We thought it might be and so it has come to pass.

Dana White announced today (via Brett OKamoto of ESPN) that all main event non-title fights will be five rounds instead of three.

There is no word just yet on when exactly the switch will take effect, although it was noted that the upcoming UFC 133 bout pitting Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis will still be a three-round fight because contracts have already been signed.

The first event after that one will be UFC on Versus 5 on Aug. 14, which features a main event of Chris Lytle vs. Dan Hardy. Who wouldn't mind adding a couple rounds to that scrap?

It is unknown, however, if bout agreements have been signed for that fight, as well. It should be noted that it does appear on the official event page at UFC.com, which essentially means it's official; signed, sealed and delivered.

That means fight fans may have to wait until the Sept. 17 UFC "Battle on the Bayou" show in New Orleans for the very first main event five round non-title fight.

Who should it be? And what's your reaction to this announcement?


Source:

i dont think it really matters who it is...
will be interesting to see who it ends up being...

I been think about this for awhile now. Happy its finally happening.

thats good news to hear... main event fights are some of the top guys in their division, they have been around and know what it takes physically and mentally.... there is nothing worse then a main event fight when its a draw or to close to call and someone gets the decision...

conditioning will become even more so important with the 5 rounds, alot of fighters cant last 3 rounds due to fatiguing to much or going to hard in the 1st - 2nd round...

I personally like the idea. Give the fight a definitive outcome if you can. More fights will be finished.

However I find it funny that I recall Dana saying this was a bad idea and that only title fights should be 5 rounds. Am I mistaken?

That's a great initiative! I just wished that the Evans-Davis would be 5 rounds.

I think it is a great decision. Especially with close matches it will all come to conditioning now but I hope that judges won't fall asleep after 3 rounds.

It can be bad if it is all wrestling though. When 2 fighters just lie on the floor and try to stay alive it will become even more boring (depending of course if they actually wrestle or just dry hump eachother )

But basically I am all for it because I hate to see close matches come to an end and having to see a fight again just because judges made a call we can't live with

im with foxy...
it can definitely make for better fights...
but then if you get a shit fight that goes to decision...
now it will be 10 minutes of extra shittiness on top of 15 minutes of boredom...

As real as it gets Great stuff!!