UFC CEO Dana White christened the “BMF” for UFC 244 in 2019. Jorge Masvidal secured the strap by stopping pioneer gangster Nate Diaz. The UFC booked Justin Gaethje vs. Max Holloway at the historic UFC 300 PPV. With Holloway losing his next bout, the BMF title did not change hands. As such, former champion Kamaru Usman has taken issues with the concept of a BMF title.
The ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ was to face Colby Covington at UFC 244. The UFC and Covington had a lengthy negotiation about pay, and Dana White blasted ‘Chaos’ for the delay. The UFC brass opted for Masvidal and Diaz with the gimmicky belt. Following UFC 308, ex-welterweight champ Kamaru Usman wants the BMF belt to stay defunct.
Why are we talking about this like this is a real title? It’s not. This was a hypothetical that was made up because of me. Let’s not forget that myself and Covington were supposed to fight in MSG in New York. The fight didn’t happen. You can’t just put any fight card at MSG…. Dana jumps on ‘How do we promote this fight? Let’s create this, alright, it’s called the Baddest Mother F—ker belt.’ Come on. Are you serious? That’s why it started.
Kamaru Usman via the “Pound 4 Pound with Kamaru Usman & Henry Cejudo” Podcast || UFC 308 Reaction
Spaniard Ilia Topuria finished Max Holloway via third-round KO at the UFC 308 pay-per-view. After which, he even gifted himself the stake to the BMF belt for defeating the owner. Kamaru Usman disagrees with the idea of the belt itself and wants it gone. Technically, the belt was made to fill his spot and he himself isn’t contending for it any soon.
The 37-year-old Usman has not fought since suffering a short-notice loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 just over a year ago. Losing to ‘Borz’ and moving up to 185 pounds was his third straight defeat, and he is unlikely to return until 2025. As for the fate of the BMF belt, shoulders are clashing against each other for it.
Max Holloway questions Ilia Topuria’s parading of UFC and ‘BMF’ titles after UFC 308 win
Ilia Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) became the first man to stop Max Holloway in his track with a third-round flurry of punches. During his UFC 308 post-fight backstage interview, Holloway gave his props to Topuria. He even had a savvy reaction to the fallout of yet another title loss.
Holloway won the BMF title with a fifth-round knockout of Justin Gaethje in April, but UFC CEO Dana White didn’t put the BMF title on the line at UFC 308. White later told reporters that Holloway is still the BMF even after the defeat. None of that stopped Topuria from legitimately billing himself the new BMF this time. Max Holloway has his thoughts on that.
Could you imagine Islam walking around with two belts after knocking out [featherweight] Alex? Let that sink in. The belt was in a different weight class for a different reason…I think the fans make it happen, if the UFC really wanted to make it happen they would have put it up, but Dana said what he said, so he’s the boss man.
Max Holloway during UFC 308 pay-per-view post-fight backstage interview
Ilia Topuria’s feeling good after knocking out the BMF champion 😎 #UFC308 pic.twitter.com/h1SpA7a8Kk
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 26, 2024
‘El Matador’ was also asked why he was waltzing around with the BMF title on top of his UFC one. He just calmly billed it as his, given it’d be tough to promote Holloway as BMF after losing. Even with no animosity though, Holloway does not bill him as the BMF. Now, both fighters go their separate ways. Holloway could end up defending his BMF title if he leaves featherweight forever.
