Israel Adesanya: Nigerian Stylebender rates UFC interim title

Several years ago at UFC 236 in Atlanta, Dustin Poirier won against Max Holloway to seize the interim lightweight title.

Later that year, “The Diamond” would try to bring together the champions for a fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 242, but lost to “The Eagle” via submission in the third round.

Israel Adesanya, a former middleweight titleholder, defended Poirier’s legacy before his third fight against Holloway, stating that the interim title makes Poirier a champion.

Adesanya on his YouTube channel said, “People try and try to discredit his win as champion.

“He is a champion no matter what. He’s got a belt at his house, at his gym, sitting there to represent him as a champion at one point.

"So people who are trying to say, ‘Oh, you never really became the undisputed.

"No, when you’re the interim champion you’re the [expletive] champion.

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"He’s had a career in the UFC that’s second to none. You’d be blessed to have the career, even half the career that Dustin’s had in the UFC.

"He’s always represented his people, he’s always represented himself well. Carries himself as a champion.

"Whether he wins or loses, this is going to be one for the books, and I’m going to feel something when he puts those gloves down, regardless of the results.”

This time, Poirier is competing for the “BMF” belt against Holloway at the UFC 318 pay-per-view (PPV) event this weekend in New Orleans.

At UFC 236, Adesanya won the interim title by edging out Kelvin Gastelum.

Since his defeat to Nassourdine Imavov last February, Adesanya has not participated in any competitions.