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We can agree on this point: the Interim Championships are an abomination. The worst. The "interim" tag in itself is almost a compliment to the other side. You are almost the best. Almost. But not quite because of the technical details. In rare cases, the thing is a necessity. A champion is injured for a long time, but not long enough for him to be stripped of a gain earned from blood. That ends the list pretty much.
Technically, this is the price that Dustin Poirier won Saturday night at UFC 236 for defeating the brilliant Max Holloway. However, after a career paid in cuts and bruises, in tears and cuts, Poirier deserves the honorary title of lightweight champion. Without any disrespect for the current division chief, Khabib Nurmagomedov, undefeated, but when you get into a cage fight, and you're suspended for your own stupid actions, your unfortunate decision will have consequences.
And technically, Nurmagomedov remains the champion of the UFC because the promotion refuses to create guidelines to govern such situations, but Poirier illustrates all the best qualities of a champion. His journey to the summit was endless, or something close. Twenty-two fights in eight years, in outposts cosmopolitan and remote. From London to Las Vegas, passing through Fairfax, Virginia and Hidalgo, Texas, it was the very embodiment of a blue collar that made its way to the C-suite.
When he joined the UFC for the first time eight years ago, he was a 22-year-old with bright eyes and high hopes. All this time after, he's a 30-year-old father who has had all the ups and downs that this sport has to offer. He was one of the finalists of the 2012 fight against Chan Sung Jung. He was humiliated by Conor McGregor, knocked out in less than two minutes. He suffered a terrible career setback when he lost to Michael Johnson in 2016. And these are just his losses. In a certain way, Pear Tree survived adversity and came out on the other side with a clear fire. He has told us time and time again that it would not be denied – that it was his fate – but every UFC fighter tells a story of it, until the day the promotion them says their services are no longer needed. Still, something along the line seemed to change somewhat Pear tree. He sort of started to bend the opponents with his will. Beginning with his victory over Anthony Pettis at UFC Norfolk in November 2017, Poirier broke through his personal glass ceiling with a series of breathtaking performances. He punished Pettis until the old champion could not continue. He has faded the resolute Justin Gaethje. He punished the sadist Eddie Alvarez.
However, Holloway was a different challenge, the rare enemy that could match and perhaps surpass Poirier's unwavering confidence and pace. To win, Poirier had to draw up reserves in his deepest well. Whenever Holloway seemed to put it, there was pear tree with a crisp hook right or left. Whenever Holloway seemed to move the action close to the fence where he liked, Poirier unhooked a suit and went around in circles. For each Holloway statement, there was an answer, then others. There has been no lull in action and some precious mistakes. There was absolutely no retirement.
After all these years and all these battles, it was the best pear tree. "I'm not going to take anything away from Dustin," Holloway said. "He beat a world champion, he is a world champion. There is no acting, it's the real thing. He beat a world champion. "Amen, Max. Let a champion recognize a champion.
It seems cruel that Poirier will have to wait and hope that he will be Nurmagomedov's next player, but that's the way this game works as a free promotion of his fighters' fate. The UFC has cards to reserve, and to be fair, other candidates are waiting. Tony Ferguson has won 10 fights in a row and, as long as he solves some personal problems, he is the main challenger on hold. Contest # 2, Conor McGregor, still stands off. The division is like a deli counter. Pick a number and wait for your turn. Anyway, no one can take off Saturday night at Poirier. His performance drawn from every part of his being. It was sometimes brave, sublime and growing. He did not just win a fight; He beat one of the best wrestlers that this sport has ever seen.
"It's my belt," he said after his victory. "I won that blood, I paid in full. It's mine. We can agree on this point: he is right. His moment was more than a moment, it was the synthesis of a career spent working tirelessly in hot gyms, hopes seemingly annihilated resurrected, his life. The prize he won may not be officially the sport's biggest prize, but he was captured while walking in the fire. It was won. So, drop the tag "I", it is no longer valid here. By all the measures that matter most, Dustin Poirier is a champion.
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