Eddie Alvarez Says Interim Titles Are Just a Way to Pay Fighters Less

Eddie Alvarez spoke with MMAjunkie about the upcoming double interim title fight card at UFC 236. Highlights are below:

On interim titles: “From what I know, every situation I’ve been in, it’s a substitution to not to pay more. If I know a guy has an ego, he’s a little insecure and I don’t want to pay him, I said, ‘Hey, what do you think about a world title, buddy?’ And a young kid who don’t know anything goes, ‘Oh my god, I could be UFC champion.’ … And they their mind gets clouded and they don’t care about money anymore. They don’t even think about money. We all need to wake up.”

On Tony Ferguson being offered an interim title shot: “Tony Ferguson, could you imagine? That’s the saddest story. You got the interim belt, ‘Hey, you want another interim shot?’ After you kidding me? Are you guys kidding me? No one is talking about this. Two interim shots without a real title? It’s an absolute joke. It’s gone too far and something needs to be said. And I’m glad for Tony. He flipped them the bird and said, ‘Not happening, I want the real belt.’ And he deserves it. He deserves this shot. It’s good that fighters are speaking up now and saying things.”