Size matters
Tim Kennedy: “I feel like the smaller the cage, the more finishes you usually see. And fights that end in a finish, I usually win those – so that’s good for me.”
Back in 2012 Fightnomics‘ Reed Kuhn looked at how size matters in the UFC, in terms of both the size of the fighters, and the size of the Octagon.
Fighter size was unequivocal – bigger fighters finish more.
Octagon size matters too, the bigger cage leads to less finishes. The UFC has used both a 25′ and a 30′ ring for several years, and the differences are dramatic.
While a jump from 25 to 30 does not at first glance appear to be be that much, it is actually a 44% increase in floor size. And the smaller cage leads to a 20% increase in the number of strikes, and significantly higher finishing rate.
MMAJunkies‘ Ben Fowlkes recently spoke to several fighters about the difference.
UFC heavyweight Matt Mitrione is coming off a first round KO in a smaller cage at UFN 50 on September 5, but he is no fan of the 25′ Octagon.
I don’t like fighting in that small cage, said Mitrione. I’d rather fight in a field than a phone booth. We’re big bodies. You take two steps and you’re fighting in the middle of it. For me, mobility’s a big part of my game – that, and being athletic. For me, it feels like every time I make a movement I’m a foot and a half from one side of the cage or the other, so it’s more difficult.
UFC middleweight Tim Kennedy takes a contrary opinion. Kennedy KOed Rafael Natal at UFC Fight for the Troops: Kennedy vs. Natal in late 2013, in a smaller cage. His next fight was vs. Michael Bisping at TUF Nations Finale: Bisping vs. Kennedy in a larger cage, and the fight ended up going five full rounds.
“I ended up having to chase him around a lot more, said Kenned. I feel like the smaller the cage, the more finishes you usually see. And fights that end in a finish, I usually win those – so that’s good for me.
So what do you think UG? Do your prefer the grandeur of the larger cage? Or do you prefer the increased action and finishes of the smaller one? And for that matter, do you prefer the heavier divisions, or the lighter ones, or does fighter size not factor in much?