5 interim UFC champions who captured the undisputed title

#4. Randy Couture vs. Tito Ortiz – UFC 44

Randy Couture dominated Tito Ortiz in their title unification bout at UFC 44

Back in the early 2000’s, the biggest star in the UFC was Tito Ortiz. ‘The Huntington Beach Bad Boy’ captured the UFC light heavyweight title in 2000 and then defended it in five straight bouts, ending with a seismic win over Ken Shamrock at UFC 40.

Ortiz was not only the most feared fighter in the UFC at the time, but he was also their biggest draw too. His clash with Shamrock essentially saved the entire promotion from a financial standpoint. However, when it came to a potential clash with his former friend and training partner Chuck Liddell, Ortiz wasn’t willing to step into the octagon for anything less than he felt he deserved.

Unwilling to pay him more, the UFC simply decided to push him aside, instead signing a fight for an interim title between Liddell and Randy Couture. In what was an upset considering his advanced age, Couture then defeated Liddell to become the interim champion, finishing ‘The Iceman’ in the third round via TKO.

Ortiz then decided to return to the octagon, apparently more willing to fight Couture than Liddell, and a unification bout between the two was signed for UFC 44. Despite ‘The Huntington Beach Bad Boy’ being widely favored to win the fight, the clash turned out to be a rout.

‘The Natural’ was simply too strong for Ortiz in the wrestling department and dominated him en route to a decision victory. In doing so, he became the undisputed UFC light heavyweight champion.

The fight proved to be a turning point in UFC history, as Couture went onto become one of the promotion’s poster-boys as it moved into the mainstream in the mid-2000’s, while Ortiz would never again regain the top spot in the division.

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#3. Georges St-Pierre vs. Matt Serra – UFC 83

Georges St-Pierre claimed revenge over Matt Serra at UFC 83 - and became undisputed welterweight champion in the process

When Matt Serra dethroned Georges St-Pierre to win the UFC welterweight title in April 2007, his first-round knockout was instantly labeled one of the biggest upsets in the promotion’s history.

After all, ‘The Terror’ had come in from the cold after winning the fourth season of The Ultimate Fighter and wasn’t actually ranked in the UFC’s top five at the time. St-Pierre. meanwhile, had been destroying everyone in his path, including legendary former champion Matt Hughes.

Unfortunately, for as good as his title victory was, Serra’s actual reign as champion was pretty disastrous.

The UFC booked him to defend his title against Hughes at UFC 79, but after the two rivals coached the sixth season of The Ultimate Fighter, Serra injured his back. That removed him from the fight and forced the promotion to book an interim title bout between Hughes and St-Pierre instead.

Unsurprisingly, GSP shellacked Hughes to become interim champion, setting up a rematch with Serra almost exactly a year after their first meeting.

This time, there would be no upset. St-Pierre destroyed ‘The Terror’ with ease, finishing him in the second round with a series of knees to the body to prove himself as the undisputed champion.

Serra never really regained any traction following the loss, while GSP went on to rule over the division for the best part of a decade, reeling off nine successful title defenses in the process.