Review of Cage Rage 13: No Fear

Introduction

The latest Cage Rage event is the 13th promoted under their auspices, and was held in the Wembley Exhibition and Conference Centre on 10th September 2005. Subtitled "No Fear", the event featured several championship bouts in various weight divisions, and featured a main event of Vitor Ribeiro vs Jean Silva.

Video

Video is presented in 4:3 fullscreen PAL and, in a major surprise, is quite good for a DVD of this genre. I say surprise, since the quality of Cage Rage productions in the past has been poor, to the point where the DVD image appeared more like a VHS. However - perhaps linked with getting more coverage on SKY Sports - this is a dramatic improvement, and would not look out of place on digital television. Whilst it does not yet compare to the superb UFC production values, this is a good effort and proves that Cage Rage are intent on improving the quality of their DVD product.

Just one quick gripe about the camerawork, which is where Cage Rage must improve: the overhead camera shots are often disorientating if there is a quick change in the fighters` positioning in the ring. The camera is forced to swing, the speed of which is akin to making a 180 degree turn, at speed, in a helicopter! Furthermore, the secondary camera at ringside is forced to poke through the cage, which is most distracting.

I must say however that I am pleased with the improvements in image quality, and applaud Cage Rage for making their production values more of an issue.

Audio

Audio is presented in Dolby Digital 2.0 and is acceptable for a DVD of this genre. As usual, commentary from "Fight Professor" Stephen Quadros is a pleasure to listen to.

Features

Extras on this disc include a photo gallery, notes on changes to the Cage Rage rules, as well as interviews with several of the in-ring participants. Given that the main feature itself lasts almost three hours, these extras are acceptable and offer a little dimension to the event.

Conclusion

Without question, this is the best Cage Rage DVD that I have come across so far, not just in terms of visuals, but also in terms of in-ring action. Almost all of the bouts are fought stand-up, meaning that there are few lengthy ground struggles which are often the bane of mixed martial arts fighting. Instead, these bouts are mostly short - with the glaring exception of Abdul Mohamed vs Alexandre Izidro - and action-packed, a definite plus for the event.

If, coupled with their recent television exposure, Cage Rage can continue to improve their product, I am certain that they will reap the rewards in the future. One only has to look at the Ultimate Fighting Championship events in America, the best of which are beginning to rival the biggest pay-per-view boxing matches in terms of marketability.

They do still have a long way to go to reach the lofty standards of the UFC, but Cage Rage are improving with every show. I will be interested to see the DVD coverage of Cage Rage 14, subtitled "Punishment", due for release in the formative months of 2006.