Do MMA Fight Times Matter?

[Shark]

It mostly depends on the fighter. Rousey has had less than 25 minutes of fight time in her 11 pro fights. She's never been past the 3rd round ever and that was once. There are some fighters where seeing them destroy an opponent in seconds is what you want to see. If you know Rousey, you know what you're paying for. There are some fights that you want to see last a while though. I know a lot of people love a lot of lightweight fights and want most of them to be 5 round fights, especially guys like Donald Cerrone and Ben Henderson because they warm up and get going more in the later rounds.

On the other hand, I don't think many people like seeing heavyweight fights go on for very long. Particularly since only a few, namely champion Cain Velasquez can go the distance and keep it entertaining. A couple of weeks ago Frank Mir and Bigfoot Silva fight and everyone on the planet wanted that fight over in the first round. It all depends on the fight and fighters.

[Deleted]

I've never gotten into MMA for pretty much that reason. The majority of fights I've seen end within a couple minutes and/or start good but end up with both guys tied up in a pretzel within 20 seconds. Plus none of them could withstand Hogan's legdrop, so why bother?

[Capt Lunatic]

Best fight of all time for me was Dan Henderson vs Shogun Rua. It went the full 25 mins.

2nd best fight was Matt Hughes vs Frank Trigg, It was under 4 but just insane from start to finish. Your mileage may vary.

Then worst are the 15/25 min sparring sessions where both fighters are just trying not to lose.

[Deleted]

Not really, especially with Rousey you just want to see the destruction like Tyson in the 80s.

[Porky's Butthole]

From the looks of shit, Rousey is the white chick Mike Tyson of MMA. Kill them quickly.

Shit. Beaten to it. Sorry.

[JTH]

Mar 2, 2015 15:25:29 GMT -5 @akeem said:

Not really, especially with Rousey you just want to see the destruction like Tyson in the 80s.

This, took the words right out of my mouth, exactly what I have told people myself.

[Cela]

Better than when two wrestlers decide to show off their month of striking training or wall hugging.

[Kevin Hamilton]

I loved Rousey's fight Sat night. That was entertaining as hell.

[One-Armed Drummer of Defrebel]

It's more of what happens in the timeframe rather than the timeframe itself. A 2 minute war that ends in a violent knockout or submission between two guys who are great fighters will always be more enjoyable than two really sloppy fighters going the distance, despite the max. time being filled by the latter.

This does work in reverse too though, as two great fighters going at it nonstop for the full 15 or 25 minutes(IE: Aldo vs. Mendes II) is infinitely better than an early finish where neither guy really looks good(IE: Basically any Fight Night card in an odd location)

[Wolf Hawkfield no1 NZ poster]

Well a good short fight is much better than a boring 3 round lay and pray snooze fest.

[Jeff Mangum PI]

Of course. You wouldn't pay for a Heavyweight Championship fight that only lasted 18 seconds.

[One-Armed Drummer of Defrebel]

Mar 2, 2015 18:15:23 GMT -5 Cela said:

Better than when two wrestlers decide to show off their month of striking training or wall hugging.

Don't be like that, there was at least one time when someone's month of striking training was entertaining.

...maybe for the wrong reasons, however.

[Dean-o]

I don't mind it.

With the WWE, you know most main events won't end until they all hit their signature moves and a few finishers, so it takes the drama out of the first 10-15 minutes out of it. With boxing or MMA, unless you're dealing with a fixed fight, if it goes under a minute, that dude (or lady) just got their ass kicked.

[Emmet Russell]

It depends on the fight.

One of my favourite fights of all time is Jones vs. Gufferston, which went all the way through the full five rounds. If a fight is even and exciting, I love when they go long.

There's nothing worse than a boring fight where no one seems to want to end it, just go through to the judges. Those are the worst. But overall it doesn't bother me, there's just sometimes going to be fights where that happens - it's a sport. You can't control it.

As shown by the recent Rousey fight, I also adore a short fight. I think it's the shock factor, but I always love when a fight ends in one punch or a quick submission in the first minute or so. It's so great.

[Lancers]

I think the fight times can be good and bad for MMA.

For example, the potential of a quick Rousey-like outcome will keep you completely glued to the fight because of the unpredictable nature. But, you might feel like you've been gypped of 50 dollars if you ordered the PPV for the main event.

[Deleted]

It's a sport.

I don't even think this way when I tune into watch it and when I lay my PPV dollar down. I know a fight could end in seconds, and if it does, then it does. This thought process is so alien to me. It's the nature of the beast.