Dana White: 5-Round Headliners, Flyweights Coming, Diaz Vacates Title

Dana White (file photo) made several big announcements on Thursday. | Photo: Daniel Herbertson/Sherdog.com

First, three-round main events are soon to be extinct in the UFC. The organization will move to five-round headliners for all bouts signed in the future, regardless of whether a title is contested.

White had previously mentioned that five-round main events were imminent for the promotion, but he declined to offer a concrete time table during that announcement. On Thursday, White gave those in attendance a more definitive picture, revealing that headlining non-title bouts will no longer be signed as three-round affairs. However, fights that have already been inked as three-rounders will remain 15-minute contests, such as in the case of Phil Davis and Rashad Evans’ duel at UFC 133.

Additionally, the UFC boss also revealed that the promotion will unveil a flyweight division in the near-future, possibly even by year's end. While the promotion is currently in talks to acquire new flyweight talent, two names in particular jump out as likely candidates for the new, 125-pound division. Two of the UFC's smaller bantamweights, both Joseph Benavidez and Demetrious Johnson have long been rumored as candidates for a potential cut to flyweight if such an opportunity existed, though nothing has been confirmed as of yet.

While the promotion will begin to promote 125-pound affairs in the near-future, While also asserted that it will take time to build the division and eventually crown a champion.

On a different note, White revealed that Strikeforce welterweight king Nick Diaz will vacate his title in order to challenge UFC champion Georges St. Pierre for his strap at UFC 137 in October. Henceforth, Diaz will be regarded as a UFC fighter, though he could return to Strikeforce at a hypothetical point in the future. As a result, two to-be-named Strikeforce contenders will battle later this year to decide a new 170-pound ace of the hexagonal cage.