
What is considered a significant strike in UFC?
UFC Stats counts a strike as significant if it's a power shot landed at distance, a hard strike landed in the clinch (not just light controlling contact), or any strike landed while the opponent is on the ground.
What's the difference between total strikes and significant strikes in MMA?
Total strikes counts every strike landed, including light jabs and controlling clinch contact. Significant strikes only counts the power shots and ground strikes that actually do damage — it's the number judges and analysts weight more heavily.
Why does significant strike count matter for judging?
Judges generally weight significant, more impactful strikes more heavily than total strike volume, so a fighter landing fewer but harder, more significant strikes can outscore an opponent landing more total but lighter strikes.