Undisputed/Interim champion concept

[johncola]

In the current UFC, each division has its "real" champion. If at some point the champion goes inactive and/or the UFC needs a title fight for a main event, an interim title may be created. The implication is that the interim champion is a temporary placeholder champion while the "real" champion hasn't fought. At some point, it's expected that the interim champion will either fight the "real" champion for the undisputed title, OR be promoted to undisputed champion.

I think there's a better way than this.

I think that the champion who most recently fought should be the "real" champion, while the champion on the shelf should be demoted to "honorary champion" or something like that. If the "honorary champion" defends his title at any point, then he's promoted back to full champion. There's no need for interim champions. For example, Conor McGregor would be "honorary champion" while Tony Ferguson is the "real" champion.

The purpose of this idea would be to remove the negativity of the "interim" prefix. Ferguson's title would be officially legitimate. The division hasn't been "held up"; it's simply moved past the honorary champion. A secondary purpose is that it wouldn't really matter whether Conor McGregor is "stripped", as he's only honorary champion anyway.

Personally, I prefer fights to titles, but I know most of Sherdog isn't the same, so this suggestion would be more beneficial to you guys.

 

[binny]

I don't like that much either. You shouldn't be any kind of champion if you can't/won't defend your title.

 

[Katsumi Yamada]

So if Conor the "honorary" champ rematches Nate or fights khabib, he gets promoted back to full champ and Tony gets stripped of his belt? Lol


Or Tony becomes the honorary champ?

Confused here bro

 

[Franc Mittelo]

The UFC champion is a title that the promotion gives to the person who wins the fight on the night. It doesn't mean anything outside the UFC.

This is the company's position on a "UFC belt." It is a prop awarded to a given fighter on the company's discretion.

So, I find it funny that the fans are trying to create some imaginary narrative of the UFC belt being something more than a promotional prop. LOL

 

[johncola]

So if Conor the "honorary" champ rematches Nate or fights khabib, he gets promoted back to full champ and Tony gets stripped of his belt? Lol


Or Tony becomes the honorary champ?

Confused here bro

Tony would become honorary champ.

Or alternatively, they'd acknowledge the lack of legitimacy in a Conor/Nate title fight, and thus make an exception, making it for the honorary title, while Ferguson would remain "real" champion.

Such instances are very rare though. It nirmally requires big money fights and fighters for this to happen. Another example u coulda used would be Bisping/GSP. GSP woulda won the real title while Whittaker would be demoted. And that's obviously bullshit. No one viewed that fight as the legit title fight, so an exception likely woulda been made. They woulda fought for the honorary title instead

 

[johncola]

I don't like that much either. You shouldn't be any kind of champion if you can't/won't defend your title.

Injuries, contract negotiations.

They're a part of the fight business

 

[Katsumi Yamada]

Tony would become honorary champ.

Or alternatively, they'd acknowledge the lack of legitimacy in a Conor/Nate title fight, and thus make an exception, making it for the honorary title, while Ferguson would remain "real" champion.

Such instances are very rare though. It nirmally requires big money fights and fighters for this to happen. Another example u coulda used would be Bisping/GSP. GSP woulda won the real title while Whittaker would be demoted. And that's obviously bullshit. No one viewed that fight as the legit title fight, so an exception likely woulda been made. They woulda fought for the honorary title instead

I think I understand... although theoretically the belt could go back and forth between fighters without them ever fighting each other lol.

My solution is this:

Upon winning the title you have 365 days to defend it, otherwise you get automatically stripped. Injury or no injury. When you defend it the countdown reset at 365 days.

If a champ is stripped the next fight between two top 4 fighters is for the vacant belt.*

I think it would work, 365 days is already quite generous.

*This may or not involve the recently stripped champ, depends on the timing.

 

[thobra]

I am not very impressed by the Interim Champs, that pop up every year. There should only be one champion, but the UFC is making it too complicated.

When Cain Velasquez held the belt for almost 2 years from 2013-2015 without defending it, he was not even the best guy in the world, but he was still allowed to stay champion.

Things change, fighters get better and they can get older. Some champions even refuse to fight certain fighters, and stay injured or just wait..

The belt should be put on the line 2 times per year.
If a fighter doesn't show up, the highest ranked guy is given a chance.
IF champion is not fit to fight in 2018, he is obviously not the best in 2018, even if he was the best in 2016 and 2017. Then the best guy will be crowned champ.

 

[90 50]

Should fight for belt every 6 months, if I jury etc and can’t then the #1 and 2 contenders fight for the interim belt.

Winner is scheduled vs champ to unify it within 6months or stripped.

Classes should use a “tournament style ladder” for top contenders.

Lose and drop to the losers bracket, have to fight your way back up

 

[loisestrad]

You become champ by beating the champ. Interim champs become interim champs by beating some fellow contender. Which is why you can't just make the interim champ the actual champ unless the actual champ goes out of his way to not defend his title, or retires.

 

[Hotora86]

LOL @ "honorary" being used in relation to Conor.

A HONORABLE thing to do if you're not planning to defend is to VACATE the belt - GSP did it and it was the right thing to do. Sitting on that belt like a chicken on an egg without defending for a year is DISHONORABLE.

Defend or vacate, EOT.

 

[johncola]

bump, this idea seems as relevant as ever