UFC Announces Interim Heavyweight Championship Fight Just Three Months After Francis Ngannou Won The Title

Yesterday, Dana White announced that Derrick Lewis and Ciryl Gane will clash in Houston on August 7th for an opportunity to become the UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion (which is more/less a fancy way of saying "for an opportunity to become the undisputed #1 contender to the real champion") a mere three months after Francis Ngannou defeated Stipe Miocic to become the 'Baddest Man on the Planet' - causing quite the stir in the MMA world.

Obviously, this was met with some outrage from fans, mainly because of what Francis and Ariel Helwani pointed out here....

While I'm happy for Derrick Lewis to be getting this opportunity in his hometown and I'll be pulling for him, I don't really like interim titles myself (unless the champ is injured and going to be out for a very long time) and the logic behind this one doesn't really hold up when compared to similar past scenarios, so I'd have to agree.

I think what's happening here is a classic promoter power play - Francis Ngannou has been VERY vocal about fighters in the UFC not getting paid enough recently with comments like this....

….so Dana White and the UFC are sending a message - don't wanna fight for what we're payin you? Fine. We'll move on without ya.

Francis' manager, Marquel Martin, then released a statement which UFC President Dana White DID NOT take too kindly to…

….and I feel like that kinda backs up the whole power play theory. 

Negotiations for Francis' return are not going well and the UFC ain't waitin around for him if he wants Tyson Fury numbers.

What are your thoughts on all of this chaos? Tweet us/sound off in the comments and let us know….