Cage Rage

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Cage Rage Championships, more commonly known as Cage Rage, is a United Kingdom-based mixed martial arts promotion that first premiered on September 7, 2002 in London.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Origins 1.2 Popularity 2 Rules 2.1 Rounds 2.2 Weight divisions 2.3 Cage 2.4 Attire 2.5 Match outcome 2.6 Judging criteria 2.7 Fouls 2.8 Match conduct 2.9 The "Open Guard" rule 3 Events 3.1 Cage Rage Contenders 4 Current Champions 5 Notable fighters 5.1 Notable champions 5.2 Other notable fighters 6 References 7 External links

[edit] History

[edit] Origins

In 2002, with their martial arts school requiring new mats, Dave O'Donnell and Andy Geer set out to raise money by promoting a small mixed martial arts show, Cage Rage, in Elephant and Castle, London. The first Cage Rage event became a cult hit, leading to further shows and what we know today as Cage Rage Championships.^[1]

[edit] Popularity

The popularity of Cage Rage grew hugely in 2006. At the start of the year, the promotion was putting on shows in the 2,500-seater Wembley Conference Centre. With the closure of that building, they moved to the nearby Wembley Arena that has a potential capacity of 12,000, though the arena was configured for a smaller crowd. At the conclusion of the year, a move to Earls Court Exhibition Centre sees Cage Rage looking to fill between 11,000 and 19,000 seats, depending on the configuration.

[edit] Rules

Cage Rage's current rules^[2] are based upon the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts that were originally established by the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board and modified by the Nevada State Athletic Commission^[3]. These rules have been adopted across the US in other states that regulate mixed martial arts. As a result, they have become the standard de facto set of rules for professional mixed martial arts across the US and for cage-based MMA worldwide.

As of Cage Rage 13, amendments to the Unified Rules have been made, most notably the "Open Guard" rule and the banning of elbow stikes to a downed opponent.

[edit] Rounds

All Cage Rage fights are contested over three, five minute rounds. There is a one minute rest period in-between rounds.

[edit] Weight divisions

Cage Rage currently uses six weight classes:

• Featherweight: 61 - 66 kg (136 - 145 lb)
• Lightweight: 66 - 70 kg (146 - 155 lb)
• Welterweight: 71 - 77 kg (156 - 170 lb)
• Middleweight: 78 - 84 kg (171 - 185 lb)
• Light Heavyweight: 84 - 93 kg (186 - 205 lbs)
• Heavyweight: Over 93 kg (205 lbs)

[edit] Cage

Cage Rage uses an octagonal caged arena to stage bouts similar to the UFC's trademark Octagon, though it is smaller in size. It has foam padding around the top and between each of the eight sections and has two entry/exit gates on opposite sides. The canvas is marked with a line that is a metre away from the fence at all points.

[edit] Attire

As per the Unified Rules of MMA, Cage Rage only allows competitors to fight in approved shorts, without shoes or any other sort of foot padding. Fighters must use approved light gloves (4-6 ounces) that allow fingers to grab.

[edit] Match outcome

Matches usually end via:

• Submission: a fighter taps on the mat or his opponent three times (or more) or verbally submits.
• Knockout: a fighter falls from a legal blow and is either unconscious or unable to immediately continue.
• Technical Knockout: stoppage of the fight by the referee if it is determined a fighter cannot "intelligently defend" himself or by ringside doctor due to injury.
• Judges' Decision: Depending on scoring, a match may end as:

• unanimous decision (all three judges score a win for one fighter),
• split decision (two judges score a win for one fighter with the third for the other),
• majority decision (two judges score a win for one fighter with one for a draw),
• unanimous draw (all three judges score a draw),
• majority draw (two judges score a draw).
• split draw (the total points for each fighter is equal)

A fight can also end in a technical decision, technical draw, disqualification, forfeit or no contest.

[edit] Judging criteria

The ten-point must system is in effect for all Cage Rage fights; three judges score each round and the winner of each receives ten points, the loser nine points or less. If the round is even, both fighters receive ten points. The decision is announced at the end of the match but Cage Rage do not announce the judge's scorecards.

[edit] Fouls

The following are considered fouls in Cage Rage:

1. Butting with the head.
2. Eye gouging of any kind.
3. Biting.
4. Hair pulling.
5. Fish hooking.
6. Groin attacks of any kind.
7. Putting a finger into any orifice or into any cut or laceration on an opponent. (see Gouging)
8. Small joint manipulation.
9. Striking to the spine or the back of the head. (see Rabbit punch)
10. Striking downward using the point of the elbow. (see Elbow (strike))
11. Throat strikes of any kind, including, without limitation, grabbing the trachea.
12. Clawing, pinching or twisting the flesh.
13. Grabbing the clavicle.
14. Kicking the head of a grounded opponent, unless an open guard has been called (as of 10 September 2005).
15. Kneeing the head of a grounded opponent, unless an open guard has been called (as of 10 September 2005).
16. Stomping a grounded opponent, unless an open guard has been called (as of 10 September 2005).
17. Elbow stikes to a grounded opponent (as of 10 September 2005).
18. Kicking to the kidney with the heel.
19. Spiking an opponent to the canvas on his head or neck. (see piledriver (professional wrestling))
20. Throwing an opponent out of the ring or fenced area.
21. Holding the shorts or gloves of an opponent.
22. Spitting at an opponent.
23. Engaging in an unsportsmanlike conduct that causes an injury to an opponent.
24. Holding the ropes or the fence.
25. Using abusive language in the ring or fenced area.
26. Attacking an opponent on or during the break.
27. Attacking an opponent who is under the care of the referee.
28. Attacking an opponent after the bell has sounded the end of the period of unarmed combat.
29. Flagrantly disregarding the instructions of the referee.
30. Timidity, including, without limitation, avoiding contact with an opponent, intentionally or consistently dropping the mouthpiece or faking an injury.
31. Interference by the corner.
32. Throwing in the towel during competition.

When a foul is charged, the referee in their discretion may deduct one or more points as a penalty. If a foul incapacitates a fighter, then the match may end in a disqualification if the foul was intentional, or a no contest if unintentional. If a foul causes a fighter to be unable to continue later in the bout, it ends with a technical decision win to the injured fighter if the injured fighter is ahead on points, otherwise it is a technical draw.

[edit] Match conduct

The referee has the right to stop the fighters and stand them up if they reach a stalemate on the ground (where neither are in a dominant position nor work toward one) after a verbal warning.

[edit] The "Open Guard" rule

Cage Rage is the home of a unique rule in the world of cage-based MMA; the "open guard" rule. Designed to prevent stalling on the ground, it allows a standing fighter to use strikes on a downed opponent that would otherwise be fouls.

If a downed fighter is at least a metre away from the cage, on his back and able to avoid or defend against attacks, the referee will raise his arm and call "open guard". Once an open guard is called, the standing fighter can use the following attacks on their opponent:

• stomps,
• kicks or knees to the head, or
• a flying attack.

Unless an open guard has been called, these strikes are fouls.

This rule was introduced at Cage Rage 13 and was designed to prevent a fighter from laying in an open guard where his opponent can only throw leg kicks or drop to initiate grappling.^[2]

[edit] Events

See also: List of Cage Rage events

[edit] Cage Rage Contenders

In early 2006, Cage Rage launched Cage Rage Contenders, a secondary-level show for up-and-coming fighters to showcase their skills. Trying to conjure up the feel of early Cage Rage shows, these shows are taking place in a nightclub setting with VIP tables surrounding the cage.

Cage Rage have also franchised the Contenders name to other promoters across the country. Thus far, only one such co-promotion has taken place; in Peterborough, in association with Intense Fighting.^[4]

[edit] Current Champions

Main article: List of Cage Rage champions

Division	British Champion	Since	World Champion	Since
Heavyweight	Rob Broughton	Cage Rage 17	Antonio deSilva	Cage Rage 12
Light Heavyweight	Ian Freeman	Cage Rage 18	Melvin Manhoef	Cage Rage 13
Middleweight	Mark Weir	Cage Rage 12	Anderson Silva	Cage Rage 8
Welterweight	Paul Daley	Cage Rage 17	Chris Lytle	Cage Rage 15
Lightweight	Abdul Mohammed	Cage Rage 13	Vitor Ribiero	Cage Rage 13
Featherweight	Robbie Olivier	Cage Rage 18	Vacant	N/A

[edit] Notable fighters

[edit] Notable champions

The following fighters have won titles in Cage Rage and are well-known in the world of MMA.

• Michael Bisping
• Mark Epstein
• Ian Freeman
• Paul Jenkins
• Chris Lytle
• Melvin Manhoef
• Brad "One Punch" Pickett
• Vitor "Shaolin" Ribeiro
• Jean Silva
• Anderson Silva
• Tengiz Tedoradze

[edit] Other notable fighters

Non-titleholders who have competed in other top-level promotions.

• Travis Lutter
• Lee Murray
• Jorge Rivera
• Murilo "Ninja" Rua

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official Cage Rage Website
• Cage Rage Fighting Blog

Professional mixed martial arts organizations
Major promotions:	Ultimate Fighting Championship | PRIDE Fighting Championships | HERO's
Other promotions:	Pancrase | KOTC | Rumble on the Rock | EFC | WEC | MFC | ZST | WFA | DEEP | Cage Rage |Cage Warriors | FFC | IFL | TKO | Strikeforce | WWCN
Defunct promotions:	IVC | RINGS
Sanctioning bodies:	Shooto | International Sport Combat Federation