Longtime UFC commentator Joe Rogan has put forward a unconventional idea regarding the staging of combat sports events, proposing that fights could take place not within the confines of the familiar octagon cage, but on a surface akin to a basketball court.
Rogan articulated his view, stating, “I don’t think fighters should fight in a cage. The octagon is an unnecessary element in the match. It gives the impression that it is needed to push the guys towards further actions. But that’s not true, there is no need for a cage.”
Expanding on his concept, he added, “I believe the octagon should be replaced with something like a basketball court with a matte surface. There will be much more space. And inside it, a boundary line can be drawn. If a fighter crosses it, they will lose points.” This proposition suggests a shift towards a format that penalizes fighters for retreating beyond a marked boundary, contrasting with the cage walls that prevent movement in that direction entirely.