The Japanese-based DREAM organization raised more than a few eyebrows with the recent announcement that October's DREAM.12 event will take place in a six-sided white cage, rather than the organization's traditional ring.

Now the organization is announcing an additional change for the upcoming event: the bouts will consist of three five-minute rounds rather than the promotion's traditional two-round format (with a ten-minute opening round).

DREAM.12 takes place Oct. 25 at Osaka Castle Hall in Osaka, Japan. The event airs in North America on HDNet.

While the changes mark a significant switch from the promotion's typical rule set, DREAM event producer Keiichi Sasahara announced that the adjusted format will be used just once each year in a special DREAM production.

Sasahara cited DREAM's growing partnership with Strikeforce as a main reason for instituting the experimental switch in fighting surface and round length. Strikeforce also uses a cage and five-minute rounds.

DREAM officials, though, did not state how the cage fights will be scored. Currently in Japan, judges score the fights as a whole and declare a winner. However, in Strikeforce and other North American promotions, scoring is conducted on a round-by-round basis and tabulated at a bout's conclusion to determine a winner.