A "Technical Knockout" (TKO) occurs in combat sports, such as boxing or mixed martial arts, when a referee stops the fight because one fighter is unable to continue. This decision is made to protect the safety of the fighter who is taking excessive damage or is unable to defend themselves effectively. In a TKO situation, the fight does not end with a knockout, where a fighter is knocked down and unable to rise before the count ends. Instead, the referee intervenes, declaring the fight over, and the fighter who is still able to continue is declared the winner.