Dana White and UFC Considering 5-Round Main Events

In the history of modern MMA, there have been countless non-title main events where fans clamored for one more round. Now, the fans may have not only one more round, but two!

Just recently, Dana White discussed the issue of five-round fights at the UFC 129 press conference. He stated that the UFC "could do it" and that they were "probably going to start doing that."

This could have a large impact on the sport.

First, it could be a financial boon for the UFC.

With a promise of a five-round fight on each card, fans will feel like they're getting their money's worth and purchase more pay-per-views. Fans will also be more content, because there will be fewer decisions in non-title main events. The fans will get to see fights finished, and controversial calls (such as Lyoto Machida vs. Rampage Jackson) will eventually become scarce as a result.

Second, it will make the title fights more competitive.

The cliché about "championship rounds" will fade because contenders will be forced to prepare for five rounds of fighting before they get a title shot. Therefore, they will be better acclimated to the pace of a 25-minute contest and will be more competitive.

Unfortunately, all of this may come at the cost of the undercard fighters.

The extra 10 minutes of the main event will have to be made up somewhere in the broadcast. That "somewhere" is in the airing of preliminary bouts. It is likely that fewer will be aired, and it is also likely that at least one fight per card that could have been televised may be pushed down to the undercard.

Aside from this unfortunate consequence, the decision to enact five round main events is, in the short and long term, a positive one.