Calm down, Aspinall! Remember other interim champions who had to defend their temporary title

R. Barão receives belt after victory in the UFC. (Photo: Disclosure/UFC)

Last Thursday (05), the interim heavyweight champion (up to 120,2kg) Tom Aspinall vented on his social media and complained about not being able to fight for the linear belt in his next fight. However, this will not be the first time that the UFC has put an interim title on the line. Remember other interim champions who did not fight for unification immediately.

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1 – Renan Barão – Bantamweight

In the first decade of this century, bantamweight (up to 61,2kg) Renan Barao He was named number one in the weight-for-pound rankings by Dana White. The Nova União fighter can be considered a ‘good example’ for Tom aspinall, as he defended his interim belt twice.

After shocking the world and beating the legendary fighter Uriah Faber, in July 2012, Barão had to be patient due to the long sequence of injuries faced by the then linear champion. Dominick Cruz and had to defend his interim title against Michael McDonald and Eddie Wineland. After more than a year and a half with the interim belt, the UFC finally gave up waiting for Cruz and stripped him of his title, making Barão the lineal champion.

2 – Rodrigo Minotauro – Heavyweight

R. Minotauro with the interim belt (Photo: Reproduction/UFC)

PUBLICITY:

Between 2007 and 2008, Ultimate went through a legal war with the then heavyweight champion (up to 120,2kg) Randy Couture. In order not to leave the category at a standstill, the organization selected the Brazilian Rodrigo Minotauro and American Tim Sylvia to duel for the interim belt at UFC 81. The Brazilian submitted his rival in the third round, but the belt unification fight would not follow. And not at any time.

A few more than 10 months later, with the UFC still in trouble with Couture, Minotauro had to defend his interim title against the American Frank mir. In a performance to forget, the Brazilian was brutally knocked out in the second round and was stripped of his short temporary reign.

3 – Andrei Arlovski – Heavyweight

A. Arlovski with the interim heavyweight belt (Photo: Reproduction/UFC)

In 2005, the linear heavyweight champion Frank mir He suffered a serious motorcycle accident and had to leave the Octagon for a long time. The Belarusian Andrei Arlovski was scheduled to face the American Tim Sylvia in the fight for the interim belt in the category. With Frank mir stopped due to a fractured femur and tearing of several ligaments in his knee, Arlovski defended his temporary title twice, against Justin Eilers and Paul Buentello.

After 14 months of absence from Frank mir and a longer delay in his recovery, the UFC decided to strip the American of his belt and make Arlovski the lineal champion. However, in his first title defense, the Belarusian had a rematch with Tym Silvia and was knocked out in the first round.

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