Interim Titles Should Be Abolished

[Blackjack]

Interim Titles are meaningless. If you'e the interim champion what does that say? It says you're not the real champion but you're sort of the champion. That is nothing more than a marketing scheme to get people to pay to see fights for interim titles. The worst thing is there is not even a rule as to how long a champion has to be out of action for their to be an interim champion crowned! That's because the better they like you, the more leeway they give you. Look at how much more leeway Velasquez has gotten over the years than a lot of other champions. But Dana loves Cain.

 

[FrankieNYC]

I agree, but it won't happen.
When I first started watching MMA, I thought the idea was ridiculous.

 

[yookfarb]

interim titles force the fraud paper champs who are too crippled to fight to come out of hiding

Tito, Velasquez, Aldo and Cruz

all situations in which the real champs were done justice by interim belts

 

[Slapchoppin]

i think there should be a separate (but equal) interim division

 

[Goodfella86]

There's not much of a point, in most cases. But they won't drop em because they come in handy- especially considering the withdrawal rate of their fighters. The interim belt is like an insurance policy that can help save cards in a pinch.

It's easiest to respect the original interim belt because it was literally created out of spite, to shame Tito Ortiz for ducking Chuck.

 

[RicksonsGrip]

i think there should be a separate (but equal) interim division

 

[Rampage_Jackson]

They are useless but they don't anything either. Never understood why people get so upset about it

 

[Rittsy]

If a Champion can't defend within 12 months; award an interim title.

If the Champion can't defend within 18 months; interim title holder becomes the Champion.

Ex-Champion has to fight a contender upon their return to re-earn their title shot.

 

[soulsstealer]

What does champ other than HW title even mean? Interim title puts a bit more pressure on dana to match you up with the champ.

 

[soulsstealer]

If a Champion can't defend within 12 months; award an interim title.

If the Champion can't defend within 18 months; interim title holder becomes the Champion.

Ex-Champion has to fight a contender upon their return to re-earn their title shot.

I dont want to see fighters forced to fight injured.

 

[deltapapha]

Durability is a fighter attribute that can make or break a champion. It is a part their greatness. If you can't show up for a fight, then in my book that is tantamount to losing and you need to get out of the way of more durable fighters who can show up. I think the interim system needs to be even stricter. Drop the word interim.

 

[raconnor]

they help sell ppvs to casuals. they are dumb but they won't go anywhere

 

[muaythaibeast]

If the champs being out that long that an interim becomes necessary we should be stripping them of the belt. If they're still the best they can win the belt again when they come back

 

[Reign009]

Well then you'd either have to:

A) Strip the title from the champ
B) Allow them to hold up the division for whatever reason.

 

[Drake]

I think of Interim titles as 100% guaranteed title shots...because they are. That's all they should be considered though.

 

[nostradumbass]

I think of Interim titles as 100% guaranteed title shots...because they are. That's all they should be considered though.

This, kind of. That is the real reason, because the UFC has lied about title shots so many times before, but Nog won an interim belt and still didn't get the next shot.

 

[TheRassler]

Interim champion is a fancy way of saying #1 contender.

They both mean the same thing but you get a shiny belt to prove your the number 1 guy in line.

 

[Drake]

This, kind of. That is the real reason, because the UFC has lied about title shots so many times before, but Nog won an interim belt and still didn't get the next shot.

True about Nog... Fuggin' Brock.

 

[mangokush]

Instead of the word "interim" it should be "Intercontinental"

It would sell better to the casuals

 

[kibz]

I agree with you OP in concept but not in application by the UFC.

I remember right when the UFC on Fox fights just started and they had a card with 2 fights for a #1 contender position (I forget which fighters and for what title) but it went something like "whoever puts on the best performance out of the 2 winners gets a title shot".

It was subjective and stupid. It led to arguments over who put on the better performance and who deserves it more. At least the interim title if anything guarantees a title shot.