Are you for or against interim title fights?

[El Fernas]

Rakhmonov management are IDIOTS, he shouldnt had accepted that fight unless its for the interim title and main event of course, he was offered that for UFC 310...idiots.

 

[sonhow]

Im on the fence
Kinda like Mike Pence

 

[RockyLockridge]

I personally feel like they should be used rarely. Only when you have a champion that will be out for an extended period of time to be the acting champion in their absence. That does mean defending it. If the champion will be back before a defense would materialize then an interim belt is unnecessary. A perfect example of an interim title being used correctly was Renan Barao when Cruz was out for an extended period. That made sense to keep the division moving.

I don’t agree with using them for glorified #1 contender. It makes the belts have less value in my eyes. I don’t think it makes things more exciting, nobody sees them as a real belt vast majority of the time.

i'd say they are pretty rare

 

[TheTickG]

I guess it depends on the context and what's going on with other fighters and what not.

But are you for it or against it?

My opinion is I believe the interim belts adds to the fight more excitement. Just because you feel like these are the two best of their division going to fight.

The #1 contender and interim champion against the actual champion.

Thoughts?

I think it's overdone, but I'm not completely against it. I think it might bring the fighters more money, that's pretty good.

 

[JBJ was here]

Champs are so fucking inactive in UFC. I want divisions to move and see 3 title fights a year. As much as sherdog cries about interim champs, it's not frequent. And also recently it may be the only way for champs to accept the toughest matches in the division. People forget every fighter can refuse a fight and the public will rarely hear about it. So if it helps the divisions, yes I want them.

Interim titles only slow down divisions as interim title holders sit and wait for unification fights.

 

[Tweak896]

Interim titles only slow down divisions as interim title holders sit and wait for unification fights.

That's a good point, but it narrows the contender field as well. I'm supporting something like Garry/Shavkat for interim now, instead of waiting for Belal to heal from his injury. That's a perfect example of speeding up the division. I guess it doesn't really need to be for a belt, but the fact Shavkat was going to wait unless it was interim belt means that it accelerates the guys who earned a title shot and have to wait.

 

[Hdfi]

I'm in favor of it. And if the interim champion defends more times, he should be promoted to undisputed champion.

 

[sdpdude9]

i'd say they are pretty rare

2016-2
2017-2
2018-1
2019-2
2020-1
2021- 2
2022-1
2023- 2
2024- 0 (One defended though)

I don’t think 1-2 a year is very rare, but it depends on what your definition of rare is. For example 2023 had 19 title fights, 2 of which were interim meaning about 10% for the year. That seems high to me.

 

[Morning Star]

If the champ can't fight for over a year or you know it won't be more than a year then I think it is warranted. Less than that then I think it isn't warranted. Also I think the champ should be automatically striped once the interim is defended and the interim should be upgraded to the champ.

 

[Kung Fu Kowboy]

TBT... At this point , and this many fighters in the UFC... they should have two belts per division.

 

[Only Here for Attachments]

I'm for them because they 1) give fighters championship paydays, and 2) cause many delicious tears on Sherdog.