Anthony Johnson had the opportunity to fight former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones in the headliner of UFC 197 this weekend for the 205-pound interim title when champ Daniel Cormier was forced out of the Jones rematch with an injury, but declined the matchup. Rumble recently went through a dental procedure and claimed he hasn't been able to put in a mouthpiece since his last fight, a TKO win over Ryan Bader in January.

When he received a call from UFC executives, rising contender Ovince Saint Preux took the fight against Jones on short notice -- the biggest fight of his career. And yes, the interim title is on the line.

That's something that Johnson doesn't agree with, at all. At a UFC on FOX 19 media scrum last weekend (via Sherdog.com), this is what the top contender had to say about UFC dishing out yet another interim belt:

"I don't agree with it. I think they're giving away interim titles way too fast. I can see if the fighter is out for, you know, Dana says the new rule is like, if you haven't fought in six months they do an interim title, and I'm like, dude, give the guy a chance to actually recover. Give him at least a year. I think that's just crazy. At the end of the day, it's not the real title. You're still in second place. I don't want to fight for an interim title, ever. I just think it's a fake belt. That's just what I think it is. If they feel like they have to have a champion because the champion is injured, then so be it, but I just think it's a fake belt. I don't think it's the real belt."

Cormier has been out of action since his first title defense over Alexander Gustafsson last October, meeting UFC president's Dana White apparent new rule of six months or more on the sidelines for UFC champions. (It should be noted that an official rule regarding injured champions and interim titles has not been put into effect at this time).

UFC 197 takes place live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on April 23.