For fans new to UFC betting, many questions exist regarding the basics of the sport. We now continue our series for beginners, presenting some basic differences between the Octagon and regular boxing rings.
The ring is the traditional fighting surface in combat sports. For many boxing fans, the idea of the fighting surface being an enclosed cage is bizarre. Indeed, for many sports fans in general, it is a difficult concept to understand. The cage evokes images of brutality and offers a far more obstructed view for fans watching events live.
So, why does the UFC use the Octagon? Much of it has to do with branding. The violent imagery associated with a cage is exactly what the UFC is interested in. That said, there are a number of practical advantages over a traditional ring for mixed martial arts.
Betting fans know that grappling is hard in a ring. Fighters get close to the ropes, and then they either need to be restarted in the center of the ring, or, in the case of the old days of Pride, be supported by an army of ringside officials who would prevent them from falling out of the ring. In a cage, fighters can grapple freely, and indeed, use the cage to their advantage. Just as a fighter cannot grab ropes in a ring, they do are forbidden from grabbing the fencing in the Octagon. That said, many referees will allow fighters to use their feet to grip the fencing, allowing for sweeps, and to secure submissions.
Another difference between the ring and the cage is the surface area for fighting. The Octagon is larger than a regular boxing ring, which again helps facilitate the multi-disciplinary nature of mixed martial arts. This allows fighters more room to transition as well as engage and avoid.
