Interim Epidemic: A History of Heavyweight Placeholders

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira’s ability to absorb punishment played a key role in his rise. | Photo: Sherdog.com

UFC 81 “Breaking Point
Feb. 2, 2008 | Las Vegas
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira def. Tim Sylvia -- Submission (Guillotine Choke) 1:28 R3
HOW WE GOT THERE: The heavyweight division endured a tumultuous year in 2007. The same month that Couture made his most spectacular comeback and dominated Sylvia for five rounds to capture the heavyweight title for the third time, Zuffa had the MMA world salivating as it purchased rival organization Pride Fighting Championships. Inter-organization super fights abounded, with perhaps the most dynamic additions to the UFC roster coming in the heavyweight division. Pride had a clear-cut edge in big-man talent, most of which made the jump to UFC waters. To the chagrin of Pride fans everywhere -- as well as Couture -- there was one glaring omission from the acquired contracts: Fedor Emelianenko. The still mostly undefeated Russian had been stuck to the heavyweight throne for years, and with Couture being the most transcendent figure in the UFC, a fight between the two was an expectation as natural as Couture’s nickname. However, when the Russian’s contract slipped through to the hands of tertiary organizations, the dream matchup became the ghost of MMA’s unfulfilled desires and perhaps the most regrettable foul ball of the generation.

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT: With Couture mired in the swamps of contract negotiations following the beatdown he handed Gabriel Gonzaga to defend his title turf, the division’s championship narrative hit a snag. Enter a familiar face in Sylvia to square off against tenured former Pride champion Nogueira. It was a poor-man’s Emelianenko-Couture, as Sylvia was a significant force in the UFC’s heavyweight division at the same time “Minotauro” ran roughshod over his Pride opponents. Nogueira was sold as unbreakable, capable of coming back from harrowing brinks to win fights; and he did just that, submitting Sylvia with a guillotine choke after two rounds of receiving punishment. In doing so, Nogueira became the first man to hold titles in both organizations and the third Pride transplant to capture UFC gold. Only 161 days elapsed between Couture abstaining from his contractual agreements and the implementation of an interim champion.

UNDISPUTED: Nogueira never got the chance to become the undisputed champion. His interim win sparked a vertiginous cycle of consecutive interim and non-interim title bouts, making the UFC heavyweight division perhaps the most confusing scene in MMA history. Who the real champion was depended on who you asked, and “Minotauro” would only have one more opportunity to secure his spot, albeit with the interim tag still attached. For what it is worth, the Brazilian later clashed with Couture in a non-title bout, where he took a unanimous decision after three rounds, so you could say “Minotauro” was deserving of the undisputed moniker.

Continue Reading » After a dominant striking clinic in the first round, punctuated by a pair of knockdowns, he went on to become the first man to finish the Brazilian legend, claiming the interim championship in doing so.