Obviously it's been recognized, as a concept, for a very long time, but Jesus Christ, it's coming out to the mainstream now. There's wikipedia pages on it, and every lineal champion has it mentioned in their wiki page, also. This article (on the worst MMA site on the planet, granted) stated the following:
"At UFC 154 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, UFC interim welterweight champion Carlos Condit and lineal belt-holder Georges St-Pierre determine whose claim to the title should be, for the first time or once again, undisputed."
Really? You're not going to lead with "welterweight title holder", "the most dominant welterweight champion in MMA history", "top pound-for-pound fighter" or even "returning champion"? You're going to lead with "lineal belt-holder"?
Why has this incredibly old concept suddenly hit mainstream recognition?
"At UFC 154 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, UFC interim welterweight champion Carlos Condit and lineal belt-holder Georges St-Pierre determine whose claim to the title should be, for the first time or once again, undisputed."
Really? You're not going to lead with "welterweight title holder", "the most dominant welterweight champion in MMA history", "top pound-for-pound fighter" or even "returning champion"? You're going to lead with "lineal belt-holder"?
Why has this incredibly old concept suddenly hit mainstream recognition?