The BMF (Baddest Motherf***er) title in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has always sparked debate, drawing both praise and criticism from enthusiasts and fighters alike since its inception.
This Saturday, the BMF championship will be contested for only the fourth time in UFC history. The highly anticipated main event of UFC 318 will feature Max Holloway facing off against Dustin Poirier.
Holloway secured the controversial belt with a truly spectacular knockout at UFC 300 last year, where he sensationally floored Justin Gaethje.
Should Holloway emerge victorious against ‘The Diamond’, he will make history as the first fighter to successfully defend the BMF title. Both previous holders, Justin Gaethje and Jorge Masvidal, failed to do so.
Tom Aspinall`s Candid Opinion on the BMF Title
Since its introduction in 2019, the BMF title has been a point of contention among MMA fans, largely because it isn`t viewed as a conventional “real” championship.
It`s not just the fans who are skeptical; reigning UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall recently shared his remarkably straightforward views on the belt.
“Do you want my honest opinion [on the title]? I mean, it’s a title but it’s not a world championship so what are we doing?” Aspinall stated during an appearance on UFC on TNT.
He continued, “These guys don’t need a title, they’re two legends of the sport, look at the name value, even look at the rankings, look at the amount of fights they’ve got, look at the shorts they’re wearing, we don’t really need a title on the line, to be honest.”
Despite an illustrious career in the UFC, Dustin Poirier has never clinched an undisputed championship, a factor that may have influenced his recent decision to retire, acknowledging that this opportunity has likely passed.
Max Holloway Removed from Rankings Prior to UFC 318
Max `Blessed` Holloway, on the other hand, built an extraordinary career in the featherweight division before his permanent transition to lightweight, cementing his status as one of the greatest fighters in that weight class`s history.
Ahead of his BMF title defense at lightweight at UFC 318, Holloway was surprisingly still ranked number one in the 145-pound division, a situation he openly described as `ridiculous`.
However, just days before his significant bout against Poirier in Louisiana, Holloway was officially removed from the featherweight rankings, fulfilling his pre-fight request.
Jack Thornley