From now on if you’re booked for a main event in the UFC, be prepared to fight for twenty-five minutes, even if a title is not on the line.
UFC President Dana White announced today that all main event fights following UFC 133 will be scheduled for five rounds, whether the fight is for a championship or not. The change had been talked about for quite some time, but existing bout agreements prevented it from taking place sooner.
While the idea of extended non-title fights isn't a new concept, both demand and debate surrounding the issue began gaining steam following a series of indecisive bouts. A recent Welterweight match-up between former Lightweight champ B.J. Penn and perennial contender Jon Fitch at UFC 127 is a great example. The fight was expected to name a new contender for the division title, but instead ended in a draw when Fitch came back to put forth a 10-8 effort in the third and final round.
With news of the additional two-rounds, stalemates such as these are less likely to occur, and as a result, will equate to less disappointment for both fans and the fighters who spend countless hours in preparation for the match-up.
The flyweight (125-pound) division, a staple in Japan and in regional promotions like the Tachi Palace Fights, could be seen in the Octagon very soon
White confirmed progress on the formation of the flyweight class, which could happen by the end of the year. The organization opened its doors to both the featherweight and bantamweight classes this year, which led to speculation that the flyweights would soon follow. The organization is actively pursuing fighters for the new class – it should be noted that bantamweight standouts Joseph Benavidez and Demetrious Johnson have both publicly expressed their desire to compete at 125.
