5 of the best interim title fights in UFC history

#2 Robert Whittaker vs Yoel Romero 1 at UFC 213

UFC 213: Nunes vs Shevchenko

Robert Whittaker and Yoel Romero met inside the octagon for the first time at UFC 213 in 2017. Michael Bisping, whose fight against Georges St-Pierre had just fallen apart, thought it wouldn't be wise to go up against either Whittaker or Romero on short notice. Thus, the UFC booked an interim title fight between the top two contenders of the middleweight division.

Romero started the fight on a high as he controlled Whittaker on the ground and had the better of striking exchanges. However, after two rounds, Whittaker came back with a vengeance. He stuffed Romero's takedowns and also outstruck him on the feet.

All three judges scored the contest 48-47 in the Australian's favor. After the fight, Bisping barged into the octagon and called out Whittaker in what remains one of the greatest callouts in UFC history. Unfortunately, the two never got an opportunity to fight.

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#1 Israel Adesanya vs Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 236

UFC 236 Holloway v Poirier 2

No one has troubled Israel Adesanya more in the UFC than Kelvin Gastelum. The middleweight duo exchanged heavy leather inside the octagon for a straight 25 minutes in the co-main event of UFC 236.

Adesanya sniped Gastelum with excellent counter punches that should have forced him to retreat, but the American's iron-like chin helped him survive. Gastelum fought back with the same ferocity as he stunned the Kiwi on a number of occasions.

Both men engaged on the ground, scrambled at the fence and delivered a striking masterclass, fulfilling the criteria of the Fight of the Night and Fight of the Year accolade.

At the end of the fifth round, Adesanya was declared the winner with all three judges scoring the fight 49-46.

At UFC 243, 'The Last Stylebender' unified the middleweight championship as he knocked out Robert Whittaker in the second round.