Anyone Else See The Upside To Interim Titles?

[BoD 2.0]

Hear me out. Because at first i felt it was ridiculous and circus-like to have so many Interim Titles also. But then something clicked. And I support the idea now.

MMA is a sport. UFC is a sporting organization. They have to keep the sport moving. There has been a trend, going on for a long time, that when fighters reach the Title and become champ, they begin to fight less frequently (on average). I don't blame the fighters, they are adhering to the way the sport and pay structure is set up. They are thinking about their careers. But the UFC has to think about their business.

Interim Titles is a way to keep the Champions in check, and keep the sport moving forward. Now obviously each situation is different, and we can agree or disagree with them on specific examples. Like this WW Interim Belt was way too early, and the LW interim Belt came way too late. But overall, it takes the power away from the individual champions, and doesn't allow the division be held up by any one fighter.

Discuss....

 

[BigTruck]

Nope.

 

[Dozer .]

Hi Daner

 

[ApplesVild]

Interim title is just a holding card for the next title shot. Really it's just a way for the UFC to fill more PPV cards.

 

[BRaVo cHoKe]

I like fights that will definitively declare a #1 contender but rewarding them with a belt is just silly.

 

[FrontNakedChoke]

A way to keep the champions in check?

How about defend your belt or you're stripped.

 

[Verace]

Yes... WME shareholders

Interim title is just a holding card for the next title shot.

I think Tony Ferguson would disagree

 

[Spacelord13]

This bullshit didn’t exist until McGregor started pulling his shit. Got an Interim belt. And has done nothing but cause other interim belts to be made ever since.

 

[Ken Fresno]

1) Forces #1 contender fight

2) Gives #1 contender extra promotion

3) Adds title fights to cards

4) Gives opportunity to rest of division when champion is out for extended period

5) Looks good on the posters

 

[Ken Fresno]

This bullshit didn’t exist until McGregor started pulling his shit. Got an Interim belt. And has done nothing but cause other interim belts to be made ever since.

lol. Took 3 responses for someone who has no idea what they're talking about to whine about it and blame it on Conor.

 

[Slatersan]

It annoys the real champ enough to fight.

 

[BoD 2.0]

Champs shouldn't be fighting only 1 time a year. The sport is being hurt badly by fighters picking and choosing when and who to fight. At least this is a step to keep the divisions moving.

 

[HaulParris]

1) Forces #1 contender fight

2) Gives #1 contender extra promotion

3) Adds title fights to cards

4) Gives opportunity to rest of division when champion is out for extended period

5) Looks good on the posters

Right on

 

[PerpetualWB]

I think with all the craziness we are seeing with matchups, having an interim title fight secure the next "real" title fight is a good bit of structure. I'm not saying it's ideal but at least it gives a little bit of accountability and structure to matchmaking at the top of the division.

 

[mmaknight]

At least someone else see’s the compromise. As long as they don’t start giving out interim-interim belts I can handle the current scenario.

 

[Viking Power]

Nope

 

[SeattleFightFan]

if the public has been and continues to be conditioned to believe that only title fights are worth paying for, then it makes sense to only give points and higher pay to champs. consider the first half of that sentence again.

 

[BoD 2.0]

if the public has been and continues to be conditioned to believe that only title fights are worth paying for, then it makes sense to only give points and higher pay to champs. consider the first half of that sentence again.

I don't know where this came from, but yeah, the UFC obviously believes this. That's why they pay fighters so much more if a Title is on the line. Dependant on the fighters, I seriously question how much the belt matters to fans for any single event.

 

[Gilday]

They were good pre-2015.

When champions like GSP or Cruz were out with lengthy injuries it made sense to have an interim champion.

This whole interim champion while the current champion isn't injured for long, or worse is competing in different weight classes, is just stupid.

 

[Leone510]

Their is no upside to it an interim fake title is used to sell fights because title fights sell the best usually and when the champion is injured they make up some bullshit the casual fans usually buy into then sell it as a title fight. The fight is a contender fight at best and the title means nothing