Cage or Ring
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MMA is often referred to as "cage fighting" in the US as it is associated with the UFC's octagonal caged fighting area. Most major MMA promotions in the US, Canada and Britain use the "cage" as a result of directly evolving from the first UFC events. There are variations on the cage such as replacing the metal fencing with a net, or using a different shape for the area other than an octagon, as the term "The Octagon" is trademarked by the UFC (though the 8-sided shape itself is not trademarked). In Japan, Brazil and some European countries such as the Netherlands an area similar to a standard boxing ring is used, but with tighter ropes and sometimes a barrier underneath the lowest rope to keep grappling athletes from rolling out of the ring. The usage of the ring in these countries is derived from the history of Vale Tudo, Japanese pro-wrestling and other MMA related sports such as kickboxing.
The choice of cage or ring is more than aesthetic however, as it impacts the type of strategies that a fighter can implement. For example, a popular and effective strategy in a cage is to pin an opponent into the area where the fence meets the mat, and then pummel him with strikes. Randy Couture is well known for this tactic. Defensively, the cage is often used as support to fend off take-down attempts, or as a support to get from underneath and opponent (known as "walking up the cage"). These positions are not possible in a roped ring. On the other hand, the roped ring can result in entangled limbs and fighters falling through the ropes, requiring the referee to sometimes stop the fight and reposition the fighters in the center, as well as carrying the possibility for either fighter to sustain an injury. In either a cage or ring, a fighter is not allowed to grab the fence or ropes. Some critics feel that the appearance of fighting in a cage contributes to a negative image of MMA in popular media.
The following table shows what each MMA organization uses:
Organization | Cage or Ring | Primary Event Location |
DEEP | Ring (8-sided cage for Cage Impact series) |
Japan |
Pancrase | Ring (Will use cage by 2013) |
Japan |
RINGS | Ring | Japan |
ZST | Ring | Japan |
Bellator FC | Circular cage | USA |
King of the Cage | 8-sided cage | USA |
Strikeforce | 6-sided cage | USA |
UFC | 8-sided cage | USA |
XFC | 8-sided cage | USA |
BAMMA | 8-sided cage | UK |
Cage Rage | 9-sided cage | UK |
MFC | Ring (Has used circular cage) |
Canada |
KSW | Ring | Poland |
M-1 Global | Ring | Russia / Europe |
CFC | 6-sided cage | Australia |
Legend FC | Ring | Hong Kong |
Art of War FC | Ring | China |
URCC | Ring | Philippines |
RESPECT.FC | Ring | Germany |
Jungle Fight | 8-sided cage
(Has used ring) |
Brazil |
ONE FC | Circular cage | Singapore |
Defunct organizations:
Organization | Cage or Ring | Primary Event Location |
WEC | 8-sided cage (Had used 5-sided cage) |
USA |
EliteXC | 8-sided cage (Had used circular cage) |
USA |
Affliction Entertainment | Ring | USA |
IFL | Ring (Had intended to use 6-sided ring) |
USA |
Pride FC | Ring | Japan |
K-1 Hero's | Ring | Japan |
World Victory Road | Ring | Japan |
Dream | Ring (Had used 6-sided cage) |
Japan |
Read more about this topic: Mixed Martial Arts Rules
Famous quotes containing the words cage and/or ring:
“Out of the cage came Eve,
escaping, escaping.
She was clothed in her skin like the sun
and her ankles were not for sale.”
—Anne Sexton (19281974)
“Good manners have much to do with the emotions. To make them ring true, one must feel them, not merely exhibit them.”
—Amy Vanderbilt (19081974)