NSAC considers 5 round non title fights.

I'm sorry but i'm all fucking for it sometimes.

According to MMA Junkie, the Nevada State Athletic Commission will be looking to fine tune their ruleset when they convene on August 17th. NSAC has provided a copy of the potential changes here. Among the changes, NSAC proposes to increase leniency with regards to length of bouts. Here's the text (bold indicates proposed change):

2. A championship contest of mixed martial arts or any other mixed martial arts contest or
exhibition which the Commission considers to be a special event must [be] not exceed five
rounds in duration.

I've written about my support for more five round fights before. Just within the past year, one only has to look at the Franklin/Henderson, Franklin/Silva, and Condit/Kampmann fights as examples of why the option for five round non-title fights is necessary.

Our quirky friends at Fightlinker disagree:

Five round non title fights? Say it ain't so, Keith! While I'm sure many people are high fiving over the possibility of fights like Anderson Silva vs Forrest Griffin or Randy Couture vs Big Nog going 25 minutes instead of 15 (and I say 'like' because these aren't in Nevada), just wait till the five round fight becomes the new three round fight. Anything that pushes MMA closer towards boxing's never-ending bout syndrome is bad fucking news. How about we add the option to stick another period onto hockey games while we're at it?

I'm not really sure how adding ten potential minutes to a mixed martial arts contest is pushing the sport closer to boxing, nor am I sure how that's inherently a bad thing either. With that said, what are the benefits?

•More decisive finishes - From my previous post on the topic, I showed that - in a limited sample size - five round title fights are finished 77% of the time as compared to the MMA average of 67% for three round affairs. More fights avoiding the mysterious hands of the judges the better.
•Less importance per round - In a three round fight, each round makes up 33% of a judge's score card. A round in a five round bout is only worth 20%. For example, in the Caol Uno/Spencer Fisher fight at UFC 99, if you score the first two rounds (which were very close) to Fisher, Uno has to win a dominant 10-8 third just for a draw. With two additional rounds, Uno would have ample time to make up lost ground (if not finish his opponent).
•More quality at the top of the cards - I'm an extremist. The more five-round fights, the better. I understand that's a minority position, and unlikely to come to fruition in the event that NSAC opens the five-round door. That said, if the UFC utilizes the five round fight for all main and co-main events, that's potentially 20 additional minutes of high-level MMA. Who can argue with that?
As a final note, I think it's important to take a look at the wording of the proposed clause (emphasis mine):

or any other mixed martial arts contest or exhibition which the Commission considers to be a special event

It looks like the NSAC is taking measures to ensure they have oversight over a promoter's wants.

God dammit Combat you always seem to bring me great news! I hope that shit goes down...it needs to!

Personally I am against 5 round non title fights. If this rules gets made we will see less fights.

I think the problem is the judges and the judging criteria. Not the number of rounds and the ten point must system.

very very cool

Ninja\Rua/Fan wrote:

Personally I am against 5 round non title fights. If this rules gets made we will see less fights.

I think the problem is the judges and the judging criteria. Not the number of rounds and the ten point must system.

I totally see your point but sometimes i just want to see more of a fight for example a 5 rounder with wandy and chuck. I think they should only be used in very very special situations. It may not necessarily mean less fights.

I personally would like to see it. And I don't understand what Fightlinker was talking about. How long do they think a boxing match should be?

I think the problem lies in the judges criteria for determining the winer, but 5 round fights could be an interesting step forward.

I can think of tons of fights off hand, with Franklin-Hendo being the most recent example, of fights that went 3 rounds with disuputed decision when going 5 rounds would have ended in a decisive winner.

I'm all for 5 round fights for main and co main fights.

Just think how much better & possible different MMA would be if we had 5 round fights for all main and co main events.

UFC 99 - Franklin v Silva & Cain v Kongo
UFC 98 - Hughes v Serra
FN 18 - Condit vs Kampmann
UFC 96 - Jackson vs Jardine
UFC 95 - Sanchez v Stevenson
UFC 93 - Franklin vs Henderson

And that is just 2009

Farmer1906 wrote:

I'm all for 5 round fights for main and co main fights.

Just think how much better & possible different MMA would be if we had 5 round fights for all main and co main events.

UFC 99 - Franklin v Silva & Cain v Kongo
UFC 98 - Hughes v Serra
FN 18 - Condit vs Kampmann
UFC 96 - Jackson vs Jardine
UFC 95 - Sanchez v Stevenson
UFC 93 - Franklin vs Henderson

And that is just 2009

Bad examples.

Ninja\Rua/Fan wrote:

Farmer1906 wrote:

I'm all for 5 round fights for main and co main fights.

Just think how much better & possible different MMA would be if we had 5 round fights for all main and co main events.

UFC 99 - Franklin v Silva & Cain v Kongo
UFC 98 - Hughes v Serra
FN 18 - Condit vs Kampmann
UFC 96 - Jackson vs Jardine
UFC 95 - Sanchez v Stevenson
UFC 93 - Franklin vs Henderson

And that is just 2009

Bad examples.

Why you don't like finishes?

Less fights would get aired. Leave shit alone.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

Less fights would get aired. Leave shit alone.

How do you know less fights would be shown? There are shows with multiple title fights that show the exact same amount of fights as every other card.

The maincard ones would be shown, but it would lead to less undercards.

But wouldn't an addition 2 rounds of Franklin Silva be more entertaining than 2 guys no one has ever heard of or 2 guys who lost in the 2nd round of TUF?

Ya I see your point but too often guys like Jon Jones and other up and comers I really like to see live are left in the lurch.

Yeah there are trade off but ultimately you can go watch the undercard the next day. We'll never know what happens in round 4 or/and 5 of Franklin Hendo.

I like it that only title fights go that long. I like the idea of "championship rounds".

Look I don't think every single main event should be 5 rounds regardless but no one can say that there is never an instance where going into a fight you wouldn't want it to be a 5 rounder even if it's not for a title.
I can tell you right now I pray that Rampage Rashad is 5 rds. It wont be and it prolly wouldnt go that far but I'd love to see 5 rds of those 2.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

I like it that only title fights go that long. I like the idea of "championship rounds".

That is one arguement I agree with...I do like the idea of it.

Maybe official title eliminators and TUF championship bouts and coaches bouts. But random main events as five rounders, naw. Something of a championship caliber should be at stake.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

Maybe official title eliminators and TUF championship bouts and coaches bouts. But random main events as five rounders, naw. Something of a championship caliber should be at stake.

That was pretty much my point.

Not tryin to steal ya thunder hot rod.

Farmer1906 wrote:

But wouldn't an addition 2 rounds of Franklin Silva be more entertaining than 2 guys no one has ever heard of or 2 guys who lost in the 2nd round of TUF?

Then we would have the same problem as boxing after all the big names and main eventers the up and comers are not well known be any casual fans and they won't pay to see them. Leave it as is.

Ziggy116 wrote:

Look I don't think every single main event should be 5 rounds regardless but no one can say that there is never an instance where going into a fight you wouldn't want it to be a 5 rounder even if it's not for a title.
I can tell you right now I pray that Rampage Rashad is 5 rds. It wont be and it prolly wouldnt go that far but I'd love to see 5 rds of those 2.

Uhhh.... what would make you think Rampage/Rashad's going anywhere near 5 rounds? I don't see it getting out of the first.

2 years in the making.