Why an Interim Title is Disrespectful to Francis Ngannou

An interim title: Occasionally, the champion of a particular weight division is temporarily unable to defend his championship because of medical, legal, or other reasons that are beyond the competitor’s control. When this case occurs, two highly ranked contenders may fight for an interim championship of the same weight division — leading to two champions existing in the same weight division simultaneously. Once the original champion is able to return, at the discretion of the sanctioning body/company concerned, they must defend their title against the interim champion — who will relinquish their interim title in order to fight for the full world title.

Dustin Poirier became UFC Interim Lightweight Champion when he beat Max Holloway at UFC 236.

Now tell me, how in any way does this definition fit the situation of the current Heavyweight landscape? It was just a little over three months ago that Cameroonian Francis Ngannou dismantled consensus Heavyweight GOAT Stipe Miocic, just 52 seconds into the second round of their highly anticipated rematch. The current champions’ stock rose irrefutably in March and he seemed destined for a marketing push by Dana and the team, however the choice to include an interim champion at the top of the UFC 265 card on the surface, takes away from Ngannou’s stock.

27th March 2021, the date Francis Ngannou became the “baddest man in the planet”.

It seems as if the UFC felt the dire need to add a second “title” fight to bolster the card, however the vast majority of fans can see through the falsity of the championship put on the line. Furthermore, Amanda Nunes is already defending her Bantamweight crown against former Ultimate Fighter winner, Julianna Peña. A simple number one contender narrative would have sufficed for the bulk of the fanbase, the winner will go on to fight Ngannou. The UFC have undoubtedly overcomplicated the landscape and added a level insincerity to UFC 265.

Derrick Lewis will have a rematch with Francis Ngannou if he beats Cyril Gane at UFC 265.

I have said on repeat in the past that I am not a fan of interim titles, they should only be used if the champion is unable to compete for more than 10 months. I am especially not a supporter of asserting that interim titles can be equivalents to undisputed championships, it enhances a fictitious account of events, which can be harmful when exposed to the casual audience who perhaps don’t know every fighter who currently holds UFC gold. Overall, the choice to implement an interim strap onto the UFC 265 card was a poor, rushed and disrespectful decision which aids none of the parties involved. It devalues Ngannou’s status as champion, the winner of Derrick Lewis and Cyril Gane will parade with a meaningless belt and the UFC have endured gargantuan amounts of backlash from the decision.