After UFC 143, despite the controversy that seems to follow any decision, we now have a Welterweight interim champion in Carlos Condit (28-5-0). Apparently, there is an idea that he will just sit and wait for the sidelined champion George St Pierre which could take anywhere from 9-12 months.
That is rather absurd and unfair to both fans and other fighters in that division. After all, why have an interim title if it’s not going to be defended? Certainly, Condit has earned a rest, but if he is healthy then he should defend that title at least once between now and his bout with GSP.
A rematch with Nick Diaz is a possibility, or the winner of Diego Sanchez versus Jake Ellenberger. Ellenberger lost a split decision to Condit in 2009 and has since been on a 5-fight win streak and is one of two men that actually finished Jake Shields.
With half of the UFC champions out due to injury, an interim keeps the division moving forward and UFC needs to ensure at least a one or two defenses of a belt per division. Otherwise what is the real point of a title?
Aren’t all fighters looking to climb the fight ladder to a certain golden belt? The journey of taking on the best in any division culminates in a bout with a champion.
So, when a champion is injured so badly that they will be unable to fight for a few months or even a year, that sacred journey all fighters take gets held up and thus the need for an interim title.
This has happened before, and for those that have forgotten, here is a brief example from UFC history:
After UFC 74 when Randy Couture departed UFC in late 2007 as the heavyweight champion, an interim was created. At UFC 81 Tim Sylvia fought Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, with Nog winning via submission. So UFC hoped to work things out with Couture and it took quite a while. So the interim sat and collected dust.
Then at UFC 91 (nearly 11 months after the interim), Randy Couture returned and lost his belt to Brock Lesnar. Meanwhile the entire division waited and the interim was virtually useless.
As the sport of MMA grows, and UFC is the flagship of the sport, then they need to set the standard. Not just because they have the most fighters and fans. But because the sport is still in its infancy and rankings are not very clear in UFC other than who is the champion of each division.
Since that is the mark of who is best in each division, then the interim is the same thing in the champion’s absence. Therefore, it does no good for the sport, fighters and fans if it just sits idle.
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