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In combat sports there's nothing more annoying than a draw. The fighters are left disappointed and fans are left unsatisfied. Sure, rematches are big box office, but in a sport that prides itself on being for the fans, draws still don't sit well.

So the UFC's decision to introduce sudden victory rounds to their new flyweight tournament is a welcome one.

But I wouldn't stop there. I'd introduce the rule to all standard bouts, with a fourth sudden victory round added in the event of a draw after the first three.

The only bouts for which I'd allow draws are world title bouts, where challengers already have two additional rounds to earn victory. If a challenger can't defeat the champ over 25 long minutes, the belt-holder deserves to hold on to their title. Draws should trigger a rematch clause so fans benefit from another match and see a legitimate conclusion to the contest.

It's something we've seen from the UFC in an unofficial guise already but that approach, coupled with the sudden victory approach to non-title bouts, would help make the sport even more fan friendly than it already is.

Move over Gina, Ronda's here

Previously women's MMA had only one poster-girl. Gina Carano's looks and fighting talent elevated her to the status of being most famous female MMA fighter in the world.

But while she's been away from the sport embarking on a career as a movie star - she starred in recent flick Haywire, to critical acclaim - a new name has emerged.

Welcome, "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey.

(Image: Getty)

On Saturday night Rousey, an Olympic Judo medalist for the US, defeated Miesha Tate to become the Strikeforce 135lb champion.

Like Carano, she's both attractive and technically skilled. Indeed, some have suggested her looks - and engaging personality on camera - helped elevate her to a title shot ahead of other more deserving fighters.

The main fighter to miss out, Sarah Kaufman, won her bout impressively on the same night - and should meet Rousey for the title in her next bout.

For women's MMA to grow, Strikeforce need to make this bout as swiftly as possible. A Rousey win would cement her position as the sport's top active female fighter.

Then Carano and the return of former champ and consensus best female fighter on the planet, Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos (currently banned for using performance enhancing drugs), would surely follow in what would undoubtedly be the two biggest women's MMA bouts in the sport's history.

And judging by the way Rousey is performing at the moment, who'd back against her winning both those bouts and becoming the number one female fighter in the world?

Could it be time for Sky to step up?

MMA fans in the UK have to jump through a fair few hoops to get their fix of the sport they love. The big UFC cards are televised live on ESPN, while BAMMA is shown live on SyFy.

Meanwhile, fans of UCMMA can't watch their cards live, with tape-delayed highlights shown midweek late on Sky Sports, while Cage Warriors have combined a deal with Sky with an agreement with respected MMA news site MMAJunkie to live stream their events.

Throw in the UFC's reality show The Ultimate Fighter, whose home seems to change with every series; and Strikeforce, who don't have a UK home at all - and it all adds up to a very confusing landscape for UK fans wanting to watch the sport on television.

Comments from the UFC have hinted they may not be renewing their deal with ESPN in the UK, meaning there's a growing uncertainty over where the sport's biggest promotion will end up.

If we're ruling out ESPN there are only three viable channels - Channel 4, Channel 5 or Sky Sports. It's unlikely we'll see the UFC on terrestrial TV for a while yet, so the ball is firmly in Sky's court. They could help push the sport into the mainstream in this country, mirroring what Fox Sports are already doing in the States.

The big question is, would they be up for the challenge?