Interim title and fighter's stats

Question about how the Interim Title will impact the stats of the guy who has it.

Matt Serra is the current title holder in WW div. I assume if he fights the winner of the Hughes/GSP fight and wins it counts as his first title defense, but does it work the other way around? If the Hughes/GSP winner wins the fight against Serra does it count as a title defense, or is it just them winning the belt from the champ?

Same question would be applicable in LW div.

bumpity bump

Whoever wins the interim title will "defend" it to unify them.

d-oooops

A title is a title.