unanimous decision

{{Short description|Winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports}}

{{Distinguish|Unanimity}}

A unanimous decision (UD) is a winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts and other sports involving striking and submission in which all three judges agree on which fighter won the match.{{Cite web|url=http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Decision|title=Decision - BoxRec|accessdate=11 March 2023}}

In boxing, each of the three judges keeps score (round by round) of which fighter they feel is winning (and losing). This only includes landed blows to the head or the body. In MMA, judges look for different criteria such as kicks, take-downs, punches, knees, elbows, cage control, submission attempts, and aggression.{{Cite web|title=Unified Rules - Learn the Rules of MMA {{!}} C.O.M.M.A.N.D.|url=https://mmareferee.com/?q=unifiedrules|access-date=2021-05-01|website=mmareferee.com}} A decision is not required to be unanimous for a boxer or mixed martial artist to be given a victory. In the modern era of Olympic boxing, UD is utilized more often than other outcomes, including stoppages.{{Cite journal|last=Nelson|first=Murry|date=2005|title=Sports History as a Vehicle for Social and Cultural Understanding in American History|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.3200/tsss.96.3.118-125|journal=The Social Studies|volume=96|issue=3|pages=118–125|doi=10.3200/tsss.96.3.118-125|s2cid=144839570 |issn=0037-7996|url-access=subscription}} Unanimous decision should not be confused with a majority decision or split decision.