Each MMA promotion may have a different number of rounds. UFC, Bellator, and ONE Championship, all MMA promotions based in the U.S., follow “UNIFIED RULES of MIXED MATERIAL ARTS.” These unified rules are designed to provide a framework for universal MMA rules.
The unified rules should be adopted by all states with an athletic commission regulating Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fights. These rules were designed to ensure the safety of fighters. These rules determine the number of rounds and duration for each sanctioned MMA fight.

What do the Unified Rules of MMA say about Fight Rounds?

The following is the unifying rule of MMA for how many rounds a fight should take.

Each round will be five minutes long (professional), with one minute of rest between rounds.

a. Contests should be at most five rounds or twenty-five minutes.

b. Bouts can be one (1), two (2), or three (3) rounds. Alternatively, you could have four (4) rounds.

c. Contestants are not allowed to compete in more than five rounds or twenty-five minutes of fighting within a twenty-four (24) hour period.

How many rounds are conducted in MMA Fights?

Different MMA promotions may offer additional rounds. Each MMA promotion can decide whether to have three or five rounds. UFC decided to have five rounds of a fight regardless of whether the main event was a title or non-title fight.

Below is a table that shows how many rounds are required for the most popular MMA promotions worldwide. You can also compare them.

UFC

Three rounds of five minutes (Non-Main Event).

Bellator MMA

Bellator’s non-world championship fights are three five-minute rounds.

ONE Championship

Each round will last three rounds and last five minutes each.

Invicta Fighting Championship

Non-championship mixed martial arts contests must be 3 rounds long. Each round should be at most 5 minutes.

PFL (Professional Fighters League).

3 five-minute rounds. (PFL doesn’t precisely define when a fight is three rounds.

UFC

Five rounds of five minutes (Non-championship “main events” fights: i.e., The final battle on the card and Championship fights

Bellator MMA

Bellator’s world championship fights are 5 minutes long.

ONE Championship

Champion bouts will consist of 5 rounds lasting five minutes each.

Invicta Fighting Championship

Each championship mixed-martial arts contest must be 5 rounds long, with each round at most 5 minutes.

PFL (Professional Fighters League).

5 five-minute rounds. (PFL doesn’t precisely define when a fight is five rounds.

UFC

Between rounds, you can take a 1-minute break.

Bellator MMA
Between rounds, you can take a 1-minute break.

ONE Championship

Between rounds, you can take a 1-minute break.

Invicta Fighting Championship

Between rounds, you can take a 1-minute break.

PFL (Professional Fighters League).

Between rounds, you can take a 1-minute break.