UFC Basic Octagon vs. Real Scale Octagon Official Double Review!

Which is Better? PdW2kX Goes Over the Pro's and Con's of Both Playsets

The playset is an integral part of any action figure collection. Whether you’re a kid or a kid at heart, the playset can add countless hours of playtime fun. And once purchased, the days of playing with your figures using nothing but thin air or the floor beneath your feet will seem archaic and bland. To serious action figure collectors, a playset can be a crowning center-piece of your expansive collection. A fantastic display piece can add a lot of shine to any action figure collection, no matter how small or large.

In a promotion like the UFC, is it even possible to imagine the world’s #1 Mixed Martial Arts promotion without “The Octagon”? When it was announced that famed toy company Jakks Pacific would be making UFC action figures, one of the most-anticipated figures to come from this new line wasn’t even a figure at all- it was a UFC Octagon playset.

As of this writing, Jakks Pacific has officially released two UFC Octagon playsets- the “Basic” Octagon, which retails for about $20, and the “Real Scale” Octagon, which retails for about $100. Now that I have both in my possession, I can safely say that there is a world of difference between the two products, and this includes a lot more than the extra $80 it costs to “upgrade” from Basic to Real Scale. So which one has more bangs for your buck? If you can only afford one, which should it be? What are the pro’s and con’s of both, especially when compared against one another? Ultimately, which is the better buy?

That’s what we’re here to find out. MMAFigs.com and PdW2kX are proud to present a full-length dual-review of the UFC Basic and UFC Real Scale Octagons produced by Jakks Pacific.

Since this is a comparative review instead of a review focusing on a stand-alone product, today I will be judging both Octagons by a set of four topics.  These topics are: price, attention to detail, size, and overall worth. I will include what I found was positive and negative about these topics for both Octagons, but I’ll hold out on a firm “winner” until the “overall worth” topic. With the rules laid out, let’s see how the Basic Octagon and the Real Scale Octagon stack up against each other.

First Topic: Price

UFC Basic Octagon: It’s pretty simple why the basic Octagon’s price is one of the most appealing aspects of it: for only $20 you get a pretty faithful recreation of the world-famous Octagon. Just about everyone can afford this product, so it has a lot of mass-market appeal. Weighing the pro’s and con’s of purchasing it or not purchasing it doesn’t exactly  cause a lot of inner turmoil; it’s almost too easy to see a decently-sized Octagon for a decently-affordable price and think “Well, that thing has just got to be mine.”

The only problem here is the “you get what you pay for” factor. $20 for a playset doesn’t exactly scream “collector-centric”, prices are going up so high nowadays that even $20 for a single figure doesn’t scream “we’ve got the collector in mind”. If you’re a hardcore collector amongst other hardcore collectors, you won’t earn any and may even lose some brownie points if you try to show off a $20 Octagon that small children can purchase at Wal*Mart.

UFC Real Scale Octagon: For the collector’s, this is where it’s at. $100 is serious business to just about everybody except the filthy rich, but “you get what you pay for” is clearly in favor of the Real Scale Octagon. The phrase “if you’ve got it, flaunt it” firmly applies to this playset. If you’re big on showing off your collection, prepare for looks of envy and maybe even a little jealousy. With the purchase of the Real Scale Octagon comes the knowledge that you’ve taken a firm step into the realm of the hardcore action figure collector, and if you consider yourself an action figure aficionado, that realization can give you a hefty ego-boost and a not-inconsiderate amount of pride.

But let’s be honest here: even in today’s world of inflation and price hikes, $100 can still buy plenty of stuff. You can use it for food or bills. You can use it on other hobbies, like video games. You can even use it on other action figures, as $100 usually pays for several action figures all at once. Make no mistake about it: this isn’t a simple “pick-me-up” purchase; it’s a solid investment into developing a serious collection of action figures. $20 for the Basic Octagon is pretty much the same as diving into the shallow part of the swimming pool, but paying a Ben Franklin for a Real Scale playset is a clear indication that you’re ready to jump into the deep end and swim with the big boys. If that’s not a leap you’re prepared to make, the Real Scale Octagon may not be for you.

Second Topic: Attention to Detail

UFC Basic Octagon: For a streamlined, mass-market, easily-affordable Octagon, the Basic Octagon has a lot more detail than you might think. Although the sponsor logos are all decals, there are quite a lot of them: UFC.com, TapouT, and more. It’s pretty much a flawless recreation of the Octagon super-condensed into an affordable price. The logos are big and easy to put on, and when everything is assembled, the Basic Octagon honestly looks great.

However, the main problem I have with the Basic Octagon is the fact that all the logos are decals. While they are easy to set up, that doesn’t mean that everything will be firmly on-the-level. It took me several attempts to put the decals in a straight line, even if they came off and were put back on with little effort. Also, the decals tend to peel after a certain amount of time, especially the lines surrounding the Octagon. Whether for play or display, it can get very annoying to have to re-fasten the decals time and time again.

UFC Real Scale Octagon: I simply adore the attention-to-detail on the Real Scale Octagon. There are no decals here, only soft rubber that looks fantastic and a foam polymer mat that looks amazing. Compared side-by-side, it’s easily apparent just how much more focus was put into making the Real Scale Octagon as realistic as possible. Plus, the Real Scale Octagon comes with a host of accessories: a commentator’s table complete with two chairs, a laptop, a microphone, even tiny little door holders that keep the doors shut.

In regards to flaws, I really can’t find any. Everything looks great and is easy to assemble. You’re truly getting the most true-to-life recreation possible if you purchase the Real Scale Octagon. There’s even a little stand that goes outside the Octagon for your camera man to stand on with the included video camera accessory. How crazy is that? As more and more UFC figures come down the pipeline, including the planned non-fighter figures like Dana White and Joe Rogan and Bruce Buffer and even the Octagon girls, pretty soon we’re going to see some spectacular display pieces and custom-made picture/animation matches. The Real Scale Octagon makes all of that possible and quite a bit more.

Third Topic: Size

UFC Basic Octagon: When compared to other Jakks Pacific playsets, the Basic Octagon comes in at just a bit larger than something like a basic WWE pro wrestling ring playset. Still, it’s at just the right size to comfortably fill a desk or drawer, or whatever you use to display your figures. I personally have my UFC Basic Octagon posed on top of a small bookshelf, and there’s only a small section that hangs off of it. While it’s not nearly as big as the Real Scale Octagon, it’s a lot easier to pick up and put wherever you like.

However, those with growing collections will soon find the Basic Octagon cramped and stuffy. I own all of Series 0 and Series 1, and I’ve already run into some lack-of-space issues with the Basic Octagon. I was able to cram all of my Round 5 figures into the Octagon (which consists of Series 1 through Series 4, and the Gina Carano and Anderson Silva exclusives), but it was an incredibly tight fit. It’s a great way to display a collection that’s just starting up, but if you’re serious about collecting these figures, the Basic Octagon will soon be looking pretty small.

UFC Real Scale Octagon: Now this just screams “Octagon-envy”. The Real Scale Octagon is gigantic. It says so right on the packaging, but the sheer length and width of it really doesn’t dawn on you until it’s spread out on your floor. The thing is so big it could be a pet couch. I have to keep it away from my dogs because I’m afraid they’ll be intimidated by its size and pee on it to “mark their territory”. You could fit a baby, a small child even, end-to-end inside of this thing. It’s a fantastic display piece.

However, wrap your head around this: the best thing about the size of the Real Scale Octagon is also the worst thing about it: it’s freaking huge. This isn’t the centerpiece of your collection; this is your collection in its entirety. You could cram at least fifty UFC action figures into this thing, if not more. The problem with that is: where do you put it? Nothing in my room has the size, and I’ve got a solid mahogany desk, a small book case, two large dressers (one wider than it is taller, one vice-versa), and a small nightstand. So where does it go? Right on the floor. That’s the only place I’ve managed to find room for it. If you’re willing to spend the extra money to buy yourself an entirely new piece of furniture, or the extra time and effort to restructure your living space to make room, then this isn’t much of an issue. But to those tight on money and short on space, those that think the Real Scale Octagon was an investment in and of itself… just be aware that the massive size of the Real Scale Octagon can be quite the double-edged sword.

Final Topic: Overall Worth

Now that I’ve gone over the pros and cons of price, attention to detail, and size on both the Basic and Real Scale Octagon, it’s time to firmly decide on a winner in the war for your wallet. If you can reasonably afford both, especially if you’re able to buy the Real Scale Octagon without a lot of inner turmoil surrounding its size and price, then the winner, by a landslide, is the Real Scale Octagon.

From top to bottom, from setup to display, I love the Real Scale Octagon. It just doesn’t get any better than this if you’re a UFC fan and/or an action figure collector. The attention-to-detail is uncanny, the size is unreal, and the overall product is, to date, one of the best things Jakks Pacific has ever produced in their line of UFC action figures. I say this with a lot of careful thought and without hyperbole: at some point in the future I can see this product being named as one of the best playsets Jakks Pacific ever created. Although the Real Scale Octagon has some flaws, the positives far outweigh the negatives.

However, I’d like to make the following point about the Basic Octagon: if you feel the need to pass up the Real Scale, the Basic isn’t a shoddy piece of plastic at all. It’s not nearly as good as the Real Scale Octagon, but calling it a bad playset is incredibly narrow-minded. I like the Basic Octagon. Until I got the Real Scale, I was quite content with it. It’s small in comparison and not as well-made, but for $20 I don’t regret purchasing it for a single second.

So, in the end, it’s the fight fans that win in the battle of the best Octagon playsets. Whether you’re a hardcore collector or someone who doesn’t take action figures that seriously, whether you’re young or simply young-at-heart, Jakks has got an Octagon playset for you.

Fans interested in purchasing either or both of the Jakks Pacific UFC Octagon playsets are advised to use Ringside Collectibles, the official sponsor and online vendor of MMAFigs.com. To be taken directly to their page where you can order these fine products, please click here. As a special bonus, readers of MMAFigs.com get to take 10% off their order! Just use the code “MMAFIGS”.

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