Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu : Rendering Decisions

Think you already know enough to skip straight to the quiz? Then go for it! If you don’t get 6/6, we’ll see you back here in a few minutes.

Submission, referee stoppage, scoring, drawing of lots: BJJ match outcomes follow precise rules defined by the official IBJJF rulebook (section 2). In this article, we walk through all 7 ways a match can end, from the most common to the most exceptional. To understand how points accumulate during a match before it reaches a decision, our article on BJJ point scoring is the perfect companion read.

What are the possible BJJ match outcomes?

A BJJ match can end in 7 different ways according to the IBJJF rulebook (section 2.1): submission, referee stoppage, disqualification, loss of consciousness, scoring, referee’s decision, or drawing of lots. Submission remains the most sought-after outcome, but each of these BJJ match outcomes follows specific criteria that every competitor should know.

• Submission: one competitor forces their opponent to tap out.
• Referee stoppage: the match is halted to protect the physical integrity of a participant.
• Disqualification: a competitor breaks the rules or displays unsportsmanlike behavior.
• Loss of consciousness: a competitor loses consciousness following a legal hold.
• Scoring: the winner is decided by the total points accumulated during the match.
• Referee’s decision: in the event of a perfect tie, the referee rules based on offensive output.
• Drawing of lots: the last resort in truly exceptional circumstances.

Together, these criteria ensure that BJJ match outcomes are always determined fairly, whatever situation arises on the mat.

How does submission end a BJJ match?

Submission is the most iconic of all BJJ match outcomes. It occurs the moment a competitor clearly signals their surrender: two taps with the hand on the opponent or the mat, two taps with the foot if the arms are pinned, a verbal tap-out, or an audible cry of pain (section 2.2). The referee stops the match immediately upon receiving this signal.

Concretely, there are four ways to submit in BJJ:

• Two hand taps on the opponent, the mat, or yourself.
• Two foot taps when both arms are immobilized by the opponent.
• Verbal tap-out: the athlete verbally requests the match to stop.
• A cry or groan of pain while in a submission position, interpreted by the referee as a tap.

Tapping out is thus a respectful and safe way to acknowledge an opponent’s technical superiority while avoiding serious injury. This is why tapping early and often is encouraged from day one in BJJ. For a closer look at the gestures referees use to signal these moments, check out our article on referee gestures and verbal commands in BJJ.

When can a referee stop a BJJ match?

A referee can halt a BJJ match for medical or safety reasons, independently of either athlete’s wishes (section 2.3). This is one of the BJJ match outcomes that lies entirely outside the competitors’ control. In all these cases, the opponent is declared the winner.

The five situations that can trigger a referee stoppage are as follows:

• Muscle cramp affecting one competitor: the opponent is declared the winner.
• Dangerous hold: the referee stops the match if they judge a hold could lead to serious injury.
• Medical assessment: if the doctor determines an athlete cannot continue due to an injury caused by a legal hold.
• Persistent bleeding: the match is stopped if an athlete continues to bleed after two medical interventions. Each competitor is entitled to one intervention per injury, at the referee’s request.
• Loss of bodily control: vomiting or incontinence results in an immediate match stoppage.

These provisions exist first and foremost to protect athletes’ health and ensure that all BJJ match outcomes are reached fairly and within the spirit of the rules.

What leads to disqualification in a BJJ match?

Disqualification occurs when one or both competitors commit fouls defined in Article 6 of the IBJJF rulebook (section 2.4). In that case, the referee applies the sanctions outlined in Article 7. Among all BJJ match outcomes, disqualification is the one that penalizes not technical performance, but a failure to respect the rules or the spirit of the sport.

In practice, fouls that can lead to disqualification include illegal submissions, unsportsmanlike conduct, intimidation, or any deliberately dangerous action against an opponent. The referee has discretionary power and may issue a warning before disqualifying a competitor, depending on the severity of the infraction. For a deeper understanding of how referees handle these situations, our article on the BJJ referee covers the full picture.

How does loss of consciousness affect BJJ match outcomes?

A competitor is declared defeated by loss of consciousness when it results from a legal hold by the opponent, or from an accident not caused by an illegal maneuver (section 2.5). This is one of the rarest BJJ match outcomes, but also one of the most medically serious.

Furthermore, any athlete who loses consciousness due to head trauma must immediately withdraw from the competition. They must be attended to by the medical team to ensure their safety and well-being. This rule applies even when the hold that caused the loss of consciousness was perfectly legal.

How does scoring determine BJJ match outcomes?

At the end of regulation time, the winner is the athlete who has accumulated the most points (section 2.6). This criterion also applies when a match is stopped due to simultaneous injuries to both competitors. Scoring is therefore one of the most frequent BJJ match outcomes at the elite level.

The recognized positions and their point values are:

• 4 points: mount, back mount, back control.
• 3 points: guard pass.
• 2 points: takedown, sweep, knee on belly.

If points are tied, the athlete with more advantages wins. If advantages are also tied, the competitor with fewer penalties takes the match. This system encourages an offensive style of play while respecting the rulebook. For a detailed breakdown of how each of these points is counted — including edge cases around guard pulls and submission defense — see our article on BJJ point scoring.

How does the referee decide BJJ match outcomes in case of a perfect tie?

When both competitors finish the match with the same number of points, advantages, and penalties, the decision falls to the referee (section 2.7). To rule on these BJJ match outcomes, the referee assesses which athlete was more offensive throughout the match and came closest to a scoring position or a submission.

When three referees are supervising the match, the collective decision prevails. This method resolves tightly contested fights by factoring in overall performance and attacking intent. However, it remains inherently subjective, which makes it one of the most debated BJJ match outcomes in competitive settings.

When does drawing of lots decide BJJ match outcomes?

Drawing of lots is the absolute last resort among all BJJ match outcomes (section 2.8). It applies only during a semi-final or final, when both athletes are accidentally injured at the same time, the score is tied at the moment of the accident, and neither competitor is able to continue.

This method is consequently used only when no other rule can determine a winner. It is the only situation in competitive BJJ where the outcome depends neither on technique, nor tactics, nor referee judgment.

The full version of these rules is available directly on the IBJJF website. And to test what you’ve just learned: Quiz 3: Rendering Decisions!

Frequently asked questions about BJJ match outcomes

What is the most common way to win a BJJ match?

Submission is the most sought-after of all BJJ match outcomes, as it ends the fight immediately regardless of the score. Scoring decisions and referee rulings come next. At the elite level, a significant share of matches end by submission, which reflects BJJ’s core philosophy: dominate to submit, not just to accumulate points.

What is an advantage in BJJ match outcomes?

An advantage is awarded when a competitor nearly reaches a scoring position or makes a serious submission attempt without fully meeting the required conditions. In BJJ match outcomes, advantages serve as the first tiebreaker when points are equal. If advantages are also tied, the competitor with fewer penalties wins. If everything remains equal, the decision goes to the referee.

Can a referee stop a BJJ match even if neither competitor asks for it?

Yes. A referee has full authority to stop a BJJ match at any point if they judge a hold is endangering an athlete’s physical integrity, or if the medical staff determines the match cannot safely continue. This stoppage results in the opponent being declared winner, even if neither competitor requested the interruption.

Can a competitor refuse to tap out in a BJJ match?

Technically yes, but at the risk of serious injury. If an athlete does not tap and the referee judges the hold is putting their physical integrity in danger, they can stop the match and declare the other competitor the winner. Tapping early and voluntarily remains the right call whenever caught in a fully locked submission with no viable escape.

How many points do you need to win by scoring in a BJJ match?

There is no minimum points threshold to win by scoring in a BJJ match: you simply need more points than your opponent at the end of regulation time. A single point advantage is enough. If points and advantages are tied, the competitor with fewer penalties wins. If everything remains equal, the referee makes the final call.

Does drawing of lots apply to all BJJ match outcomes?

No. Drawing of lots is reserved for semi-finals and finals only, and exclusively when both competitors are accidentally injured at the same time, the score is tied at the moment of the accident, and neither athlete can continue. It is an extremely rare outcome in competitive BJJ, used only as an absolute last resort when all other tiebreaking methods are unavailable.