The UFC welterweight division is paralyzed. The only solution is to create an interim interim welterweight championship.
Is this for real?
No, but it’s actually not a bad idea considering the state of the 170-pound weight class in the light of interim champion Carlos Condit’s proclamation that he’d wait the entire year without fighting just to get a shot at the true welterweight champion, Georges St-Pierre.
The whole point of an interim title is to enable the division to continue while the champion is hurt or otherwise incapacitated/unable to perform his duties as champion. But since Condit is refusing to defend his interim title, it’s worthless and pointless; it belongs in a trash can.
Thus, partially as a joke and partially as a legitimately good idea, an interim interim title should be created while St-Pierre is injured and Condit is waiting for the Canadian to return.
There is a logjam of contenders at welterweight and Condit sitting on the sidelines is perpetuating it.
There’s the dominant Jake Ellenberger (who is the most deserving contender and I’ve made my thoughts known as to why) who is deserving of a shot at Condit—or at the hypothetical, facetious interim interim belt.
Then there is Martin Kampmann, who is coming off a thrilling win over Thiago Alves. There is also the winner of Johny Hendricks vs. Josh Koscheck, who will deserve something more than a waiting game.
Condit’s decision to wait is a great business decision as it means he’ll be guaranteed a higher-profile fight, but that decision is causing long-term harm to the welterweight division.
An interim interim belt is obviously a little ridiculous and will never happen, but it’s really not that bad compared to seeing the interim belt collect dust on Condit’s shelf, only to be thrown out by the winner of Condit vs. St-Pierre.
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