In the context of the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship), an “interim championship” refers to a title that is awarded when the current champion is unable to compete for a significant period due to injury, illness, or other reasons. The interim champion is recognized as a legitimate titleholder, but their status is considered temporary until the reigning champion can return to defend their title.
The creation of an interim championship allows the promotion to maintain interest in a weight class and provide fighters an opportunity to compete for a title when the main champion is sidelined. Interim champions may face off against other top contenders or even the reigning champion once they are able to compete again, often leading to a unification bout where the interim titleholder and the reigning champion face each other to determine the undisputed champion.
For example, if a UFC champion is injured and cannot defend their title for an extended period, the UFC may schedule a fight between top contenders in that weight class to compete for the interim title. The winner of that fight is then designated as the interim champion until the original champion is able to return.