Most of the popular MMA Promotion Companies, including the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) decide MMA fights rounds and time duration. The numbers of rounds with time duration including break time depend on the promotion authorities concerned. Today we shall discuss MMA fights’ usual time duration.
MMA Rounds
MMA fighting rounds differ from MMA Promotions. It is their sole discretionary power to decide the number of rounds and time duration of the fighting. As of now, most MMA fights are three rounds, with each round lasting five minutes. On the other hand, for title fights, the bouts are five rounds, five minutes per round. With a one-minute break in between each round applicable for both fights.
A non-championship UFC fight can last three rounds. But, UFC decided to have 5 rounds of fights for main event fights regardless of whether it is a title fight or not. With a one-minute break in between rounds as usual.
Therefore, MMA main event or title five-round fights can last up to 29 minutes, while non-championship UFC fight three-round fights can last up to 17 minutes altogether.
Why Time Limits in MMA Fight?
Time limits in MMA fighting were established to avoid long fights on the ground with little perceivable action. No time-limit matches also create problems in airing MMA live events.
Before introducing MMA Rounds:
Before introducing rounds in MMA fighting, the tournament featured fights with no weight classes, rounds, or judges. There were only three rules – no biting, no eye gouging, and no groyne shots. A fine of $1,500 was enforced for violation of any of the rules.
The MMA combat sport was initially criticised for being too violent and brutal. First, it was banned in 1997 in New York. At one time the sport was banned in most parts of the United States, led by John McCain who called MMA human cockfighting as having no comprehensive rules, including rounds or any break in between fights.
The round-based system in MMA fights was only introduced at UFC 21 in 1999. The first MMA event took place on November 12, 1993 in Denver, Colorado, which was the night of UFC 1. There were still no round systems in MMA fights. The Ultimate Fighting Championship exploded into people’s homes via pay-per-view on the inaugural night. As we said, the first MMA event took place in Denver. It was designed as an eight-man tournament pitting fighters of all sizes and different disciplines against one another in no-holds-barred matches. That means no rules or restrictions apply in a conflict or dispute.
Early MMA Fight:
Even with the limited rules, these early fights appeared downright barbaric in comparison to the polished UFC events of today. There were no judges, no time limits or rounds or break time in between fights. All fights, whether main events or titles, had to be finished via knockout, submission or the opponent’s corner throwing in the towel.
The early MMA fights were designed to make it as an Ultimate Fighting Competition with no mercy. To attract more viewers the fights were advertised as having no rules, so that the fight can be extremely exciting. Still, initially, there were three rules: no biting, eye gouging or groyne strikes. Even after that, the brutality went too far and finally round systems were introduced to make the fight more understandable.
MMA non-championship fights are scheduled for three, five-minute rounds. While title fights are set for five, five-minute rounds.One-minute break in between rounds. These round structures are a part of the MMA Unified Rules which are the set of rules widely adopted by most governing bodies and promotions including UFC.