Dana White: 5-Round Headliners, Flyweights Coming, Diaz Vacates Title
Mike Whitman Jun 9, 2011
Dana
White (file photo) made several big announcements on Thursday. |
Photo: Daniel Herbertson/Sherdog.com
UFC President Dana White had a lot to say on Thursday, as the promotion head made several announcements regarding the promotion's future for 2011 and beyond.
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.
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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.
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