The cage became the visual symbol of MMA when the UFC adopted the Octagon in 1993. It exists in several shapes today, and not all of them serve the same purpose.
The octagon, the most common shape
The UFC Octagon measured 30 feet (9.1 meters) across before the Covid-19 pandemic. When events resumed, the organization used a smaller version at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, at 25 feet (7.6 meters), according to mmasucka.com. The eight-sided shape remains the sport’s visual reference, copied by most manufacturers for training and amateur competition, usually in smaller dimensions.
Other shapes: square, hexagon, ten-sided
Not every organization fights in an octagon. The PFL has used a ten-sided cage since 2019, the SmartCage, fitted with sensors that track strike speed. Pancrase also fights in a ten-sided cage, after using a ring until 2014. The XFC chose a six-sided hexagon. For a gym, the square shape remains the most common purchase. Simpler to build and transport, it comes in 20-foot or 25-foot sides (6 meters or 7.6 meters) for training and amateur competition, according to a buying guide from sourcifychina.com.
Size by intended use
The sourcifychina.com guide breaks sizes down by use. A professional competition cage reaches 30 feet (9.1 meters) per side. An amateur competition cage stays at 20 or 25 feet (6 or 7.6 meters). A training cage drops to 15 or 20 feet (4.6 or 6 meters), a size built to be durable and easy to set up. Portable versions, foldable for quick transport, come in sizes from 20 to 30 feet (6 to 9.1 meters) depending on the model. A gym equipping itself for daily training does not need the dimensions of a professional competition cage.
What separates a solid cage: frame, fencing, padding
The sourcifychina.com guide lists three points to check before buying. The frame first: steel, treated with an anti-corrosion coating to withstand daily use. The fencing next: metal chain link stretched over the outer structure, which keeps the fight visible to spectators while holding fighters in. The padding last: high-density foam placed on the corners and edges, the spots that take the most impact during a fight or sparring session.
Wall padding, a separate line item
A cage only protects its own enclosure. The gym wall around it needs its own padding, according to a comparison published by greatmats.com. Common panels use high-density foam about 2 inches (5 centimeters) thick, covered in heavy vinyl with double-stitched seams, fixed to the wall with cleats for a permanent install or with hook-and-loop strips for easy removal. The site recommends checking the padding’s impact rating before buying, a more reliable measure than a stated thickness alone.
Cage or ring: a choice that changes how a fight plays out
The choice is not limited to the cage’s shape. Some organizations prefer the ring. ONE Championship, which used to fight in a cage, now runs its events in a ring, according to mmasucka.com. Pancrase went the other way in 2014, moving from a ring to a ten-sided cage. For a gym equipping its space, the cage remains the dominant choice in amateur MMA and training, while the ring stays associated with boxing and kickboxing.
Options that change the price
Beyond size, several options move a gym cage’s quote: an access door, platforms for a filming camera, extra perimeter fencing around the structure, padded posts and cushions on the cage wall, and high-density foam whose thickness depends on the size chosen. Each option adds to the base price on its own, without changing the cage’s central structure.
Maintaining an MMA cage
A cage gets inspected before and after every session or event, according to the sourcifychina.com guide: the steel frame, the padding on corners and edges, and the fencing, whose tension and integrity affect fighter safety. A gym that buys a cage for daily training puts the structure through more frequent use than a cage reserved for events, which tightens how often these checks should happen. The same guide ties compliance to each regulating body’s own rules on height, padding and structural integrity, without giving a single fixed threshold that applies everywhere.
A gym comparing available models can get a priced estimate on the MMA Official cages page.
