The usual term for a fight that ends without a winner in combat sports is “no contest.”

Core term

  • In boxing and mixed martial arts, a bout that stops due to reasons outside the fighters’ control (like an accidental foul, injury, or external incident) is officially ruled a no contest , meaning there is no winner and no loser.
  • This result is different from a draw , where the fight goes the distance and the judges’ scorecards are even, but still officially recorded as a completed bout.

Related phrases you might hear

  • Draw / tied fight : Used when judges’ scores are level after the scheduled rounds; the fight had a result, but neither side won.
  • No decision / no-decision : In some boxing contexts, a prematurely ended fight from an accidental clash of heads or cuts can be labeled no contest or no decision, again with no winner recorded.
  • In everyday language (outside official sports rules), people may also say the fight “ended in a stalemate ” or “ended in a tie ,” but the formal sports rulebook term is no contest for a fight that stops with no winner or loser.

Meta description: Learn what it’s called when a fight ends without a winner, including the official combat sports term “no contest” and how it differs from a draw or tie.