The UFC and Dana White have pulled out all the stops for the upcoming UFC 306 or ‘Riyadh Season Noche UFC’ event set to go down at ‘The Sphere’ in Las Vegas on September 14. The UFC boss had proclaimed that, “It’s one of the biggest sporting events of all time, not just in this sport…” But Joe Rogan has once again brought up his unconventional vision for the perfect MMA arena!

‘The Sphere’ is a technological marvel that cost $2.3 billion to construct and is the most expensive entertainment destination ever built in ‘Sin City’. But it is still going to be featuring a cage for UFC 306 and Rogan isn’t a fan of the promotion sticking with the Octagon. His idea? No cage, no walls, and all out-action!

As the UFC heads to ‘The Sphere’ Joe Rogan wants Dana White to leave the Octagon behind  

During his conversation with welterweight champion Belal Muhammad on the JRE (Joe Rogan Experience) MMA show no. 162, the pair discussed the CJI. The Craig Jones Invitational was a grappling competition that was held in a unique arena with the grappling floor surrounded by angled, sloping walls, reminiscent of the same layout used by ‘Karate Combat’.

But is that the best possible arena for MMA fights? Joe Rogan didn’t think so. The podcast host stated that, “I think they had it right before when there was no obstacles like this is an obstacle, right? This keeps you from being able to get up, right? It’s a thing that you have to think about.”

Rogan, always a thinker outside the box (or, in this case, the cage), shared that, “This is why like, I’ve said this before, I apologize for everybody who’s heard it, I think fighting should take place with no cage. It would be easier to see and I think it should be on a basketball court and you fight in the center.”

Imagine a fight without the cage—just two fighters standing at the center of a basketball court, surrounded by security and a sea of fans. The idea sounds wild, but in the UFC color commentator’s mind, it would be a significant improvement over the cage. Belal Muhammad seemed to like the idea, adding that it would be “epic” to have no time limits along with the open floor. But Rogan quickly countered, saying there should still be rounds to maintain structure.

According to the UFC’s official website, the cage is used because, “it eliminates the advantage by competitors who are well-versed in the art of “cutting off the ring” as a boxer or kickboxer may do”. There is also a concern about MMA in rings as fighters have been seen going through the ropes in organizations that used the squared circle like PRIDE FC back in the day.

While it’s hard to imagine the UFC moving away from the iconic Octagon at this stage for UFC 306, that isn’t the only thing Joe Rogan would want to see changed. The UFC color commentator also wants to eliminate what he believes is a ruleset that favors strikers more than grapplers!

Rogan claims grapplers at a disadvantage in the UFC and suggests a rule change  

Joe Rogan has never been one to shy away from bold opinions, and when it comes to MMA, he’s ready to shake things up. His latest critique? The current rules favor strikers over grapplers, and he’s not having it. Talking to the legendary UFC 1 winner, Royce Gracie, on the JRE MMA Show no. 156, Rogan stated that, “The rules are set up much more for strikers than for wrestlers….say you’re a jiu jitsu guy and you’re fighting in the first round, and rounds are five minutes long and you take the guy down at four minutes and 30 seconds. You only have 30 seconds to work.”

His solution? “Even if you’re going to make it rounds, the fight is the fight. I don’t think someone should be able to get up. I don’t think people should stand you up, ever. I think once a guy takes you down, the fight is on the ground.” But would this really change the sport for the better? Rogan’s argument is clear: grappling should be given the space to shine, and if that makes the fight less exciting for some, so be it.

Yet another rule that Rogan wanted changed was the 12-6 elbow rule. The longtime UFC commentator had fair reasons for it. As per an announcement earlier this year, the ban on the move has been lifted. Will we see more of Rogan’s wishes come true in the future?

To wrap things up, with Joe Rogan’s vision of MMA, the cage may not be the only thing that gets left behind—current rules might need to take a backseat, too. Do you agree with his suggestions? What changes would you propose to the UFC and boss Dana White? Let us know in the comments below!