Enough already with interim titles? WTH u on about sherdog?

[Panmisiek]

I dont get why people losing their minds over whether is for interim titles or not.

Everyone knows it doesn't matter.

But what matter is that for fans and customers like me it means a title fight which sells. Its all about sales guys. People will be more likely convinced to buy PPV if there is belt on the line even if its interim.

And next fight will be labelled "Champion vs Champion" which attracts even more buys.

When you thinking on every aspect in this sport, take also promoter/company point of view because there also factors which we as fans dont even think about.

 

[yookfarb]

People just like to bitch and moan

Interim champs dominate their counterparts more often than not

The fake champs are the ones too crippled to fight

 

[Weidman]

Kenny Florian has his own division and belt anyway...

 

[cumafish]

Interim titles make sense only when:
Champion has not/will not be able to defend w/in 1 calendar year due to injury.

 

[sirmorbach]

I think it's only fair that Jones is fighting for a belt in his first fight back in the UFC. If DC couldn't show up, I have no problems with an interim belt on the line, especially due to the fact that the former champion was never defeated* before losing his world title.

*inb4 "Matt Hammil".

 

[Hoop]

I dont get why people losing their minds over whether is for interim titles or not.

Everyone knows it doesn't matter.

But what matter is that for fans and customers like me it means a title fight which sells. Its all about sales guys. People will be more likely convinced to buy PPV if there is belt on the line even if its interim.

And next fight will be labelled "Champion vs Champion" which attracts even more buys.

When you thinking on every aspect in this sport, take also promoter/company point of view because there also factors which we as fans dont even think about.

It's the clash of styles that does it for me. The belts are important for fighters like, say, a Johnson who doesn't sell many PPVs. Having the belt is good for getting sponsorship deals outside of the Reebok deal. Obviously the marketing of a title fight is important, but at the end of the day, it's really relevant to fighter's and their teams.

I've never seen so many fans in recent times care so much about a UFC belt. The WBO and WBA Boxing belts must be shitting themselves at the prospect of losing their status as the most prestigious belts in combat sports if it keeps up.

 

[Spookv]

Blame Conor & Conor fans, they wanted a interim after Dos Anjos pulled out.

 

[sapporo ichiban]

I think it's only fair that Jones is fighting for a belt in his first fight back in the UFC. If DC couldn't show up, I have no problems with an interim belt on the line, especially due to the fact that the former champion was never defeated* before losing his world title.

*inb4 "Matt Hammil".

This one is a unique situation for me as I still consider Jones the champ. I am not a big fan of the guy, but you can't deny the fighter.

 

[sapporo ichiban]

Blame Conor & Conor fans, they wanted a interim after Dos Anjos pulled out.

Conor is like the little teachers pet.

 

[Clippy]

Interim titles make sense only when:
Champion has not/will not be able to defend w/in 1 calendar year due to injury.

Exactly, not when the champ is fine and well and fighting on the sam @#@% event an interim belt is being created

 

[Davey Crockett]

Does it not occur to you that we know it's just a shallow attempt at bumping up sales but it annoys people anyway?

It's just stupid. Devalues the status of real champ.

 

[Mr. Hammer]

Interim titles make sense only when:
Champion has not/will not be able to defend w/in 1 calendar year due to injury.

Not Jones' fault the paper champ pulled out of his fight.

 

[Johnny Rosa]

When Cruz was out for so long, Barao was interim but he really felt like a champ and at the time as the best BW. Creating a belt for Aldo vs Edgar because Conor doesn't feel like defending right now.. how does that feel. It's pityfull, it like 'throw them a belt so they'll stop complaining'. Jon needs to fight for a belt agreed, but to save the card they didn't push the fight back a bit but they kept Jon and threw him a belt and OSP cannon feed as a pleaser.

The belt now exemplifies favoritism, opportunism and politics instead of what it's meant to be. It's mind-blowing that the Nrs 2 to 5 of FW is fit and eager to go for a run at Conor, but Conor is 'busy' fooling around at who knows what weight class and they have to beg for scraps. Sometimes you have to settle for a lower gate and save the integrity of the sports.

Same as all those rematches, but that is another discussion.

 

[J0N0]

How many times have number one contender fights not resulted in the winner getting a title fight? Shit loads of times, so an Interim belt is definitely worth something.

 

[Paynebringer]

But what matter is that for fans and customers like me it means a title fight which sells. Its all about sales guys. People will be more likely convinced to buy PPV if there is belt on the line even if its interim.

And next fight will be labelled "Champion vs Champion" which attracts even more buys.

I think fans like you are what's wrong with today's mma fans more invested sales & ppv's than actual fights. I've been watching mma for a very long time from the early days of Ultimate Fighting until it's present, and not one of my hardcore or semi core ever bring up sales or ppv's as their reason for liking or judging a fight. whether a fight sales 2 tickets or 2 million means a bag of beans to me.

Champion vs Champion means sh!t if one of them was given the belt as consolation prize without real worth that title is made to sell tickets to suckers who don't know any better...

 

[cumafish]

Not Jones' fault the paper champ pulled out of his fight.

I don't think Jon gives 2 fucks about the "interim" belt, UFC is the party pushing this.
They can promote this as still being a title fight.
I mean Jon has held the "real" title before, he's not like Conor trying to wrap a paper FW title around his waist.

 

[vᴀᴀʀ.]

It's getting ridiculous with these interim championship fights. "Interim champions" just means that they are #1 contenders and have the opportunity to fight against the champion and possess the ability to dodge Dana's bullshit "no you are not next on the line even though I promised you the title fight."

 

[kikikhan]

I dont get why people losing their minds over whether is for interim titles or not.

Everyone knows it doesn't matter.

But what matter is that for fans and customers like me it means a title fight which sells. Its all about sales guys. People will be more likely convinced to buy PPV if there is belt on the line even if its interim.

And next fight will be labelled "Champion vs Champion" which attracts even more buys.

When you thinking on every aspect in this sport, take also promoter/company point of view because there also factors which we as fans dont even think about.

Yup. Pretty lame.

Who gives a sh*t about interim titles? No one that really matters IMO.

 

[VAfan]

there's a lot of strange stuff going on right now that is contributing to the issue. you've got the LHW champ constantly running afoul of the law, and a FW champ who refuses to stay in the weight class he holds the belt in. two pretty unusual situations.

however i do agree with the article - manufacturing belts for no really good reason is starting to make it look a little too much like boxing.

 

[benebox]

I don't mind it.... however it devalues the accomplishments of the past interim champions.