Fight Sports Round Durations and Rules Guide
Fight sports come in many forms, each with its own unique rhythm and rules. From the timed intensity of boxing and MMA to the continuous action of grappling sports, understanding the structure of rounds and rest periods is key to appreciating the strategies involved.
The table below breaks down the number of rounds, round durations, and rest periods for some of the most popular fight sports.
| Number of Rounds | Duration of Round | Rest Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boxing (Professional) | 4–12 | 3 minutes | 1 minute |
| Boxing (Amateur - Male) | 3 | 3 minutes | 1 minute |
| Boxing (Amateur - Female) | 4 | 2 minutes | 1 minute |
| Kickboxing | 3–5 | 3 minutes | 1 minute |
| Muay Thai | 5 | 3 minutes | 2 minutes |
| MMA (UFC) | 3–5 | 5 minutes | 1 minute |
| Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu | 1 | 5–10 minutes | None |
| Wrestling | 2–3 | 3 minutes | 30 seconds |
| Judo | 1 | 4 minutes | None |
| Taekwondo | 3 | 2 minutes | 1 minute |
| Karate (WKF) | 3 | 3 minutes | 1 minute |
| Lethwei | 5 | 3 minutes | 2 minutes |
| Fencing | 3 | 3 minutes | 1 minutes |
Free round timer
If you want a timer that comes with that data already set, you can try out The Shadow Boxing App! It is free and comes packaged with many features for fight sports - especially boxing.
You can also browse our list of best timer apps.