SALT LAKE CITY – What started as a great quote and moment on the mic has turned into a real thing in the UFC: the “BMF” title.
When Nate Diaz challenged Jorge Masvidal to a fight in 2019, saying the winner would be the “baddest motherf*cker,” he couldn’t have known there’d be an actual UFC “BMF” title. Masvidal won it, but Saturday it will get a resurrection nearly four years later.
Former interim lightweight champions Dustin Poirier (29-7 MMA, 21-6 UFC) and Justin Gaethje (24-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) meet in the UFC 291 main event at Delta Center in Salt Lake City. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ABC/ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+. The “BMF” belt will go to the winner.
Poirier has 13 career UFC post-fight bonuses. Gaethje has a remarkable 11 in 11 UFC fights. Both are known for their durability and fan-friendly slugfests, so if ever there was a time to trot the “BMF” thing back out, it’s for their rematch. Poirier beat Gaethje with a fourth-round TKO in a FOX headliner in 2018.
Ahead of the UFC 291 main event, we asked fighters in Utah what they think of the “BMF” belt – and who they’re picking in the fight. Check out the video above.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 291.
Who Ya Got?! UFC 291 fighters predict Dustin Poirier vs. Justin Gaethje, give thoughts on ‘BMF’ belt