Which is also a terrible way to defend against multiple attackers, but a fantastic way to get clubbed in the head by someone you're not engaged with.
Not sure how training works with the MMA stuff nowadays, but for someone who's training, I'd like to know:
Do they train you to stop when someone taps, or with a whistle? Do they instruct to just apply the force needed to make the opponent quit? Only asking because I've never seen a fight on the street end with a tap-out.
Yes, there is inherent risk in ground fighting, and what you described is one of them. There is also 1 constant that can't be mitigated- GRAVITY. A fighter on the street may end up on the ground before he/she even realizes that there is a fight in progress, and yes, there may be multiple attackers at any time. The only option is to use whatever tools are available in your tool box. It is infinitely difficult to engage more than 1 attacker, regardless of if the single fighter is standing up or on the ground- which is where he/she will likely end up sooner or later. At that point, the defender is just doing his/her best and probably hoping to make a good account in a situation that will most likely end bad. It is what it is.
As far as the sport of MMA - besides the rules which apply, there are several ways to get a "win": 1- knockout 2- tapout (initiated by a fighter when a choke or submission is experienced) 3- stoppage (the corner/coach, referee, med personnel, or opponent indicates he/she is "done"). In an actual FIGHT, each fighter is doing whatever he/she needs to do to crush his/her opponent (within the rules). In any situation where it is "time to stop", it is the ref's duty to physically restrain the victor from inflicting further damage on the loser- this includes physically pulling the victor away from the defeated opponent, protecting the defeated with his own body, etc. Once MMA fighters "get in the zone", it can be difficult to "get the genie back in the bottle", and the fighters have no responsibility to stop until the ref intervenes in some way. Think of 2 pit bulls fighting. Unlike boxing, a MMA fight doesn't end when someone is on the floor. In TRAINING, it isn't practical or possible to go this hard most of the time, and it is also counterproductive in most cases. For one thing, fighters would be way too damaged to continue to compete, and no one wants to hurt their training partners. It would also be impossible to develop and improve fighters who are constantly being injured. So I'm not trying to get a knockout with my partner in the gym. If I can hit or kick you with reduced power, I can certainly hit or kick you at full power. Full force is reserved for pads, bags, etc. And when I am applying a choke, armbar, etc. in training, I am looking for the "tap" so I can stop hurting you and we can reset.
How does all of this apply on the street? Simply put, SOMEONE is probably going to get hurt really bad, or worse.