This may sound like a rant but I am trying to be as objective as possible.
I genuinely cannot tell whether the people who claim Stipe was an inactive champion is just too passive aggressive to say they don't like the guy or they just started watching UFC in the last two years. These people are objecting facts to believe a narrative started by DC to solidify a third fight then picked up by Ngannou to get Stipe to fight as early as possible.
You have a champion currently who will be defending his title ten months after winning it and you are still calling Stipe the inactive champion? Stipe's first title defence came just four months after winning his title from Werdum. I don't know how you think Ngannou's contract dispute or his desire to fight Jones are valid excuses while you dismiss covid shutdown and eye surgery as excuses for Stipe. After the covid lockdown and his final fight against DC, Stipe fought Francis seven months after.
Also, anyone who is astonished by the fact that this upcoming UFC 270 will be the first heavyweight title fight that doesn't feature Stipe or DC, you should blame Lewis for tapping to DC and Ngannou for losing to Stipe. You should also blame Volkov for getting knocked out by Lewis. I don't think the reasoning behind hatred towards DC and Stipe are rational.