With the Ultimate Fighting Championship announcing an interim title fight between lightweights Dustin Poirier and current featherweight king Max Holloway at UFC 236 in April and the rumored bout between fan favourites Conor McGregor and Donald Cerrone, a number of highly-ranked 155 pounders are left without a fight, including Al Iaquinta and Tony Ferguson.
The lightweight division is arguably the most talent stacked division in the UFC but with current champ Khabib Nurmagomedov sidelined due to suspension for his involvement in the post-UFC 229 brawl, the UFC wanted to keep things moving by announcing an interim belt.