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Scott Coker: Bellator considering 5-round main events, but ‘once we do it, we can’t go back’
Filed under: Bellator, News, Videos
UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Five-round main event fights could be coming to Bellator, company President Scott Coker revealed at Friday’s Bellator 185 post-fight news conference.
Following a hotly contested unanimous decision win for Gegard Mousasi (43-6-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) over Alexander Shlemenko (56-10 MMA, 12-4 BMMA) in the Spike-televised middleweight fight at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., there was debate over what would have happened with two additional rounds.
The UFC adopted five-round non-title headliners in June 2011, and the results have come with little criticism. Bellator has yet to go in that direction, and although Coker said it’s something that’s being discussed, he admitted there’s some hesitation.
“That’s something we’ve been really debating internally,” Coker said. “Because once we do it, we can’t go back. Right now all the main events except for title fights are three rounds. … If this was a five-round fight, it could have ended in a different outcome.
“We’re going to evaluate internally, we’ll talk to our guys and then we’ll talk about it. At some point, we’ll probably do it, but once we do it, we’re not going to be able to come back.”
Coker did not reveal a timeline for when a decision will be made on implementing five-round title fights, but the widespread debate over the outcome of Mousasi vs. Shlemenko could convince one way or the other.
For complete coverage of Bellator 185, check out the MMA Events section of the site.
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