Six interim champions were successful in belt unifications in the UFC (Photo: Montagem/SUPER FIGHTS)
This Saturday (22), the heavyweights (up to 120,2 kg) Francis Ngannou e Cyryl Gane face each other in the main fight of the UFC 270, making it the twelfth unification of belts in the organization's history. Analyzing the history, the Frenchman has reasons to be excited. In the eleven previous unifications, the interim champions had the better of six, compared to five victories of the linear champions.
Remember all the belt unifications in UFC history, in chronological order.
Randy Couture (interim) x Tito Ortiz (linear) – UFC 44
R. Couture defeated T. Ortiz in the first belt unification in UFC history (Photo: Reproduction/Twitter)
The first unification of belts in the history of the UFC took place in the 44th edition of the event, in 2003. Interim champion after knocking out Chuck Liddell, Randy Couture unified the light heavyweight belts (up to 93 kg) by dominating the then lineal champion Tito Ortiz for five rounds.
Georges St-Pierre (interim) x Matt Serra (linear) 2 – UFC 83
G. St-Pierre faced M. Serra in a rematch at UFC 83 (Photo: Reproduction)
After being defeated in one of the biggest upsets in the history of MMA, Georges St-Pierre won the interim welterweight belt (up to 77 kg) by submitting Matt hugs and unified the titles in a rematch against his tormentor Matt Serra at UFC 83, in 2008.
Brock Lesnar (linear) x Frank Mir (interim) 2 – UFC 100
B. Lesnar (left) and F. Mir (right) facing each other after weigh-in (Photo: Reproduction / YouTube @ufc)
First linear champion to manage to unify the belts, Brock Lesnar achieved the feat by knocking out his rival Frank mir in a rematch at UFC 100 in 2009.
Brock Lesnar (linear) x Shane Carwin (interim) – UFC 116
B. Lesnar and S. Carwin face off for UFC 116 (Photo: Reproduction/Youtube)
Not satisfied with unifying the heavyweight belts once, Brock Lesnar repeated the feat the following year. The giant defeated the interim champion Shane carwin at UFC 116 in 2010.
Georges St-Pierre (linear) x Carlos Condit (interim) – UFC 154
G. St-Pierre (left) and C. Condit faced each other at UFC 154 (Photo: Reproduction/Youtube)
Four years after becoming interim champion, Georges St-Pierre repeated the feat, but this time as lineal welterweight champion. The Canadian overcame the interim champion Carlos Condit at UFC 154 in 2012.
Fabrício Werdum (interim) x Cain Velasquez (linear) – UFC 188
Velasquez (left) and Werdum (right) faced each other at UFC 188. Photo: Reproduction
At UFC 188, in June 2015, it was the Brazilian's turn Fabricio Werdum add another point for the interim champions. The Brazilian submitted the linear champion Cain Velazquez and unified the heavyweight belts.
Conor McGregor (interim) x José Aldo (linear) – UFC 194
Aldo (left) and McGregor (right) faced each other in December 2015. (Photo: Disclosure / UFC)
After winning the interim featherweight title (up to 65,7 kg) against Chad Mendes, Conor McGregor needed just 13 seconds against the linear champion José Aldo to unify the division's belts at UFC 194, in December 2015.
Max Holloway (interim) x José Aldo (linear) – UFC 212
Aldo and Holloway faced each other at UFC 212 (Photo: Facebook /UFC)
José Aldo He really had no luck in the belt unifications. Seven months after his defeat to McGregor, the Brazilian became interim featherweight champion by defeating Frankie Edgar and was subsequently promoted again to the rank of linear champion. In July 2017, however, Aldo ended up defeated by the then interim champion Max Holloway at UFC 212.
Khabib Nurmagomedov (linear) x Dustin Poirier (interim) – UFC 242
K. Nurmagomedov (left) facing D. Poirier (right). Photo: Reproduction/YouTube UFC
After three consecutive victories by interim champions, it was up to Khabib Nurmagomedov score again for the team of linear champions. At the UFC 242, in 2019, the Russian finished the interim champion Dustin poirier to unify the lightweight belts (up to 70,3 kg).
Israel Adesanya (interim) x Robert Whittaker (linear) – UFC 243
I. Adesanya (left) and R. Whittaker faced each other in UFC 271. Photo: Reproduction/YouTube
Israel adesanya He was yet another interim champion to succeed in belt unification. In 2019, in UFC 243, the Nigerian knocked out the then lineal champion Robert whittaker to unify the middleweight titles (up to 83,9 kg).
Khabib Nurmagomedov (linear) x Justin Gaethje (interim) – UFC 254
K. Nurmagomedov (left) and J. Gaethje (right) facing each other before the UFC 254. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
The last time Ultimate promoted a duel for belt unification was in UFC 254, in October 2020. At the time, Khabib Nurmagomedov unified the lightweight titles by submitting the interim champion Justin gaethje before announcing his retirement and leaving the champion position vacant.
Francis Ngannou (linear) x Ciryl Gane (interim) – UFC 270
F. Ngannou and C. Gane face each other in the UFC 270 for the unification of the title. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
In this Saturday, Francis Ngannou e Cyryl Gane duel for the unification of the heavyweight belts in the main fight of the UFC 270. Will the Frenchman extend the interim champions' advantage? Or will the Cameroonian leave everything the same on the scoreboard?
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