Muay Thai Scoring Explained: Traditional vs. Entertainment Standards in Thailand and Beyond

Muay Thai scoring can seem mysterious, especially since the criteria vary widely based on region and organization. It’s so complex that people, even those who have been involved in the sport for years, are constantly asking, “How do you score this fight?” This guide breaks down how scoring works in Thailand, where tradition shapes criteria, and how it contrasts with scoring abroad and in entertainment-focused bouts.

Given these factors, this guide focuses on scoring criteria within Thailand, Muay Thai’s birthplace, written from the experience and understanding of a professional Muay Thai fighter who has been living in Thailand for almost 9 years. There will be mentions and comparisons with scoring outside of Thailand, as well as for amateur Muay Thai.

Content:

• General Scoring
  • Scoring Advantage
  • Scoring Disadvantage
• Point System
• Traditional Muay Thai vs Entertainment Muay Thai
• Scoring in Thailand vs Outside of Thailand
• Amateur vs Professional Scoring
• FAQs about Muay Thai Scoring
  • What are Considered Fouls?
  • What’s the Deal with Gamblers?

General Scoring in Muay Thai

In Muay Thai, judges look at a combination of factors to determine the winner of a fight. Scoring is based on both offensive and defensive skills, meaning that it’s not just about landing the most punches or kicks, but how well you defend, your balance, and your overall control of the fight.

What Earns Points?

A score is given when a fighter lands a powerful and accurate hit with fists, feet, knees, or elbows. Judges are looking for clean, effective strikes that land on target with noticeable impact. In addition to striking, clinch work and sweeps are taken into account. Here’s how scoring breaks down, in order of significance:

Scoring Advantage (in favor of a fighter) is Given to the Fighter Who:

• Lands the heaviest, most powerful, and accurate hits.
  • Example: One strong clean body kick is favored over 6 fast (but light) punches
• Uses Muay Thai weapons (fists, elbows, knees, and feet) to cause the opponent more physical damage and exhaustion (this can include cutting their opponent).
  • Example: Leg kicks that have the opponent limping.
• Demonstrates effective Muay Thai defense techniques, such as blocking and countering.
• Lands the most hits / displays better aggressive attack style.
• Commits the fewest rule violations.

Scoring Disadvantage (in favor of the opponent) Occurs When:

• The opponent successfully blocks their strikes with arms (for punches and elbows) or legs.
  • Example: If you kick and they block with shin, your kick is nullified.
• The strike is weak or lacks power.
  • Example: Two fighters throw the same kick – the one that looks more impactful is favored.
• Their kicking leg is caught, and they fall to the ring floor (due to poor balance or a technique executed by opponent).
• The fighter breaks any rule while using Muay Thai techniques or non-Muay Thai techniques (refer to the Fouls section for more detail).

Muay Thai Point System

In Muay Thai, some promotions score the entire fight as a whole, while some others score round-by-round (more on this later). However, in situations where fights are scored as a whole, the 10-point must system is still used as a reference for each round. Here’s a basic breakdown of the round scoring system:

Round Scoring:

• Even Round: 10-10
• Clear Winner: 10-9
• Dominant Winner: 10-8
• Winner with Opponent Count (Once): 10-8
• Winner with Opponent Count (Twice): 10-7

*Note that some promotions, like ONE Championship, do not do ties in rounds or fights.

Please support the continuation of content on Muay Ying via Patreon

Judging Considerations

When scoring Muay Thai fights, judges consider both strategy and technique. Understanding what judges prioritize can help fighters adapt their style to win fights more consistently.

Strategic Level (Importance in Decision Making):

1. Effective Strikes (70%): The most critical factor. Judges look for accurate, powerful strikes delivered with proper Muay Thai technique. This is the bulk of what influences a decision.
2. Ring Generalship (20%): Fighters who control the fight pace, control the ring, dictate exchanges, and defend effectively are rewarded.
3. Pure Aggression (10%): Although less important, fighters who push the action and maintain aggression can gain an edge, especially if the fight is close. Keep in mind that, just because someone is more aggressive does not mean they are scoring more.

Technique Level:

• Judges prefer clean, crisp techniques that hit the target.
• Blocking and checking strikes reduce the scoring impact of those attacks. For instance, a checked kick won’t score points.
• Significant effects (visible impact / notable effects) causing your opponent to stumble, lose balance, break posture, or get knocked down, score highly.

Additional Considerations:

• Dominance: Fighters who sweep, throw, or counter their opponents effectively (it visibly affects and bothers the opponent) can gain more points.
  • Outside of Thailand, sweeps and dumps are sometimes not scored.
• Visible Damage: Although not a primary scoring factor, visible damage like cuts or redness/swelling/bruising can help sway the decision if the fight is close.
• Posture and Body Language: Judges (especially in Thailand) consider fighters’ posture when scoring the fight. If the fight posture is steady, strong, and is maintained throughout the fight, it will go more in their favor, as opposed to someone who is hunched over with their head down in the clinch.
• Fouls: Fighters who commit fewer fouls are favored in scoring, but usually as a last resort if the scoring is very close and given neither fighter made huge fouls (such as soccer kicks).

Traditional Muay Thai vs Entertainment Muay Thai Scoring

Traditional Muay Thai

In traditional Muay Thai, particularly in Thailand, the pace of a fight follows a distinct rhythm over five rounds. What makes traditional Muay Thai different from “entertainment Muay Thai” is mainly the presence of gambling on-site.

Unlike entertainment Muay Thai, these fights allow for early ‘feeling-out’ rounds, especially in the first and sometimes second round, where fighters test each other’s style and gamblers place their bets.

In traditional Muay Thai fights, judges assess a fighter’s overall performance, not just the number of strikes landed. While clean strikes and aggression are important, they are evaluated alongside factors such as strategy, resilience, and ring control.

As rounds progress, action intensifies, with the fourth round often carrying the most weight in deciding the winner. This round heavily influences the judges’ overall impression of a fighter’s performance.

• The first round of a traditional Muay Thai fight is often seen as a “feeling out” period where fighters assess each other’s style, timing, and strategy. While this round is still scored, it’s generally less aggressive, with fighters conserving energy for the later rounds. This measured approach is a hallmark of traditional Muay Thai, where patience and strategy are highly valued. This “feeling out” round also allows gamblers time to place their bets. If nothing significant happens during this first round and the scoring is fairly even, it is scored as 10-10.

• Sometimes, the “feeling out” process is carried into the second round. Usually, the second round has more action than the first, but the purpose is generally the same: to test the reactions of the opponent and to allow gamblers time and information to place their bets. Similar to the first round, if nothing significant happens, it is scored as 10-10.

• The third round is when there is a considerable shift in action. Game plans are put into action, and gamblers usually start making a bigger fuss with “ooweee”s during the fight to encourage their favored fighter to win.

• The fourth round is weighed the most in traditional Muay Thai fights. This round can dictate who wins by decision, even if nothing significant happened for them in the previous rounds. It is during this round that the stakes are highest and there is most action. This round carries so much influence that many people say, “Win this round, win the fight” – although this is not true in all cases.

• Similar to the first round, the fifth round can be more relaxed, especially if it’s clear who has the upper hand. If the outcome seems obvious to both the judges and the fighters, the action may slow down, with fighters engaging in what’s often called a “dance-off.” The losing fighter no longer wishes to engage to prevent further damage to themselves, and the winning fighter does not wish to inflict unnecessary damage to their opponent, especially if they touch gloves – a non-verbal agreement that the fight is over and no “real” fighting will incur any more. Both fighters will then dance around the ring, waiting for the round to finish. Or they will lightly throw strikes, but nothing that will cause damage. This shift in intensity is part of the traditional flow of Muay Thai, where fighters focus more on defense and protecting their lead rather than pushing for a finish.
  • However, if the losing fighter has a strong desire to win (sometimes for financial reasons such as a side bet or “injection” from a gambler), the only way to win is by knockout. In these cases, the losing fighter will do their best to knock out their opponent, usually with punches and elbows. It is very obvious at this point who will win, should the fight go to decision.

Entertainment Muay Thai

The “feeling out” and “dance-off” rounds are being phased out by the entertainment Muay Thai promotions. In an effort to make Muay Thai more exciting for TV audiences, some promotions (such as ONE Championship, Muay Thai Super Champ, Fairtex Fight, and Rajadamnern World Series) use 3-round formats with different scoring criteria, resulting in what is considered “entertainment Muay Thai”. These fights are faster-paced, with less emphasis on the traditional feeling-out process and more focus on immediate action, which encourages action from beginning to end. As a result, this type of ruleset tends to favor aggressive high-volume fighters.

Entertainment Muay Thai scores every single round. While factors like effective strikes, ring control, and defense remain important, they are assessed within the context of each individual round. The judges are required to follow a “10-point must” system. This came about to be a standardized way to judge each round independently, with the cumulative scores determining the overall winner (as opposed to traditional Muay Thai, where the fight is usually judged as a whole). They are usually three rounds, but can sometimes be five rounds for title fights. Fighters who engage in “feeling out” or “dance-off” rounds are warned by officials to engage in action ASAP.

Pros and Cons of Each

Until fairly recently, Muay Thai was deeply associated with poverty and hardship, often seen as a last resort for those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Fighters and trainers, many of whom grew up in challenging conditions, turned to the sport as a means of survival. This background contributed to a social stigma surrounding Muay Thai, leading people from wealthier classes to distance themselves from the sport and its practitioners, often viewing traditional Muay Thai as being exclusively for “poor people.”

However, the recent rise in popularity of entertainment Muay Thai has begun to shift these traditional views. With the involvement of celebrities and increased media attention, the sport has gained mainstream momentum. This has opened up new financial opportunities for fighters and helped bring Muay Thai to a broader audience. Yet, there are concerns among traditionalists that this trend risks diluting the sport’s traditional values, styles, and techniques.

One major critique from traditional Muay Thai enthusiasts is that entertainment Muay Thai often prioritizes action over technique. Fighters in entertainment promotions are encouraged to be aggressive from the first round, with judges frequently rewarding high-energy exchanges over technical control. This shift can result in a sloppier, less refined style of fighting, where finesse and strategy take a back seat to entertainment—especially with the added monetary incentives for knockouts.

On the other hand, creators of entertainment Muay Thai promotions aim to counter the influence that gambling has traditionally had on Muay Thai. They also recognize that casual viewers may not appreciate the slower pace of traditional Muay Thai. To appeal to a wider audience, especially internationally, entertainment Muay Thai shortens the number of rounds and emphasizes more immediate action, catering to viewers who find the pacing of traditional Muay Thai too slow, particularly in the early and final rounds.

Understanding the differences in traditional vs entertainment scoring influences a fighter’s pace during the fight, and can even change their style to better suit the scoring criteria. Not all traditional five-round stadium fighters have done well at transitioning to entertainment Muay Thai (a prime example is Sangmanee), and vice versa. Superlek is one of the few fighters that have done extremely well going back-and-forth between traditional and entertainment Muay Thai, and is currently dabbling in kickboxing.

Scoring in Thailand vs. Outside of Thailand

Thailand Scoring: A Focus on Technique and Control

Fights in Thailand also have “unwritten rules” that judges follow. For example:

• Visible fatigue is often interpreted as a lack of strength, conditioning, and/or resilience, which can affect a fighter’s scoring in Thailand.
• Judges value posture and body language. Fighters who appear unfazed by strikes often get the benefit of the doubt.
• The difference between the fighters beginning and ending a fight are taken into account as well. For example, a fighter that starts strong but finishes the fight exhausted is not as favored as the fighter that finishes the fight strong.
• Learning from mistakes throughout the fight, especially in rounds 2-4, can work in a fighter’s favor.
• Aggression is not as heavily valued as control, technique, and balance.

Scoring Outside of Thailand: A Mixed Bag

Outside of Thailand, scoring can vary drastically. Each sanctioning body may have its own set of rules. Some organizations follow a more traditional scoring system, while others place higher value on aggression and volume, similar to amateur boxing.

Judges outside of Thailand are not always on the same page when it comes to the nuances of Muay Thai techniques, especially in the clinch. In many cases, judges with limited Muay Thai experience (training, competing, or both) don’t fully understand the intricacies of balance, posture, and power in strikes. As a result, you might see more questionable decisions and inconsistent judging compared to Thailand, where officials typically have decades of experience watching, competing, and judging Muay Thai fights.

Generally speaking, scoring outside of Thailand values aggression and volume over effectiveness, control, technique, defense, and balance.

Pro Insights: Scoring outside of Thailand probably is the way it is due to most sanctionings basing their models off boxing. It’s best to refer to each sanctioning and/or promotion’s criteria in order to understand what the judges prioritize. Look for published rules and judging criteria. If none exist online, ask the sanctioning body. Trying to apply a “Thailand model” of scoring to a sanctioning body that primarily looks over MMA fights is like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole (and vice-versa). This is often what trips up professional Thai fighters (and their trainers) that go overseas to fight for the first time.

Amateur vs. Professional Scoring

While this article focuses on professional scoring, it’s worth mentioning the amateur scoring system.

In amateur Muay Thai, the focus is on accumulating points through volume. Fighters are usually required to wear protective gear like headgear, and points are often awarded for the number of strikes landed, rather than the damage they cause (although some organizations may award a specific effect to be weighed more in the judging process). The aim is to encourage skill development while minimizing injury.

In professional Muay Thai, judges prioritize power, technique, and damage over sheer volume. Clean, powerful strikes that disrupt your opponent’s balance score higher than light, fast punches.

FAQs About Muay Thai

Is Muay Thai scoring the same everywhere?

No, Muay Thai scoring varies depending on where you’re fighting, as well as the ruleset and type of promotion. In Thailand, scoring is more focused on technique, balance, and control, while outside of Thailand, it may focus more on aggression and volume, depending on the sanctioning body.

Why are the first and last rounds slower in Thailand?

In Thailand, the first round of a traditional fight is often seen as a feeling-out process, while the fifth round can be slower if the outcome is already clear to gamblers and judges. This is part of the traditional Muay Thai rhythm, but it may look like inaction to outside viewers.

How is Muay Thai scored in 3-round fights?

In 3-round fights, such as those seen in ONE Championship, RWS, or Super Champ, the focus is on pushing the pace and delivering action right from the first round. Judges prioritize aggression and entertainment, which can lead to faster, less technical fights. The benefit of doing this is that Muay Thai becomes more appealing to the masses, not just hardcore traditional fans.

What are considered fouls?

Fouls Across the Board:

• Headbutting: Deliberately using the head to strike the opponent.
• Biting: Biting any part of the opponent.
• Eye Gouging (Muay Thai with MMA gloves): Poking or gouging an opponent’s eyes
• Striking the back of the head / targeting the spine: Targetting the back of the head or spine, unless the opponent has their back turned to them.
• Soccer Kicks: Hitting the opponent, who has at least one glove touching the canvas.
  • Kicking or kneeing someone on their way going down, but not yet touching the floor, is not a foul.
• Grabbing the Ropes: Using the ropes to gain an advantage.
  • At events with gamblers, the gamblers will call out the rope grabbing.
• Leg Hooks: Sweeping techniques using the back of the leg (heel, calf) are prohibited.
• Hip Throws: Using one’s hips to lift and throw an opponent to the ground (think “judo throw”).
• Lifting Then Throwing: Deliberately lifting opponent completely off the ground then dumping (think extreme variations of “back breaks”).
• Disobeying the Referee: This can include ignoring warnings against fouls, delaying the fight, or refusing to break a clinch. If a fighter repeatedly disobeys the referee, they may be penalized with a point deduction or even disqualification.

Fouls Depending on Sanctioning/Promotion/Location:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Damien Trainor (@trainor103)

• Groin Strikes: Deliberately striking an opponent’s groin area. In Thailand, knees to the groin are a foul, but kicks (all types) are not. It is argued that kicks can be defended against but knees cannot. (Yes, believe it or not, some promotions in Thailand will specifically say that kicking the groin is not a foul, and they will not stop the fight to allow the fighter to recuperate. Rajadamnern seems to not tolerate any type of groin strike, officially, but in reality, it is up to the referee of the bout.). Outside of Thailand, groin strikes are generally considered fouls.
• Stepping after Catching the Leg: A fighter may only take a maximum of two steps after catching an opponent’s kick or knee. Some sanctioning bodies/promotions may say maximum of one step, while others do not warn fighters from taking multiple steps.
• “Breaking the Back”: Squeezing the opponent’s spine and drive them backward to perform a throw.
• Instep Sweeps: Some sanctioning bodies do not allow fighters to sweep with the instep.
  • Some promotions in Thailand are also adopting this, only allowing the front part of a fighter’s leg to do damage (as opposed to the sides or back) to the opponent. However, enforcement is inconsistent. Some referees are more strict and will issue warnings, clearly demonstrating the foul at hand. Others may be more lenient, even on the same event. For example:

This series of photos was published in March 20245 by Channel 7, with the Chairman of Muay Thai refereeing standards confirming it was “100% a foul” to using the sole of the foot to sweep/trip,

Chairman Chalerm Prahyatsap went on to say, “From this image, it’s 100% a foul… From the clip and images that I have seen, I am confirming that the sweep done by the blue corner is a violation of rule 16.2: throwing, backbending, arm-locking the opponent, and using judo and wrestling stances. This action from the blue corner sweeping the opponent is a judo technique. If it is to be done correctly [for Muay Thai], it must be done via kicking.”

(The above has been translated by the author from Thai. Original: “จากรูปนี้ ฟาล์ว 100 เปอร์เซ็นต์แต่การจะเป็นผู้ตัดสินที่ดีและเก่งนั้น ต้องเป็นผู้ตัดสินที่มีทั้งศาสตร์และศิลป์ครับ”
“จากคลิปและรูปที่ได้ดูนั้น ขอชี้แจงให้ทราบว่า ลูกที่ฝ่ายน้ำเงินปัดขา เป็นการกระทำผิดกติกา ข้อ 16.2 ทุ่ม ดัดหลัง ล็อกแขนคู่แข่งขัน ใช้ท่ายูโด และมวยปล้ำ ซึ่งการกระทำของฝ่ายน้ำเงิน ปัดขาคู่แข่งขัน ด้วยท่ายูโด ถ้าจะทำให้ถูกต้อง ตามกติกา ต้องใช้วิธี เตะตัดขา”)

While it has been in the rulebooks for quite some time that this type of sweep is against the rules in Thailand, referees have seldom warned fighters against it – to the point where present day referees AND fighters are not sure of the legality of these types of sweeps. However, in the past year, there has been an increase in referees warning against using the sole of the foot to sweep. But it still remains inconsistent for now.

“Gray Area” Considerations:

• When it comes to fouls, intentional or not, fighters will receive a warning from the referee without being disqualified most of the time. Some fighters will then use everything they can until they get warned, even if they know it’s against the rules.
• People who have been in a particular region’s fight circuit know well enough how certain referees work. Some referees give a lot of warnings, some referees are much more lenient, others allow long clinch times, while others break up the clinch almost immediately. This can create a “gray area” where what might be considered a foul in one fight might be overlooked in another.

Foul Considerations between Amateur and Professional Muay Thai:

• Elbows:
  • Not all amateur Muay Thai fights include elbows (“modified Muay Thai rules”, usually for the safety of very new fighters).
  • If elbowed are allowed, certain type of elbows are prohibited in some areas. For example, “12-6” elbows (dropping or spiking) are generally not allowed in the US.
• Hits to the head:
  • Some locations will modify rules even further for junior fighters, prohibiting strikes to the head.

What’s the deal with the gamblers? In what ways are they said to influence Muay Thai decisions?

The link between gambling and the sport is complex and multifaceted, affecting everything from match pairings to fighter performance. Here are some main ways in which gambling shapes Muay Thai, both positively and negatively, and why it remains a contentious issue within the sport. If you wish to learn about gambling more in depth, check out this article!

Gamblers bring high levels of engagement to matches, but they also bring potential complications. With organized gambling often being tied to mafia-like groups and gangs, the stakes can be extremely high, and the risk of corruption follows.

Gambling can impact the sport through:  

• Pressure on Judges and Biased Judging: Judges in Thailand can find themselves under intense pressure due to gambling interests, particularly when a large amount of money is at stake.
• Match-Fixing and Corruption: Match-fixing is rarely unearthed to the public but still a real issue in Muay Thai, largely driven by gambling interests. This can be in the form of bribing or poisoning fighters.
• The Effect on Fighter Performance and Style: Gamblers play a direct role in influencing how fights unfold through their loud support and jeering. A common sight at Muay Thai stadiums is the vocal involvement of gamblers, who shout instructions and cheer for their favored fighters, often shaping the energy and momentum of the match.
• Corners + Audience Impact: The influence of gamblers extends beyond just the fighters themselves. The people cornering the fighter (plus the supporters who are literally in the corner) play a crucial role, often shouting support and instructions during rounds. When the corners AND gamblers get loud, it has a twofold effect: it boosts the morale of the fighter and subtly influences the judges, as the judges are not immune to the psychological impact of enthusiastic support (after all, they are human).

Pro Insights: The presence of gamblers is a double-edged sword. Yes, it can ensure that matches remain fair and competitive. But for fighters who enter the sport with the intention of honing their skills and building a fair career, the gambling pressures can sometimes overshadow their personal growth and sportsmanship. The docu-drama Hurts like Hell provides an inside look at gambling and the dark side of Muay Thai in Thailand. It’s realistic, scary, and will open your eyes to what’s the reality for most Thai fighters.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Angie | Telling stories through 📸🎥✍🏼 (@angiewon9)

Muay Thai scoring can be complex, varying between locations, promotions, and judges’ experience. For fighters, knowledge of Muay Thai scoring is essential for competing effectively. By understanding what judges prioritize, you can tailor your approach to align with their criteria and increase your chances of winning. Context matters.

For fans and spectators, understanding Muay Thai scoring helps you appreciate the intricacies of the sport, its subsets of rules, and accurately determine the winner. While occasional bad decisions may occur, a solid understanding of the ruleset can help you distinguish between genuine errors from the officials and subjective judgment calls from yours.

Please support the continuation of content on Muay Ying via Patreon

If you want an in-depth guide to training in Thailand, I’ve got just the thing.