Square peg / Round hole

The UFC and most MMA promotions use a steel framed cage with coated chain link fencing around it. Pride and a few others prefer to use the time honored squared circle or boxing ring. Some people swear by the cage while others are as heart felt about the boxing ring. The UFC has certainly made the cage a focal point of MMA. They were the first to use it and have even trademarked the name "Octagon". The shape is showcased in their company logo and it is as much apart of the UFC brand as any of the fighters. Pride made its mark on the world using a "boxing" style ring. It was their decision to use the ring and it seems to have worked well for them. Most fans of Pride preferred the ring over a cage. To many it seemed like a lot of organizations were basically cloning the UFC. It also came down to a matter that some just wanted another choice from the UFC. Pride offered them that. What are the actual benefits and draw backs of each platform and why do some choose the cage while others won't try anything other than the ring?


The boxing ring has been around well over a hundred years. It is singularly the most recognized symbol of combative sports. It was this platform that was copied and used in other sports. A mutated version of the boxing ring has been used for generations in professional wrestling. Kick boxing adopted its use for their sport as well. Why is this? Well it is a solid structure that offers spectators a good view. It helps to encompass the combatants and set clear boundaries, without those boundaries being used as a tool. Many proponents of the ring feel that the rope system creates a situation where it comes down to fighter skill. They point out the fact that many cage fights are won by using the cage sides to pin and opponent and blocking escape routes. They feel that this is where a fighter’s true skills come into play and no outside interferences to affect the outcome of the match. The ring has its draw backs as well. Safety is one matter. Fighters have fallen from the ring to the floor or onto spectators. The ropes have been used as tools also. Fighters can grab the ropes to hold an opponent in place or prevent take downs. The ropes can also block the view of spectators. It doesn't have so much of an affect in boxing where the opponents stay standing. In MMA it is an up down battle. The corners of the ring are often used to pin opponents. Fighters slide out under the bottom rope often and can cause a stop in the action and a restart which can affect the match. Price is in the rings favor. They are generally much less expensive, lighter and easier to set up. Rings are also evolving. You now see 6 and 8 sided rings coming out.


The cage is most often associated with MMA. There are different variations on the original. An eight sided one isn’t the only option. There are 5, 6, 7, 8, & 10 sided cages. There are even cages that are completely round. It comes down to the promoter’s choice on the style of cage they use. The cage is an extremely strong platform. Anything that can take 2 super heavyweights slamming into it without budging is strong. Beyond the physical strength of the cage it offers a different level of feel. The cage gives the matches a more "pit fight" feel. The combatants are locked into the structure with nowhere to run and with no chance of sliding out. It harkens back to the "2 men enter 1 man leaves" mind set. They also offer the best view of the match. The chain link fencing allows for good view from close up and becomes nearly invisible from a distance. The main reason ring lovers hate the cage is what cage fans like the most. Many of the fighters I have spoken with prefer the cage. Fighters have the ability to force opponents against the sides without an escape route. By closing the gaps there is no space to slide out and stop the action. In a ring, fighters can use that to stop a serious ground and pound effort. Cages cost more but seem to have a longer life span.

As a promoter I have quite a choice to make. I have been a welder/fabricator for many years. In my younger days I actually constructed and sold wrestling / boxing Rings. Wrestling was so huge in the 90's that I simply made my first one and the orders came flooding in. I know personally about the inner workings of a ring and am quite comfortable with them. Yet for some reason, I felt a cage was a better platform for MMA. Don't get me wrong, I loved Pride. It was an even playing field between Pride and UFC. It was the fact that each had great talent and they were different at the same time. I decided to do a little research before making my decision. I went to some events and watched the reactions of the crowd. At shows, where a ring was used, a lot of people complained. They expected to see a cage. The action was not deterred by the platform but it certainly had an impact on the feel of the event. One friend made it a little clearer to me. He said, "The ring is more like a gentleman's thing where as the cage is just down and dirty". In the end I made my decision and decided on a cage. I have no regrets about it. I feel it will help my promotion in the long run.

by John Poe