MMA timer for 3×5 and 5×5 minutes
Three rounds of five minutes, five rounds for title fights and main events, one minute of rest in between: that is the format of the major promotions. The timer recreates it — plus combo callouts for your striking rounds. Free, no sign-up.
Round formats in MMA
MMA rules differ by promotion. The major organisations work under the Unified Rules; if you are preparing for a fight, train at the same rhythm.
| Use | Format | Rest |
|---|---|---|
| Pro fight (Unified Rules) | 3 rounds × 5 min | 1 min |
| Title fights & main events | 5 rounds × 5 min | 1 min |
| Amateur MMA | often 3 rounds × 3 min – depends on the organiser | 1 min |
| Training & sparring | 3–5 rounds × 3–5 min | 1 min |
How to train with the MMA timer
- Striking rounds — callouts on, pace 5–6 seconds: boxing and kick combinations without thinking.
- Grappling rounds — callouts off; the timer only marks round start, end and rest, for example for 5-minute rolls.
- Mixed sessions — one round of striking, one of takedowns, one of ground work; the bell separates the blocks.
- Fight simulation — 3×5 with 10 seconds of preparation and no stops, just like in the cage.
- Note on the callouts — they use kickboxing combinations and cover striking, not takedowns or ground work.
Read next: Kickboxing for beginners · Boxing timer · Muay Thai timer
Frequently asked questions
How long is an MMA round?
In professional fights under the Unified Rules a round lasts 5 minutes with 1 minute of rest in between. Amateur bouts commonly use shorter rounds of around 3 minutes.
How many rounds does an MMA fight have?
Usually three. Title fights and main events go five rounds.
Do the combo callouts work for MMA?
They use kickboxing combinations, which suits striking rounds. They do not cover takedowns or ground work — for those, switch them off and use the timer as a plain round clock.
Can I use the timer for grappling and BJJ?
Yes, as a plain round clock: switch the callouts off and set round length and rest — for example 5 minutes of rolling with 1 minute of rest.
More than a timer
Combat Coach turns this into a full training system: combos filtered by level, your own training plans, technique videos and an AI coach. Coming October 2026 for iOS & Android.
See the app