The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is one of the top mixed martial arts (MMA) events in the world right now. But many people are confused about the relationship between UFC and MMA, in fact, UFC is a type of MMA and one of the highest levels of competition in it.
The origins of modern martial arts can be traced back to the sixties of the last century, when Bruce Lee's concept of no-school, no-limit martial arts gave a huge boost to the development of mixed martial arts, so some people call Bruce Lee the pioneer of mixed martial arts.
The earliest MMA rings were similar to boxing rings, all around a fence-like structure. In 1993, MMA was introduced in the United States and the UFC event was founded. And the founder of the UFC, Rorion Gracie, designed the octagon cage as a venue for the competition, in which the fighters competed.
The UFC's octagonal cage is about 750 square feet (70 square meters) and is surrounded by steel wire in an octagonal shape. The height of the fence is 1.8 meters, the entire ring is 1.2 meters above the ground, and there are two entrances and exits. Only two fighters and one referee are allowed in the cage during the match. Between rounds, two doors open for both players to enter and exit.
Reasons for designing an octagon include:
1. The angle of the octagon is wider than that of a square boxing ring, so the fighters will not be trapped in a corner with no way out.
Second, players can use the cage wall to fix their opponents and increase more offensive possibilities. In addition, due to its octagonal structure, the viewer's vision is more open.
3. The closed design of the cage embodies the fighting spirit of courage and never back down, and is designed to push the fighters to pursue a higher level of competition.