subject: Street Fighting Vs Sport Fighting [print this page] The difference between street fighting and match fighting are really quite different. Street fighting involves no rules, where match fighting usually has a number of rules of what a fighter can and can not do. In a match fight, there are also a very detailed point system that helps judges decide a winner if both fighters go the distance (both fighters do not tap out, or are knocked out after the amount of agreed upon rounds has been reached). The point system can get pretty detailed based on how difficult the move being executed is and if it is done properly. This also includes punches, and in some cases kicks. These are tallied up and a winner of each round is decided. In most fights, judges award the winner of the round ten points, and the loser anywhere from nine to zero points. If the round is said to be a tie, both fighters are awarded the full ten points. If the points are tied at the end of the match, the judges will get together and use their own discretion to decide a winner.
In match fighting there are a lot of "no no's" that are not present in street fights. These moves include spitting, hair pulling, hitting in the shorts area and scratching to name a few. This causes a penalty on the perpetrator and if done a few times in a single match, can cause disqualification and will lose the match instantaneously. Street fights have no rules, which also makes them a lot more dangerous. There is no one there to stop the fight if one of the fighters is clearly down and out. A lot of the "don'ts" in match fighting are used in street fights and can help them win, as that is the main objective. They can help you win in times when you hare out matched by a more skillful opponent, even though most fighters would agree upon that they do not want to be classified as a dirty fighter.
Although street fighting and match fighting are quite a bit different, each carries over to the other significantly. If a fighter is good on the ring, the skills and experience he or she learns there will help him or her in a street fight, and vice versa. However, a match fighter needs to be aware of the situation and hand and be ready for such moves that they do not need to worry about in the ring. This goes for street fighters who may fight dirty as well. If you are used to street fighting you need to be cautious not to use these illegal moves in the ring as they can cause you to forfeit the match.
