<HR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #000000; COLOR: #000000" SIZE=1><!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->First came the enigmatic teaser trailer. Then a new trailer gave a glimpse of the cage that DREAM has in store for the upcoming DREAM 12, scheduled for Oct. 25 at Osaka Castle Hall. On Tuesday, Fighting and Entertainment Group held a press conference at the Reversal MMA gym in Tokyo to officially announce the implementation of a hexagonal cage at DREAM 12. DREAM event producer, Keiichi Sasahara, unveiled a blueprint for the cage. At the time of press conference, the cage is still under construction and the blueprint serves as just that — a mere approximation of the overall look of the final product. Sasahara elaborated that a possibility remains that FEG may use different materials for its hexagonal cage than are typically used by other cage-based promotions. Also, while the blueprint shows the cage in white, the DREAM staff has been ruminating the optimal color for the cage in terms of spectator- and camera-friendliness: Some have objected that a black cage makes it difficult for the crowd to see the fight, while a white cage can potentially trigger glares off the camera, depending on the angle and brightness of the light. In light of the newly formed alliance between DREAM and Strikeforce, DREAM staff has been seeking input from Strikeforce to design the cage. While DREAM 12 will see an adoption of the three five-minute rounds, no other rule changes are scheduled. Furthermore, DREAM plans to host just one caged fight card per year. Sasahara cited the desire for “a change of scenery,†as the primary impetus behind the introduction of the cage. He also mentioned that, having announced the plan for a vigorous exchange of fighters between his organization and Strikeforce, caged fight cards will enable DREAM fighters to acclimate themselves to fighting in the cage. Likewise, the use of the cage, instead of the standard ring, facilitates the interpromotional leap for fighters on Strikeforce’s roster as well. While maintaining FEG’s belief in the spectator-friendliness of the ring, Sasahara emphasized the potential benefits that the experimental attempt at caged fight cards will yield. DREAM 12 will feature South Korean prospect, Myeon Ho Bae (8-4). He will join a star-studded cast of fighters scheduled for the card, including Alistair Overeem, Marius Zaromskis, Eddie Alvarez, Paulo Filho, Yoshiro Maeda, Murilo Rua and Kiyoshi Tamura. mmamania.com
MMA is always better in a cage then it is a ring. I'm looking forward to seeing Eddie Alvarez fight again. The man is a beast. TFK
Its only once a year, but i agree. The cage is much better. I think the cage MIGHT be Fedor's downfall. MIGHT
I agree, and the absolute killer of the ring in MMA is getting under the ropes, the ref stops it, centers them, and restarts. Not sure how most of you feel about it, but it drives me nuts. TFK is most definitely right, MMA is better in the cage. I like the Hexagon look too. Kinda cool. There is a small promotion out here that makes a cage as a circle, It looks pretty cool too.
The one caveat to that is watching it live. I've been to many MMA cards with both a ring and a cage, and it's much better watching it live when it's in a ring. The view is just a lot clearer. But I'll take MMA in a cage over a ring everytime. TFK
