Has an interim belt ever been defended?

[Me&MrJones]

Ferguson/Lee winner will probably have to defend that belt over three times before Conor will even consider to fight.

So has it ever been defended ever before?

 

[Thuckey]

I think once..? for the life of me I cannot remember who that was though.

Or the very least I think a few guys were interim champ then the next fight promoted to champ. BW comes to mind.

 

[apap]

Multiple times by Renan Barao.

 

[Sapp]

Arlovski defended his interim championship against Eilers, IIRC.

 

[Me&MrJones]

Multiple times by Renan Barao.

Cruz wasn't the champ ya goof.

 

[myjohnson9]

Yes

 

[apap]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.mm...ufc-interim-bantamweight-belt-against-michael

 

[dongface donghead]

Cruz wasn't the champ ya goof.

Yes he was nerd

 

[RaskeDanzig]

Barao, Arlovski, and Noguiera

 

[zephid]

Ferguson/Lee winner will probably have to defend that belt over three times before Conor will even consider to fight.

So has it ever been defended ever before?

Barao defended the interim title twice before the UFC stripped Cruz of the title and promoted Barao to undisputed champion.

 

[RaskeDanzig]

Cruz wasn't the champ ya goof.

Cruz was champ when Barao fought McDonald and Wineland. He was stripped before the Barao/Faber fight

 

[Shaddows]

Ferguson/Lee winner will probably have to defend that belt over three times before Conor will even consider to fight.

So has it ever been defended ever before?

the interim belt is used to force the champion to re-unify the belt when he comes back.
But invariably it is used because the champion is injured.

Conor is healthy. He simply picks the fight he wants, and the UFC does not have the balls to force him to defend the title.

So If Conor refuses to defend, IMHO Conor is not the champion and the interim champion is the de-facto champ.

 

[laleggenda27]

The better question is how many times has a champion fought someone other than the interim champion.

 

[campbecc]

The better question is how many times has a champion fought someone other than the interim champion.

didn't Randy fight Lesnar when Nog was interim champ

Edit: Nog won the interim title at UFC 81 then lost it at UFC 92. Randy defended the title against Lesnar at UFC 91.

 

[brickhands]

it has happened

 

[Cooliox]

didn't Randy fight Lesnar when Nog was interim champ

Edit: Nog won the interim title at UFC 81 then lost it at UFC 92. Randy defended the title against Lesnar at UFC 91.

Yes but that was an announced 4 fighter mini-tournament... which Lesnar came out on top of.

Yes, Lesnar won the UFC HW tournament en route to capturing gold and making history at UFC 100... lol

 

[VVarhead]

Kevin Lee says he wants to defend his interim belt against Khabib if he wins against Ferguson

 

[PlatinumAmerican]

the interim belt is used to force the champion to re-unify the belt when he comes back.
But invariably it is used because the champion is injured.

Conor is healthy. He simply picks the fight he wants, and the UFC does not have the balls to force him to defend the title.

So If Conor refuses to defend, IMHO Conor is not the champion and the interim champion is the de-facto champ.

#triggered

 

[sirmorbach]

Kevin Lee says he wants to defend his interim belt against Khabib if he wins against Ferguson

Kevin Lee is a badass motherfucker.

 

[BigGing]

Barao...he's been the o my legit interim champ IMO