Can an interim champ be more legit than a real champ?

[Rockapotomuss]

Ferguson-Khabib felt like a title fight. It was easily the most hyped fight of 2017, including other title matches.

Romero-Whittaker now seems like a real championship fight, while Bisping sits.

Sometimes it seems as though the real champ isn't always the people's champ. Many still view Jon Jones as the champ, even though Daniel Cormier holds the belt. What does the belt even mean anymore?

Can the interim champion in 2017 gain more legitimacy in the eyes of the fans than the real champion?

 

[Moin]

You knock out the champ, then you are the true champ. Interim belts are just marketing tools.

 

[nostradumbass]

You knock out the champ, then you are the true champ. Interim belts are just marketing tools.

Apparently so are the actual belts. Cain took almost 2 years between defenses, Bisping was gifted the title shot, then had a "defense" against a guy who was 46 years old and not even top 10, then is taking a year to just hang out with no defenses after his retired WW isn't happening, Jones got stripped for sandblasting prostitutes and doing steroids, Conor already got stripped of one title for not defending, then was gifted a LW shot then skipped off to try another sport before defending one time. Seems like contenders are the only ones facing actual other contenders.

 

[OlympicDom]

In my mind, the winner of Mousasi-Rockhold will show who really is the best 185er in the world.

 

[MayhemMonkey]

no, the person who holds the belt is the real champ

 

[Degen Gambler]

Bisping proves being the champ isn't the same as being the best.

 

[Defeat Unknown]

When a champion refuses to fight and defend their title, then naturally the eventual interim title determines the proper champion.

 

[TheAmericanGazelle]

There isn't a straight line between who has the belt and who the best fighter in a division is at any given time, given injuries, scheduling quirks, or even low-probability wins taking place (like Serra/GSP).

 

[SuperNerd]

If you feel like it. We can all feel like it.

But no. Not really.

 

[Thepaintbucket]

Jon Jones is considered the champion because he beat DC already and has defended his title multiple times now.

Micheal Bisping barely got by the ghost of Dan Henderson.

 

[MMAProfessional]

You knock out the champ, then you are the true champ. Interim belts are just marketing tools.

I like them because they solidify who the champ has to fight next which is good with all this ducking. Not Bisping knows if he want's to be champ still he's gonna be fighting a killer.

 

[Headkicktoleg]

Apparently so are the actual belts. Cain took almost 2 years between defenses, Bisping was gifted the title shot, then had a "defense" against a guy who was 46 years old and not even top 10, then is taking a year to just hang out with no defenses after his retired WW isn't happening, Jones got stripped for sandblasting prostitutes and doing steroids, Conor already got stripped of one title for not defending, then was gifted a LW shot then skipped off to try another sport before defending one time. Seems like contenders are the only ones facing actual other contenders.

Contender is just another word for a poor bum who can't hold a belt or our attention.

Champions Bless.

 

[Italian Brock]

Ferguson-Khabib felt like a title fight. It was easily the most hyped fight of 2017, including other title matches.

Romero-Whittaker now seems like a real championship fight, while Bisping sits.

Sometimes it seems as though the real champ isn't always the people's champ. Many still view Jon Jones as the champ, even though Daniel Cormier holds the belt. What does the belt even mean anymore?

Can the interim champion in 2017 gain more legitimacy in the eyes of the fans than the real champion?

Conor would ko both of those pretenders in 2 rds or less

 

[Italian Brock]

Jon Jones is considered the champion because he beat DC already and has defended his title multiple times now.

Micheal Bisping barely got by the ghost of Dan Henderson.

Henderson is no joke no matter what age.. ask Lombard ..

 

[blingking]

I considered Nog the legit champ over Randy.

Cruz was out so long that Barao was effectively the legit champ having made multiple title defences.

 

[faustian]

The "interim" HW strap that Nog held was more legit than the belt the UFC kept assigned to Couture so that he couldn't get out of his contract

 

[ZackZed]

Frank Mir was more legit after beating Nog for the Interim title, had a win over the real champ Brock.
Can't think of any other scenario.

 

[Moin]

I considered Nog the legit champ over Randy.

Cruz was out so long that Barao was effectively the legit champ having made multiple title defences.

long term injury certainly justifies stripping the belt and finding a new "real" champ.

 

[Kung Fu bb]

Apparently so are the actual belts. Cain took almost 2 years between defenses, Bisping was gifted the title shot, then had a "defense" against a guy who was 46 years old and not even top 10, then is taking a year to just hang out with no defenses after his retired WW isn't happening, Jones got stripped for sandblasting prostitutes and doing steroids, Conor already got stripped of one title for not defending, then was gifted a LW shot then skipped off to try another sport before defending one time. Seems like contenders are the only ones facing actual other contenders.

This ^^

 

[nostradumbass]

Contender is just another word for a poor bum who can't hold a belt or our attention.

Champions Bless.

Pretty sure LHW, MW, WW, LW, FW have contenders that are on bigger win streaks against better competition than the actual champ.