How long do UFC fights last for?

If you’ve ever wondered how long a UFC fight lasts, then you’ve reached the right place. To answer the question in full, there’s a variety of factors that go into determining the length of a UFC fight. From 25 minutes to 5 seconds, the length of time is completely random and depends on how the fight plays out. Here’s how it all works.

How long is a regular UFC fight in length?

Let’s say there’s a fight that is on a regular Fight Night event and there isn’t a title belt on the line. Assuming the fight goes the distance and there’s no stoppage, then the fight is 15 minutes in length. Here, the fight is divided into 3 sections of 5 minutes each. In between each round, there is a one minute breather where fighters can be attended to by doctors and their coaches. Of course, if there’s an early submission or knockout, then the 15 minute length will count for nothing.

How long is a Championship UFC fight in length?

Now, let’s compare this time length to a fight for a belt. One example of this is in 2019 when Jon Jones fought Anthony Smith for the Light Heavyweight belt. This fight went the distance and Jones won by unanimous decision. As this was for a belt, the fight was 5 rounds long, each round being 5 minutes in length. As well, it had one minute in between rounds for rests. The result is that this went on for 25 minutes in length.

Are there other UFC fights that are 25 minutes in length?

The answer to this question is yes, there are. Some fights are scheduled for 25 minutes if they’re a main event. An example of this was the fight between Leon Edwards vs. Nate Diaz in 2021. This fight was not significant in terms of winning a belt – however it was the main event of the night. As a result, this went the distance and was far longer than a regular fight which usually lasts 15 minutes.

What are the implications of longer fights?

Obviously, a longer fight has different implications compared to a shorter fight. The first issue to consider is the cardio factor. You may be able to win a fight for 10 or 15 minutes. In a typical fight this would spell victory. However, if the fight then goes into the fourth round then this is where things change. If you’ve used up your gas tank at that point then you’re in trouble.

Therefore, the proposition of a longer fight changes your strategy and you may naturally turn towards a more conservative way of fighting. As a result, fighters will often improve their cardio and endurance in the build up to a longer fight.

Technically, fights go on for longer when it goes on to decision

If you really want to count the clock, then technically, fights go on for longer when it goes on to a decision. For example, let’s say someone wins after 15 minutes (of three 5 minute rounds). This fight will also have two minutes rest in between round 2 and 3 which takes the time to 17 minutes in length. You can also do the same for Championship fights which are even longer due to more breaks.

Then there’s an extended time which is when the fight gets paused. For instance, let’s say someone gets hit in the genitals accidentally. The ref may stop the fight for a minute or so for them to recover. This means that from a viewer’s perspective, usually a fight lasts longer than it does on paper. As a result, if you’re watching a UFC event then you can expect fights to linger on for longer than they’re actually billed for.

What was the shortest UFC fight ever?

In the history of the UFC, the shortest fight ever was when Jorge Masvidal beat Ben Askren at UFC 239. This was the main event and it lasted a literal 5 seconds. How? During this bout, Ben Askren charged at Masvidal at the start, he who Askren with a flying knee. This was timed perfectly as Askren shot in towards Masvidals legs for a takedown. The result was that Askren was knocked out cold and lost. In reality, if you’re counting the moment he was knocked out, then the fight lasted closer to 3 seconds in length.

Before this record was sent, most of the shortest fights in the UFC would last around 15 seconds. Sometimes after the initial exchange, another fighter would catch their opponent with a strong punch that would be enough to get an early knock out. In one Fight Night, Leon Edwards once knocked out Seth Baczynski in just 8 seconds.

What was the longest UFC fight ever?

In the earlier days of the UFC, things were much newer and laws and rules were still getting ironed out. In 1995, Royce Gracie fought Ken Shamrock at UFC 5 where the fight lasted 36 minutes. This was a no time limit bout that ended in a draw due to a lack of judges. In short, after the 35 minute mark, both fighters were too tired and agreed to a draw.

There is a key factor in this fight though. Back then, UFC fights didn’t have breaks and weren’t timed. In theory, this could mean that a fight could last forever if neither fighter was victorious. During the late 90s, UFC fights introduced rounds and changed the rules slightly which meant that draws became far rarer.

It should be noted that Royce Gracie also fought Kazushi Sakuraba in PRIDE in 2000. Obviously, this is not the UFC but this fight lasted an impressive 90 minutes. This format used 15 minute rounds that lasted 6 rounds. In the end, Royce’s corner literally threw the towel in. Just imagine the cardio and stamina that you’d need to fight someone for 90 minutes?

How long is the average UFC fight?

According to this article, the average UFC fight lasts roughly 9 minutes. This means that most fights are ended towards the latter stages of the second round. You could argue that this is common sense, as by then the person losing is starting to tire out. Similarly, by then fighters will know if they’re losing or not and so the fight may start to open up. At this point as a viewer, you can expect to see a number of submissions and knock outs that will end the fight.

If you include Championship fights in this equation, then you can expect fights to go on for longer as there’s more time to be eaten up. However, as of now there’s no research into the length of these special fights.

Conclusion

Overall, fights in the UFC last either 15 minutes or 25 minutes, depending on their status and circumstances. Of course, fights can also last a matter of seconds if there’s a quick knockout. Remember, this article is only based on UFC and isn’t applicable to other promotions or even the UFC of the past. Hopefully, this article has cleared up any confusion about how long a fight is in the UFC for future viewings.