This past Saturday Night at UFC 284 Yair Rodriguez became the second Mexican-born UFC Champion after winning the Interim Featherweight Championship against Josh Emmett in the co-main event. Yair won in a fairly dominant fashion. Opinion Octagon did have a feeling Yair would win in under four and a half rounds, and he finished Emmett near the end of the second round via submission. Since Islam vs Volk was such a close bout, many are arguing Volk should be granted a rematch. Yair would like to fight Volk in Mexico for the Undisputed Featherweight Championship. Volk, on the other hand, believes the whole purpose Yair won the Interim Title was to possibly defend it before the division crowns one true champion.
The UFC doesn't often allow their Interim Champions to defend the belt. However, there is currently a really strong push for a rematch between Alexander Volkanovski and Islam Makhachev for the Lightweight Championship. Alex obviously wants to take the rematch before fighting Yair. While of course, on the other end, Yair wants to fight Alex and become the Undisputed Champion. The UFC is in a pickle. Interim Bantamweight Bellator Champion Raufeon Stots has defended his interim title once before and is going to do so again. So why is an interim title defense so foreign for the UFC? Truth is no one really knows, they view the champion would be holding up the interim champion and in turn the division for whatever reason.
In my opinion, if both Volk and Islam can fight before the end of the Summer, let them fight. If that ends up being the case, why not let Yair defend his Interim Title against the winner of Arnold vs Holloway (4/15)? Why not have that fight in Mexico if possible? I'm sure Brandon Moreno would love to defend his Flyweight Title on that card as well. If for some reason Islam can't go or the UFC elects to go with Beneil Dariush, Charles Oliviera, Rafael Fiziev, Justin Gaethje, or Dustin Poirier to face Makhachev, then run the Undisputed Featherweight Title fight. I don't think anyone would be upset with a Rodriguez vs Volkanovski matchup to crown the Undisputed Featherweight Championship.
Comments