Joe Rogan’s Radical UFC Proposal: Reimagining MMA for the Future

Joe Rogan, the popular UFC commentator and comedian, recently proposed a series of bold changes to the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA). His ideas aim to make the sport more exciting and rewarding for fighters, while addressing growing concerns about declining pay-per-view sales, political controversies, and criticisms of the UFC’s pricing.

The Cage is Unnecessary: A New Kind of Arena

“I got some wacky ideas,” Rogan humorously admits. One of his most significant proposals is to eliminate the iconic UFC cage altogether. Instead, Rogan suggests a more open, matted space, similar to the layout of a basketball court.

“I don’t even think they should fight in a cage,” Rogan stated. “I think the cage is an unnecessary element in fighting. To push someone against something or to be able to get up from something. I don’t think it’s necessary.”

The reasoning behind this change is simple: by removing the cage, fighters would no longer be able to use the fence for support when defending against takedowns or controlling their opponents. The matting of a basketball court-style arena would allow for more fluid movement and provide wrestlers and grapplers a fairer platform, where techniques can shine without the interference of the fence.

A Warning Track to Penalize Retreating Fighters

Rogan doesn’t stop there. He proposes the addition of a warning track around the perimeter of the new fighting area. “Have a big space. Have a warning track where if you go outside the warning track too many times, you could lose points,” Rogan explains.

This would serve as a deterrent for fighters who attempt to avoid action by retreating to the edge of the arena. It would also make the fight more dynamic, forcing both competitors to engage and move more strategically. Fighters would have to be mindful of their positioning, and a penalty for leaving the action could add a layer of excitement and strategy to the fight.

Ending the Round with Dominant Positions

One of Rogan’s most intriguing ideas is to ensure that fighters who end a round in a dominant position—such as having their opponent mounted—maintain that advantage going into the next round.

"Say if you got a guy mounted at the end of the round, you start the next round mounted on him,” Rogan suggests. “Because why would you give him the advantage of getting up when he never got up?”

This change would reward fighters who maintain control and dominant positions, instead of resetting them to a standing position at the start of each round. It could add more realism to the sport, ensuring that those who control their opponents are given a chance to capitalize on their work from the previous round.

No More Stand-Ups: Earn Your Get-Up

Finally, Rogan advocates for the complete abolition of stand-ups during ground fighting. He’s critical of the current rule that forces fighters to stand if there is inactivity on the ground.

"You have to earn a get-up," Rogan states. "You have to stand up by yourself. No stand-ups ever.”

According to Rogan, fighters should have to fight their way back to their feet, instead of being stood up by the referee. This would reduce the time spent in neutral positions and reward those who can control the fight on the ground. Fighters who want to stand up must escape or submit their opponent, keeping the action consistent and removing the artificial reset created by stand-ups.

Why These Changes Could Revitalize MMA

Rogan’s proposals come at a time when MMA, and specifically the UFC, has been facing criticism for a variety of reasons. Pay-per-view sales have been dropping, and UFC’s political leanings and event pricing have sparked debates within the fanbase. Rogan’s ideas aim to rejuvenate the sport by making fights more intense, rewarding dominant fighters, and increasing the unpredictability of matches.

FIGHT.TV Breaks It Down - A Bold Vision for MMA’s Future

While these proposals may seem radical, they offer a fresh perspective on how MMA could evolve. By removing the cage, changing the rules around dominant positions, and eliminating stand-ups, Rogan envisions a sport that rewards fighters for their skills and strategy while making the action more exciting for fans.

Of course, such changes would require significant adjustments from UFC President Dana White and the fighters themselves, but Rogan’s vision for a basketball court-style arena is a fascinating one to consider. Whether or not these changes will ever come to fruition remains to be seen, but Rogan’s ideas certainly spark conversation about the future of the sport.

What do you think of Joe Rogan’s radical proposals? Could these changes make MMA even more thrilling? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! FIGHT.TV is here for it!

Joe Rogan