Issue 048
April 2009
Why use them?
Some MMA events still take place in a ring (many in Japan and Brazil) as well as those run by the high profile Affliction organisation. It’s important for MMA fighters to be aware of the differences between a ring and a cage.
For anyone training for a boxing, kickboxing, or Muay Thai event, it is also essential to have experience of working in a ring.
A ring fits into a smaller space in a gym than a cage can, but still gives the experience of fighting in a restricted space.
When would you use them?
For sparring or drilling MMA, boxing, kickboxing, or Muay Thai. Rings are ideal for working on ring control and positioning and are especially relevant when building-up towards a fight and when working on strategy. They can be used to drill both attack and defence on the ropes, as well as clinching and takedowns.
Dimensions
A competition boxing ring can vary between 16 feet and 24 feet to a side (inside the ropes). Different organisations place different restrictions on the size of the ring. Affliction’s ring is 24 feet square inside the ropes.
Base
In a competition ring the base raises the ring three to four feet from the floor, and provides around a two-inch border outside the ropes. It usually consists of a steel frame supporting a wooden platform. For a training ring, the base may be lower, or dispensed with altogether.
Corner posts
The corner posts are around five feet high with attachment points for the ropes. Corner cushions are essential for safety. They generally come in different colours (e.g. red / blue / white) to signify the different corners. Different designs are available, and they may be printed with a gym, promotion, or sponsor logo.
Ring surface
A boxing ring has a canvas surface stretched over about an inch of padding. For MMA, vinyl is sometimes used instead, giving a more mat-like finish. Canvas can result in some pretty unpleasant mat burns while grappling, which is particularly annoying in training. Vinyl tends to get slippery more quickly when wet (or splattered with blood).
One of the first things that many fighters do when examining the ring they will fight in is to move around to test the surface and find out how springy it is, the friction it gives, and how firm the padding is.
Ropes
A standard boxing ring has four ropes, each around one inch in diameter and covered with fabric or PVC to prevent rope burns. They are tethered together at two points on each side by ‘spacers’ that keep the ropes at a set distance apart. MMA events that use a ring often have a fifth rope at the bottom to prevent fighters from falling out while grappling.
The tension of the ropes is controlled by ‘turnbuckles’ that attach the ropes to the corner posts. Getting this right is crucial. Ropes need to be tighter for MMA than for boxing, a fact that occasionally gets overlooked by promoters (to their inevitable embarrassment).
GENERAL TIPS
MMA vs boxing rings
There are some differences between boxing rings and MMA rings that we have already highlighted. In addition MMA events very occasionally use a six-or eight-sided ring. With the increasing popularity of MMA, it is becoming easier to get rings that are specifically designed for MMA use.
Buying, renting, or building a ring
Many companies offer custom-built rings for training or competition use. Be clear on whether you want the ring for competition or for training, and whether it will be used for boxing, kickboxing, MMA, or a combination.
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