I just saw MMA live and was a little surprised that Dana said that these are in the UFC's immediate future. I think I would agree with this in #1 contenders matches but not for all of them. Here's the transcript from the guys on MMA live. Gilbert Melendez was a guest with John Anik and Franklin McNeil.
Anik: Rampage and Hamill, this will not be a five-round non-title fight main event, but that scenario is one that could be coming to the Octagon soon. UFC President Dana White said as much in Toronto; what do you guys think about a main event without a title on the line being five rounds?
Melendez: Well you know what, I think three five minute rounds is enough, but sometimes fights, like when I saw Rampage and Rashad Evans, it was like anti-climactic, you know I wanted to see two more rounds, and they were getting started, they were getting going, the flow was going, and I could use those two rounds. You know, sometimes styles are different, uh, it's a hard decision.
McNeil: I think they should go to five rounds whether it's a title eliminator or title fight, or non-title fight - and this is a great example. You know the main event fell off, now people are looking for a reason to go, why not have Rampage Jackson and Matt Hamill do a five rounder? I think it'll be more intriguing to the fans, it'll inspire even more fans to watch it...they're not cheated otherwise.
Anik: But where do you draw the line? I mean June 26th you've got Nate Marquardt against Anthony Johnson, it's not a title eliminator by all inidications, really you don't know exactly what's on the line, why would a fight like that be five rounds?
McNeil: Well maybe on Fight Nights and things like that [it shouldn't be], but I mean on UFC 120-whatever, 1-whatever, there should be that extra incentive for the fans, because people are already making plans long in advance before these fights are being cancelled, so you know they're getting hotel room, travel reservations, now they're kinda getting something taken away from them.
Melendez: I still don't see it making sense, I mean you gotta distinguish your champions from your non champions, so I mean they gotta come to some sorta agreement, maybe four rounds [for non title fights] and six rounds [for the title]. If they're gonna change it to five rounds, they need to change the championship fight to a little bit more, they need to have it separate somehow, in my opinion.
Anik: I mean if you wanna make a number one contender's bout five rounds, but you know I mean even Pettis-Guida, uh Pettis is all but guaranteed a title shot, Clay Guida isn't, I don't know why that fight would be five rounds, we gotta [leave the conversation] though...
Melendez: Well you know what, I think three five minute rounds is enough, but sometimes fights, like when I saw Rampage and Rashad Evans, it was like anti-climactic, you know I wanted to see two more rounds, and they were getting started, they were getting going, the flow was going, and I could use those two rounds. You know, sometimes styles are different, uh, it's a hard decision.
McNeil: I think they should go to five rounds whether it's a title eliminator or title fight, or non-title fight - and this is a great example. You know the main event fell off, now people are looking for a reason to go, why not have Rampage Jackson and Matt Hamill do a five rounder? I think it'll be more intriguing to the fans, it'll inspire even more fans to watch it...they're not cheated otherwise.
Anik: But where do you draw the line? I mean June 26th you've got Nate Marquardt against Anthony Johnson, it's not a title eliminator by all inidications, really you don't know exactly what's on the line, why would a fight like that be five rounds?
McNeil: Well maybe on Fight Nights and things like that [it shouldn't be], but I mean on UFC 120-whatever, 1-whatever, there should be that extra incentive for the fans, because people are already making plans long in advance before these fights are being cancelled, so you know they're getting hotel room, travel reservations, now they're kinda getting something taken away from them.
Melendez: I still don't see it making sense, I mean you gotta distinguish your champions from your non champions, so I mean they gotta come to some sorta agreement, maybe four rounds [for non title fights] and six rounds [for the title]. If they're gonna change it to five rounds, they need to change the championship fight to a little bit more, they need to have it separate somehow, in my opinion.
Anik: I mean if you wanna make a number one contender's bout five rounds, but you know I mean even Pettis-Guida, uh Pettis is all but guaranteed a title shot, Clay Guida isn't, I don't know why that fight would be five rounds, we gotta [leave the conversation] though...
and Davis/Evans. Here's the thing though Lil Nog/Franklin looks like the headliner (for now) and that'd only be 3. We'll have co-mains being 5 and mains as 3. It's possible Edgar/Maynard gets moved there and a main 5,co-main 3 and middle fight as 5.
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