Interim in UFC means a temporary championship title awarded when the undisputed champion can't defend due to injury, suspension, contract issues, or long inactivity.

It keeps divisions active by pitting top contenders against each other, with the winner holding the belt until a unification bout or upgrade.

Why UFC Uses Interim Belts

Interim belts solve real problems in a fast-paced sport. Champions like Jon Jones (heavyweight) have been out with injuries, leading to fights like Tom Aspinall vs. Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295 for the interim strap.

The word "interim" literally signals "temporary"—think of it as a placeholder king ruling while the real one heals or negotiates. Without it, entire divisions stall, frustrating fans and fighters.

UFC matchmakers pick contenders (often top-5 ranked) who aren't always #1 and #2, prioritizing exciting matchups over strict rankings.

Common Scenarios

  • Injury or illness : Champ out 6-8 months? Interim fight books immediately.
  • Contract disputes : Like Francis Ngannou's 2021 standoff, forcing an interim heavyweight bout.
  • Suspension : Doping or legal issues sideline the champ.
  • Long absence : No fights in a year? Interim keeps momentum.

Interims rarely get defended multiple times—UFC prefers quick unification.

What Happens Next?

Outcome| Result
---|---
Interim beats undisputed| Becomes full champ 3
Undisputed wins| Retains title; interim may challenge again 3
Champ vacates/retires| Interim upgrades to undisputed 3
No unification possible| UFC may strip inactive champ or book separate defenses 3

Unification is the goal, but it's not guaranteed—UFC decisions are event- driven.

Real-World Examples

Take heavyweight: Jon Jones holds undisputed, Tom Aspinall interim since late 2023. Fans buzz about their superfight, but Jones' pec tear delayed it.

Past cases include Yair Rodriguez's interim featherweight win at UFC 284, leading to a Volkanovski clash. Or lightweights, where Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler have clamored for interims amid Islam Makhachev's reign.

Forum chatter on Reddit echoes this: "Interims keep the division alive, but they're the 'king of second place' until proven."

Fan & Forum Takes

UFC Reddit threads debate interims endlessly. One 2019 post asked, "What exactly IS an interim belt?"—sparking talks on prestige vs. paper titles.

Multi-viewpoints emerge:

  • Pro-interim : "Vital for activity; Aspinall deserves his shot now."
  • Skeptical : "Often vanity projects, not true contenders."
  • Historic lens : Reviews show most lead to title shots or promotions.

Trending context: As of early 2026, heavyweight unification hype dominates MMA forums, with Jones vs. Aspinall rumored for later this year.

TL;DR : Interim = temp champ for when real one's sidelined; unifies later or upgrades. Keeps UFC buzzing.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.