Women Get Five Minute Rounds
Strikeforce has now made another contribution to the world of MMA, particularly women’s MMA. Strikeforce is already the largest promoter to feature female fights. They have also given women the first North American headlining slot with Gina Carano vs. Christiane “Cyborg” Santos on August 15. Now they have added to that list the first two high profile female bouts to be contested with five minute rounds.
Last week it was confirmed by ESPN.com that Carano v. Cyborg received permission from the California State Athletic Commission to go five minute rounds. This marked a departure from past requirements by athletic commissions that the women only fight three minute rounds. At the time, however, Strikeforce said that the length of rounds in women’s fights would be determined on a fight by fight basis depending on the rulings of the governing athletic commission.
Now Strikeforce CEO Mike Afromowitz has confirmed to MMAJunkie that the Washington State Athletic Commission has followed California’s lead. The WSAC has given its blessing to five minute rounds in women’s fights for the Friday night bout between Shayna Baszler and Sarah Kaufman. The article went on to quote Afromowitz as saying “We can’t yet commit to every women’s fight using five-minute rounds because we’re working with the athletic commissions in the various states we visit, but we hope to get to that point eventually.”
[Pictured: Shayna Baszler]
Tags: Cristiane Cyborg, gina carano, Sarah Kaufman, Shayna Baszler
Loading ...
The biggest problem with womens MMA is that its existence in the spotlight is a lie.
It doesn’t get its place in the spotlights because its an intereisting and legitimite sport, but because guys like to see women take their cloathes off and roll around with eachother on the floor.
You think we will ever se a female HW-division? Where the fighters, just like in the guys division, are big and have a few extra pounds of fat? No. It’s never gonna happen and the reason is my point beeing.
Like was said below how many legitimate woman heavy weights could you see? My girl is 6′2, only 175, and fit as hell. It’s about body style as well as how many women do you see that seriously want to train MMA 24/7? You think if there was a higher weight class with legitimate talent that Cyborg wouldn’t be there?
Yeah Carano is hot but she is a fighter a legitimate fighter. So while yeah some guys just want to see two women roll around true MMA fans recognize real skill. Carano really does have serious skill and Cyborg trains at CHUTE BOX the most physical and brutal camp in MMA. They’re both legit.
Carano is going to get her ass wooped
No, body structure has a lot to do with it. Guys are just bigger than girls. Guy HWs are big men; we’re talking 6′ plus. You see lots of guys in general that are legitimate, not fat, heavyweights. How many just plain big, not fat, girls do you see? Not many.
I disagree with your assessment though. Guys would rather watch women fighters take their clothes off and punch each other in the face. Women’s MMA is fun to watch. And most aren’t even hot.
There’s also a physiological difference in that men produce more androgenic hormones (testosterone etc) than women do and therefore are capable of putting on more musculature than women are as a whole.
I think that most MMA fans just want to see a good fight, regardless of size, and by extension, gender. If women’s MMA continues to thrive, eventually female athletes from other pursuits will start stepping into cages, or rings, and futher enhance their sport.
Also, anyone who is married or dated a working woman will tell you about how women can go on and on about how they do more work than men, have more energy than men, more responsibility than men, etc.
In that case, I fully support them going to 5 minute rounds, and getting the top slot on an MMA show.
Best of luck to them both.
Agreed. Couldn’t have said it better myself.
this is a double edged sword move by the commision. i like that it will be chosen on a fight by fight basis, but this 5 rounds will hurt cyborg. I think gina can hang with 5 minute rounds, but cyborg gets tired 2 minutes into the 1st round. now she is being asked to go 3 five minute rounds, thats tough. as far as hw divison in womens mma, I think gina and cyborg are like the ufc’s 205 division. they are fighting for the 145 title, that would make hw 155-160. but I doubt they would be able to find many competitive women at that weight. most women that are athletic, (Im saying most) are around 5′9-5′11 and weigh no more than 150, not all but most. their are women that are taller and a bit heavier, but I think if womens mma were to get anywhere they will not let women fight past a certain weight, past a certain weight some women have a bit of fat and most guys do not like women like that and do not want to see women moving around and flopping around with their spare tire.
me personally, I have no problem with a woman that has a bit extra around the midsection or thighs, I do not like these bony women that hollywood idolizes and so many young women want to be like. I think those women look like middle school girls and liking them is like liking children which in turn makes you a pedophile. I like women that have curves and fill out their body. but again a lot of these new mma fans are bloodthirsty and want to see action and “hot women who are not fat”. do ou guys get what I mean?
Cyborg vs. Gina will be five five minute rounds, if no one gets knocked out before then.
Is it three-five minute rounds or five-five minute rounds?I think Cyborg’ only chance will be in the first five minutes regardless.
Cyborg v. Carano: see my above comment.
Baszler v. Kaufman: Three five minute rounds.
good catch justin, cyborg-gina is 5 five minute rounds because of a title match. cyborg will probably do 3 five minute rounds after the gina fight unless she beats gina. i think the lesser known women will do the traditional 3 three minute rounds.
Santos could very well end up beating Carano,I just can’t see it happening.If Carano uses her size and weight and ties her up or takes her down I don’t think Santos can deal with it,especially for 5 five minute rounds.Either way,it should be entertaining.
For the record, Santos is bigger than Carano. I do think that if Carano can weather the early storm, and come into the fight in good shape herself, she will be able to capitalize as the fight goes longer. Santos is dangerous, but much more so early, as the fight goes on I think it will favor Carano more and more.
Nice to see that this will be 5minute rounds, I don’t believe that this fight will go for all 25minutes, this fight has an opportunity to be great (great both for women’s MMA and MMA in general)
who ever stated 5min x 5rounds thing the other day, hey I was wrong and good on ya
stop the presses FR just admited he was wrong. OMG!
hey now BigChris, I believe that I have been very good in admitting when I have been wrong, as rare as that actually is
Actually – the truth is while the commission may approve it because Strikeforce asked them to, 3-min vs. 5-min rounds are not, and have not been, mandated by the Athletic Commission. In reality each promoter makes that decision. Just to be safe, Strikeforce has obviously checked to make sure it’s okay with the California State AC, but it’s not written in the MMA Unified Rules of Conduct that women’s bouts must only be 3-min’s. Promoters continue to make that determination all on their own.
Additionally, this article is not entirely accurate, as New Jersey has had 5-minute rounds for females for years. So…they did not “add to that list the first two female bouts to be contested with five minute rounds” – it’s already been done, and for quite some time.
And PU-LEEEZ would people stop saying there are no female competitors at 155lbs. There may not be FAMOUS female fighters at that weight, but start going to some local events in your area if you have them…females fight at 155lbs. AND ABOVE all the time.
With all due respect, the so-called “facts” that circulate on the ‘net are seriously getting out of hand. It would be better for people to find out the facts and discuss those, rather than continue to talk about stuff they’ve heard and then assume to be correct.
I was unaware of the situation in New Jersey, and the article has been edited accordingly.
Sweet – appreciate the correction!
You’re welcome, and thanks for stopping by.
Actually it’s a combination of promoters and State Athletic Commissions as to why it’s been only 3 minute rounds, many states like Nevada do not have any legislation in place to dictate women’s MMA rounds any differently than men’s. Then some like Cali and Florida do/did actually have the rules because it took more to get MMA sanctioned again. To be honest though I’m just glad it’s 5 minutes now because I have never seen a reason for it to be different.
There are women’s fighters above 155…I know I’ve seen them BUT the lack of big names is what holds it back. Cyborg would be fighting at a higher weight class if there were more names up there but otherwise it’d just be Cyborg and… yeah not many people up there YET. There is more money for promoters in her having the possible bout with Carano than just having Carano and Cyborg rip apart random people.
Give it about five years and women’s MMA will be just as much a part of major cards as any other fight. Good post!
Oh and bigchris2328, are you freakin’ serious? NO way I’m going point by point with you, but your post is so absurd it’s hysterical! I’d need a whole page to respond to your post.
Okay,okay – couldn’t resist: “most guys do not like women like that and do not want to see women moving around and flopping around with their spare tire”
Uhhhh…Tim Sylvia? Bluto — whoops…I mean Ray Mercer? Oh yeah – what stud-muffins. Male fighters NEVER have any of that spare tire stuff. Thank goodness, ’cause I don’t watch MMA (well, you probably call it “universal fighting” like Bob Reilly) for the sport – I just watch it to see all those sexy guys with really perfect bodies roll around in all their awesomeness.
I for one am a rather big fan of Women MMA helll lets be honest all MMA… I’m kinda weird like that iguess..
Katrina, you have some good stuff @ your place and thank you for posting on this topic.. A lot of casual fans just don’t get women’s MMA (imo) and that is simply sad as helll.. I was there to witness the great fight between Kaufman and Tate and imo the 5 minute rounds have just came too late, that fight would have gone to epic status if they fought for 25 minutes…
I also believe that BigChris093257390287 was in no way attempting to degrade women or women’s MMA, I just wish that more people (causual fans) would watch some great womens MMA, also I don’t believe that Gina nor Cyborg are the best in the world, perhaps this is the most anticipated womens fight ever but there is a little japanese lady that is pretty damnn good I think she might be the best….
katrina i never said thats how i felt, I was stating that a bunch of these “new ufc” fans think that way. most of these guys think they are the shhh and are young idiotic and immature. katrina if you reread my first post you will get my feelings on the second paragraph. and if you think I am wrong about the new fans thinking, the next time you go to a bar/restaurant to watch a ufc ppv, just strike up a conversation with a few guys and ask them their thoughts on women and what kind of women they would like to see fighting.
I am in no way trying to start a argument with you, I respect your thoughts and views just like I respect everyone’s on this site.