what does interim champion mean ufc
In the UFC, an interim champion is a temporary titleholder crowned when the real (undisputed) champion can’t defend the belt for a while, usually due to injury, illness, contract issues, or long inactivity. The idea is to keep the division moving, give contenders something real to fight for, and set up a future “unification” fight between the interim champ and the original champ once they’re both able to compete.
What “interim champion” means in UFC
- An interim belt is a temporary championship created when the reigning champ is out for an extended period but hasn’t been stripped or vacated the title.
- The fighter who wins the interim title fight becomes the interim champion and is treated as the active champ for promotion and rankings in that division.
- When the original champion returns, the UFC usually books a unification fight : interim champ vs. undisputed champ, winner becomes the sole undisputed champion.
Think of it like a stand‑in champion: not just a “number one contender,” but a champ with a belt whose main mission is to eventually face the original champion.
Why the UFC uses an interim champion
Common reasons the UFC creates an interim title:
- Long‑term injury or surgery for the champion.
- Illness or medical suspension.
- Contract disputes (champ and UFC can’t agree on terms or dates).
- Other long absences that would freeze a division.
This keeps:
- Top contenders active with high‑stakes fights.
- The division marketable with a belt on the line.
- A clear next step: the interim champ is usually the default next opponent for the returning champion.
What happens next: unification, upgrade, or stripping
Once there is an interim champion, a few paths are possible:
- Unification fight happens
- Interim champ fights the undisputed champ.
- Winner = undisputed champion; loser loses their belt.
- Original champ vacates or is stripped
- If the champ retires, leaves, or is stripped, the UFC can “elevate” the interim champion to full undisputed champ status.
- Interim champion defends the interim belt
- Sometimes, if the original champ is out for a long time, the interim champ will defend their interim title against other contenders to stay active.
- Interim belt can be taken away
- If an interim champ is inactive, injured, or fails a drug test, they can be stripped and lose that status, same as an undisputed champ.
Quick contrast: interim vs undisputed champion
| Aspect | Interim champion | Undisputed champion |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Temporary titleholder when the main champ is inactive. | [1][5]Main recognized champion of the division. | [3]
| How they’re crowned | Wins an interim title fight between top contenders. | [5][1]Wins an official title fight for the vacant or existing belt. | [3]
| Goal | Usually to fight the undisputed champ in a unification bout. | [1][3]Defend the belt against all challengers. | [3]
| Status in rankings | Recognized as champion‑level, often listed as champ with “interim” tag. | [5][3]Listed as the sole, lineal champion of the division. | [3]
| What if the original champ leaves? | Can be promoted to undisputed champion. | [3]Belt becomes vacant; new champ is crowned. | [3]
Mini example from recent years
- At heavyweight, when Jon Jones was injured and out for months, the UFC booked an interim title fight so the division wouldn’t stall.
- Tom Aspinall won that interim belt, becoming the active champion while Jones was sidelined and positioning himself for unification or eventual elevation to undisputed status.
TL;DR
In UFC, an interim champion is a temporary champ created when the real champ can’t defend the belt, keeping the division active and usually setting up a future champ vs. champ unification fight.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.