Out of the UFC’s 11 current champions, 5 didn’t beat the reigning champion to win the belt. Nearly half.
To me, you should have to beat the champ to become the champ. That’s what makes the belt feel important, and I feel like we’re getting further and further away from the titles being truly lineal.
When we keep creating interim titles and holding vacant title fights, it significantly devalues what being UFC champion is supposed to mean.