Dana White: Non-Title, Five-Round Fights in UFC's Immediate Future

http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/04/29/dana-white-non-title-five-round-fights-in-ufcs-immediate-futu/

TORONTO -- Five-round non-title fights are in the UFC's immediate future, UFC president Dana White said on Friday afternoon.

Until now, only championship fights have been five rounds, while all other fights have been three. The different structure would likely only be utilized for non-title main events, or other important bouts, like No. 1 contender fights.

White said that the UFC had planned to make June's UFC 131 main event, No. 1 contenders match between Brock Lesnar and Junior dos Santos a five-round fight, but felt it would be unfair to inform the fighters of the change after they had already begun preparations for the bout.

Five-round, non-title fights are allowed under the current unified rules, but have yet to be used by a major U.S. promotion. The motivation at least in part stems from the increased possibility of draws in three-round fights. As recently as February, Jon Fitch and BJ Penn ended a No. 1 contenders fight in a draw.

"I hate draws worse than anything," White said, then explaining that the possibility of a tie was one of his problems with soccer.

"You sit there and watch a game for hours and nobody wins?" he said. "I don't get it. That's one thing I hate about fights, too. Draws suck."

White gave no timetable for the first time the new format would be used.

Hate it.

Love it!

OU wrote:

Hate it.

+1

freakzilla wrote:

OU wrote:

Hate it.

+1

U guys suck!!!!!

They are called Championship rounds for a reason.

Welcome change Freak it is a good thing.

freakzilla wrote:

They are called Championship rounds for a reason.

Change of heart?
http://www.ninjasplace.com/t1861-is-3-rounds-enough?highlight=rounds

freakzilla wrote:

For the main card of a ppv each fight should be 5 rounds and title matches should be 7 rounds. Your thoughts?

OU wrote:

freakzilla wrote:

They are called Championship rounds for a reason.

Change of heart?
http://www.ninjasplace.com/t1861-is-3-rounds-enough?highlight=rounds

freakzilla wrote:

For the main card of a ppv each fight should be 5 rounds and title matches should be 7 rounds. Your thoughts?

LMAO. 7 rounds Freak?????

timthebim wrote:

OU wrote:

freakzilla wrote:

They are called Championship rounds for a reason.

Change of heart?
http://www.ninjasplace.com/t1861-is-3-rounds-enough?highlight=rounds

freakzilla wrote:

For the main card of a ppv each fight should be 5 rounds and title matches should be 7 rounds. Your thoughts?

LMAO. 7 rounds Freak?????

Lol, why not?

OU wrote:

freakzilla wrote:

They are called Championship rounds for a reason.

Change of heart?
http://www.ninjasplace.com/t1861-is-3-rounds-enough?highlight=rounds

freakzilla wrote:

For the main card of a ppv each fight should be 5 rounds and title matches should be 7 rounds. Your thoughts?

Not a change of heart. I still wanted title matches an extra 2 rounds.

I don't think it's needed at all.

LOL all related threads I find are made by Farmer, I'm sure he will be happy if this ever comes true.
http://www.ninjasplace.com/t5240p30-anyone-wish-last-night-s-main-event-was-5-rounds?highlight=rounds
http://www.ninjasplace.com/t1018-all-main-events-need-to-be-5-rounds?highlight=rounds
http://www.ninjasplace.com/t998-all-main-events-need-to-be-5-rounds?highlight=rounds

Its about damn time, if im shelling out 60 bucks we should get a 5 round main event

Birdofthad wrote:

Its about damn time, if im shelling out 60 bucks we should get a 5 round main event

Well, I'd prefer all PPVs have a title fight. But I don't agree with 5 round non-title fights.

http://www.mmamania.com/2011/4/29/2142937/brock-lesnar-vs-junior-dos-santos-a-five-round-non-title-fight-almost

Quote :

"We were actually going to start it Brock Lesnar and Junior Dos Santos, but we had already made the fight. We had already made the fight so it's kind of hard to go back to those guys after you already make the fight and say, 'you know what this is going to be five (rounds) instead of three (rounds).' We're very close to doing it."

LOVE IT!

damn time!

In what other sporting event does the time of the game change because its a championship game? The whole idea of championship rounds is outdated. 3 rounds isn't enough for fights like Rampage-Machida. It just leaves a sour taste in your mouth at the end and it feels like nothing was really proven. 5 rounds for non-title fights worthy of main event status FTW

bobbitt15 wrote:

In what other sporting event does the time of the game change because its a championship game? The whole idea of championship rounds is outdated. 3 rounds isn't enough for fights like Rampage-Machida. It just leaves a sour taste in your mouth at the end and it feels like nothing was really proven. 5 rounds for non-title fights worthy of main event status FTW

Couldnt have said it better myself.

They've been able to do this all along, all they had to do was ask the Commissions and they could have had them in the past.

I thought Dana used to be big time against this? or is that just in my head

This sucks. This is just a way to hawk non title non main events as main events. I want all PPV main events to be worth the extra rounds. Most of the examples of controversial fights weren't that entertaining and the idea that five round fights would be less controversial inherently doesn't even make sense when you look at Frankie Edgar or Lyoto Machida. Terrible.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

This sucks. This is just a way to hawk non title non main events as main events. I want all PPV main events to be worth the extra rounds. Most of the examples of controversial fights weren't that entertaining and the idea that five round fights would be less controversial inherently doesn't even make sense when you look at Frankie Edgar or Lyoto Machida. Terrible.

This. Did anyone really want 2 extra rounds of Rampage vs Machida or Penn vs Fitch? Also, Rua vs Machida, Forrest vs Rampage and Edgar vs Maynard were all 5 rounds and still had controversial decisions.