Instead of introducing more pointless interim champions, how about creating some real undisputed ones, UFC?
Fight fans aren’t stupid. They know when promoters are trying to pull the wool over their eyes.
History shows that they’re willing to part with their hard-earned cash to see a fight where a belt is on the line. Although, they’re far more likely to splash out on a bout featuring recognisable stars.
There were no titles (interim or otherwise) up for grabs at UFC 202, yet that was one of the best performing PPVs in the history of the sport. Everyone wanted to watch Conor McGregor fight Diaz again. That was it.
It’s why the masses didn’t shell out on UFC 206 when Max Holloway vs Anthony Pettis was bumped up for a belt. The added asterisk isn’t as effective at capturing attention as a can of energy drink flying across a media room. Yet, the UFC don’t appear to slowing down the number of these type of fights, and had it not been for Khabib Nurmagomedov’s botched weight cut, we would have had another interim champion to deal with after UFC 209.
"That's just being unprofessional” #UFC209 https://t.co/UebhMoK0tC
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) March 8, 2017
Rather than adding a second throne, there’s always the option of creating a new kingdom to fill up those pesky main and co-main event slots. The UFC have already introduced a new women’s featherweight division to allow Cyborg, a proven draw in Brazil, to shine and now it may be time to make room for more female divisions in the sport.
Aside from the obvious reason of there being 20 lbs between women’s strawweight and women’s bantamweight, Mackenzie Dern’s undeniable star power could give the UFC reason enough to introduce a women’s flyweight division.
Also, if Angela Lee’s absolute domination in ONE Championship is anything to go by, there’s room for a women’s atomweight division too.
The 20-year-old (let that sink in for a minute) retained her title and improved her pristine professional record to 7-0 with this terrifying knockout of Jenny Huang at the Warrior Kingdom event in Bangkok on Saturday. Huang entered the bout undefeated in five professional fights, but once Lee got the takedown in the third round and started controlling the fight on the mat, it was game over.
Lee was awarded the knockout victory at 3:37 of the third, after unloading some devastating ground and pound on her floundering opponent.
https://twitter.com/Grabaka_Hitman/status/840600891371716608
