5 round non-title fights approved by NSAC

[CPT]

I would have posted this in the other NSAC thread, but I didn't want it to be missed, and IMO, it's bigger and better news.

http://www.mmaweekly.com/blog/2009/08/n ... nd-non.asp

So yeah, they have approved 5 round non-title fights, as long as the fighters are "championship caliber" according to Keith Kizer.

Pretty good news if you ask me. Recent fights like Henderson vs. Franklin, Franklin vs. Wandy, etc would have been better as 5 rounders, and we knew that going in. The point isn't to say that any close fight should have been a 5 rounder, but IMO all main events and co-main events should be.

It will be interesting to see if other athletic commissions follow suit though, because now that I think about it, neither of those fights were in Vegas (which is why they had non-title main events).

I think the first 5 round non-title fight could be Rampage vs. Rashad. Add even a little more fuel to the fire.

[The Flying Gent]

Definitely happy with this. I would be down for all main events being 5 rounds too. Only draw back is we'll get more of the good, but more of the not so good as well. It's a bit of doubled edged sword scenario. But, as i see it anyway, that's just a minor complaint and this is good news overall.

I wonder if this signifies that 7 round title fights are in the cards at some point.

[High 5]

Hopefully they don't go overboard with it. 3 rounds is plenty for most fights.

[funkatron101]

Kind of a weird rule. "Championship caliber" is pretty subjective. It should definitely just be for main events.

[Cammo101]

They should only use 5 rounds for title fights and super fights. Not super fights like 2 good guy, but fights like GSP vs. Penn, if they are not title fights. Chuck vs. Wandy or Couture vs. Fedor off the top of my head.

I am concerned that they go overboard with 5 rounders. 3 is usually fine.

[The Flying Gent]

I Dunno about that. I would love to see fights like Sanchez vs Guida go for 5 rounds.

[cowboyronnie]

So key, so key. There have been some fights recently that have tragically been limited to 3.

Awesome!

[funkatron101]

I Dunno about that. I would love to see fights like Sanchez vs Guida go for 5 rounds.

Which was the main event, so I'm cool with that.

[jTF2]

Damn, CPT, scared me for a min there with title. I thought ALL fights were going to 5 rounds which would be a disaster. I like the idea of non title but compelling fights be moved to 5 rounds.

[Headliner]

Love this.

[Deelow_23]

Great news.

[4ho5ive]

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2009/8/31/10 ... ll-a-no-go

I've always been very strict about the terms under which I'm willing to accept a 5 round non-title fight. My personal stance is only in "numbered event" (UFC 101, 102, etc) main event fights. This way you retain the "special" feeling of a five round fight as the vast majority of contests continue to operate as three rounders. Despite what anyone in the community wants to see it is quite clear that we won't be seeing a five round non-title fight in the UFC for a while. Even Keith Kizer of the NSAC said that the UFC has already told the commission that they're not interested in making a change, so don't hold your breath.

[CPT]

Yeah, I was gonna post that.

Here it is right from the horse's mouth...

White admits that while watching Nogueira navigate his way to a decision victory at the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, Ore., he thought about it. But the purist in him wants to keep five-round fights strictly for championship bouts.

"I was saying [last week] I wish this was a five-round fight, Nogueira and Couture, and there's been other fights, too, that I've wished were five rounds," White said prior to UFC 102. "But I'm a purist, man. Title fights are five rounds. When you fight for the title, it's five rounds."

Earlier this month the NSAC approved the use of five-round bouts for non-title fights. While the news got a lot of play, few realized that the NSAC already (and often) permitted such bouts if organizations simply requested them and the fighters had an appropriate experience level.

But even before the new rule went into effect, NSAC executive director Keith Kizer told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) he didn't expect the hometown promotion to use it.

"The UFC has specifically told us they're not interested, so I doubt you'll see that from them," Kizer said.

The thrill of fight night, though, had White reconsidering.

"You know how many times I've been ringside and said, 'God, I wish this was a five-round fight,'" White said after UFC 102. "I did it [on Sunday]. (UFC heavuweight champion) Brock (Lesnar) and I were watching the fight together, and we both said we wish that fight with Nogueira and Couture was five rounds.

"But, I think that's what's so special about fighting for the title. You fight for the title, and it's a five-round fight; you don't, it's a three-round fight. So if everything could be five rounds, what's the point in having title fights at five rounds? Should we do title fights as seven rounds and regular fights (at) five rounds? It just doesn't make sense to me, even though as a fan myself I'd like to see some fights go five rounds that aren't."

http://mmajunkie.com/news/16031/even-af ... fights.mma

I understand wanting to make title fights seem more special, but I still don't see the problem in having a 5 round non-title fight if it's a main event.

Dana White is talking about it like all fights would have to be 5 rounds.

[4ho5ive]

I agree, Rashad/Rampage would be a great opportunity for a non-title 5 rounder.

[damo[23]]

I think there are some fights that would lend themselves so well to 5 rounds, but I can see Dana White's point as well.

But its an option, and now its allowed its not like he can't change his mind, he has that option available to him thanks to the commission, and at least he has said he sometimes wishes they could be five rounds.

I think another thing that could change it up is how the "competitors" do it, since its not just for the benefit of the UFC. If the likes of Strikeforce say line up a non-title Fedor fight for 5 5min's - and it goes the distance in an epic - Dana could be pushed to matching the likes of it - or maybe pre-empting it in a show before hand.

Like I say with the option you have it there available.

[Hilltop]

I'm likin it. I agree with applying it to only main events though. Three is indeed a little much for a lot of other fights I've seen. There are those fights that an extra 2 rounds would catapult to a classic, and those that would make me switch the channel.