Originally Posted by mmajunkie

The UFC has already had two pay-per-view main events end in draws this year, with neither fighter getting his hand raised in the Frankie Edgar vs Gray Maynard fight at UFC 125, or the B.J. Penn vs. Jon Fitch fight at UFC 127.

UFC President Dana White wasn't satisfied with those decisions, and he'd like to do something about it: Add overtime to UFC fights.

Talking to Stephan Bonnar on The Ultimate Fighter Aftermath, White was asked whether he would favor an overtime round for fights that end in draws, just as the fights on The Ultimate Fighter have. White said he thinks that's a good idea.

"I hate draws," White said. "I think it's just such a waste of everybody's time and energy. It's something that I would definitely explore."

The big question is whether state athletic commissions would be open to allowing overtime. The Nevada State Athletic Commission sanctions the exhibition fights in The Ultimate Fighter, so that commission apparently doesn't have any principled objection to adding an extra round. But Ultimate Fighter overtime rounds come after the fighters have fought only two five-minute rounds. It would be a lot more taxing on the fighters to add an overtime round after a 25-minute war like Edgar vs. Maynard. A three-minute overtime round might make more sense.

There would still be issues left to address with an overtime round, like what would happen if one fighter wins the overtime round 10-9 but has a point deducted for committing a foul. Draws might be unavoidable in some situations, just as no contests are unavoidable in some situations.

But reducing the number of draws in MMA is a worthy goal. Two of this year's first major events had unsatisfying conclusions, and if overtime reduces such unsatisfying conclusions, it's a good thing. White should continue to explore adding overtime to the UFC.