Nowadays interim titles are effectively signifiers of someone’s status as number one contender.
In the past four years, there have been as many interim title fights in the UFC as had taken place in the previous 21 years of the organisation’s history.
The UFC has grown rather fond of awarding interim belts in recent years because they’re well aware of the fact that an interim title fight can provide enough cachet to carry a pay-per-view.
If gold is at stake then fans will tune in and that was the thinking behind the decision to put an interim championship on the line for Robert Whittaker vs. Yoel Romero and Tony Ferguson vs. Kevin Lee last year.
The original point of an interim title fight was to avoid a logjam in a division which was held up by a suspension or long-term injury to a champion.
UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley is currently recovering from a shoulder injury, granted, but he is expected to be fit to defend his 170lbs title in July which makes the rumoured discussions for an interim welterweight title fight all the stranger.
BJPenn.com’s Chris Taylor reports that talks are underway to have former lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos meet the trash-talking Colby Covington at UFC 224 in May with the interim welterweight title on the line.
The event is expected to be headlined by the women’s bantamweight title fight between Amanda Nunes and Raquel Pennington but, having seen recent cards like UFC 222 plunged into jeopardy by an injury to a headliner, the matchmakers were keen to have a championship co-main event as insurance for the upcoming Rio show.
In the short-term, making interim title fights is a feasible way to conduct business as a bout with gold on the line is more appealing to potential viewers than a fight without. But in the long-term, the willy-nilly manner in which interim straps are currently handed out will only serve to dull the shine of undisputed titles.
UFC belts ought to be special. They used to be.
And it’s safe to say that fight fans were not impressed after learning of the UFC’s plans.
https://twitter.com/ChadFouillard_6/status/976846277269966851
https://twitter.com/Brandon_Nocaute/status/976834354050748416
https://twitter.com/FightPickz/status/976856996631728134
Don't need an interim title! there is no clear #1 contender. Plus Woodley is targeting summer return. https://t.co/BbAGfDEpyR
— Marcus Burks (@marcusburks) March 22, 2018
https://twitter.com/downedopponent/status/976832957133533187
What a slap in the face to Tyron Woodley. Defended his title 3 times in 12 months, Hasn’t even been out 9. UFC fucking loves interim titles. https://t.co/aZixHntF1i
— Kevin Thang (@Skip2MyJays) March 22, 2018
https://twitter.com/NopeNotThisTime/status/976834783660605440
