I can't wait to see him fight McDonald great match up, what do you's think ??? 
No clue who takes that fight but I'm excited to watch it.
I think defending the interim champ shows you actually believe yourself to be a champion.
Good. I don't see the point in creating an Interim title if its never going to be defended.
Yeah definitely he whoever wins that bout has there hands full with cruz assuming the knee is healthy..
I think he has the skills to but I think cruz is to quick and smart for him and will grind the unanimous decision if healthy imo
Good. These fakes belts are a waste of time if you dont even bother fighting after getting it.
The interim belt is pointless. What happens if Barao gets injured and can't defend the belt when Cruz gets back? It just opens a can of worms, and it lessens the value of the true belt holder. GSP should not have had to of referred to himself as anything but the champ when he came back to fight Condit.
Yeah that pissed me off on that countdown when they were saying condit was the new ww king and that GSP was getting a chance to get his belt back what bullshit !!!
It's defiantly a good thing. Props to barao for not waiting it out for cruz.
Interim belts should have to be defended out of principle IMO. This is a good fight though for both, because whoever fights Cruz may have their hands full is that knee is all healed up. Especially for McDonald, having such less experience than Barao. I don't mean to disrespect either guy, but it is like a really intense warm up for the unified title fight. 
Definitely a good thing. Terrible when weight divisions get held up for months on end because someone is scared to defend the title.
Good. Make that belt actually mean something.
MostLegit - I think defending the interim champ shows you actually believe yourself to be a champion.
Yup, you know you're the best, so why not just fight anyone they put in front of you (you know you can win so why not?)
It makes Barao look like a champion... good for him. If he keeps dominating the division it'll actually feel like a champion vs champion fight when he fights Cruz instead of a guy who got some goofy belt for a number 1 contender match imo
craigsmfc - Good. I don't see the point in creating an Interim title if its never going to be defended.
.
MostLegit - I think defending the interim champ shows you actually believe yourself to be a champion.
This right here
Imo its not his belt to defend. He didn't beat the champ.
I hate interium belts.
Mcdonald is gonna be champ either way.
How in the hell is this even a question, OP? He's SUPPOSED to be defending the belt. Fucking endthread.