Opinions
BMF Belt: Brilliant or Bullshit
The BMF belt is on the line again in a few weeks, and boy do we have some worthy competitors. I want to spend a minute to talk about this belt and whether it is a great idea that should be coveted by fighters, or if it is a piece of shit that Dana White came up with to sell pay per views.
Without further ado, into it.
Brief History
For those of you who don’t know, BMF stands for Bad Mother Fucker. For those that of you who don’t know what a mother fucker is, you need to go watch some Samuel L Jackson movies, or just look it up. I hear there is a very helpful “hub” on the internet with lots of information on the subject.
In context of the UFC belt… it all really started at UFC 241. Nate Diaz beat Anthony Pettis and called it “for the baddest mother fucker in the game”. He continued to callout Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal who was cageside. This fight got made, Dana decided there was a marketing opportunity to take advantage of, and poof.. the BMF title was born.
The first fight for the official BMF title came at UFC 244 at Madison Square Garden where Jorge Masvidal beat Nate Diaz via 3rd round TKO (doctor stoppage). The fight truly lived up to the title, and the Rock strapped the belt around the waist of “Street Jesus” Jorge Masvidal.
Fast forward to 2023, Masvidal retires, and the UFC is looking to make Dustin Poirier vs. Justin Gaethje II at UFC 291 in Salt Lake City. These two deserved to headline a PPV - that fight was too big to put in the middle of a card. So, why not help sell it as a main event and put the “vacant” BMF belt on the line?
What two bigger badasses could you find to reinvigorate the spirit of this belt? The fight was great, and Gaethje caught Justin with an epic head kick to take him the title of “BMF”.
Now, the UFC has decided this belt will have a lineage. It will be officially defended for the first time at UFC 300, when Justin Gaethje takes on Max Holloway. Like Masvidal and Diaz.. something about those names together just screams “bad mother fuckers”.
Case For BMF Belt
“You have no idea how many of these fighters want to fight for the BMF title. They all want to fight for that belt. It’s fun, it’s different, so we’ll do it again.”
- Dana White, UFC President
Main event fights, especially where there are no world championships involved, are more fun with a solid buildup. Walking into the presser with this thing around someone’s waist will help set a tone of what we are going to experience when the two fighters step into the cage.
There are so many savages that fight inside the octogon. Just because they are not up for a world title, doesn’t make the BMF title worthless and stupid. It’s the ultimate bragging rights.. by definition you had to go through another guy who is one of the toughest sons of bitches in combat sports.
Case Against BMF Belt
“Honestly, this belt is for the bums. First time, who fought for this belt? Diaz and Masvidal. The people who never can be champion. They give him some belt. Yes, be happy. Fight for BMF. Dana has to stop this…Gaethje and Poirier – they fight for the real belt many times, and they always lose. And now Dana, good guy, give him other belt. Guys, you have to be BMF champion. Honestly, if somebody give me this belt tomorrow, I don’t want this shit”
- Islam Makhachev, UFC Lightweight Champion
What a party pooper this guy is. He doesn't like other fighters having titles or statuses.
Either way, strong words from a strong man. Yes - the BMF belt is pretty useless, and it is sort of a consolation prize for fighters who aren’t competing for a world championship.
I think the issue with the latest iteration of this belt is that Dustin and Gaethje are very much in the mix in the lightweight division. I think it will all work out ok for him in the end.. but Gaethje won the BMF title. Now he’s defending it vs Holloway. Meanwhile, Dustin Poirier is the odds on favorite now to go on and compete against Islam for the lightweight title. Did Gaethje mess up by winning this useless BMF belt?
Conclusion?
Brilliant. Look, the thing isn’t listed on the UFC website with who’s champion and a ranking.. it’s just a promotional tool and a cool thing to put on the line when there is nothing else.
How fun was it in WWE when they introduced the “hardcore” belt or the “24/7” belt (I don’t know if these are still a thing, but I think they faded off). You still have your world champ, but this is something else that’s fun and you can throw into the mix for bragging rights.
So do I want the BMF to stay in the mix?? Give me a "Hell Yeah"
Prediction
Gaethje beats Holloway in a close and fun fight while it lasts. He goes on to fight Dustin Poirier, the new lightweight champion of the world… and those two complete the trilogy (as they are currently 1-1).
Two belts on the line in one fight?
BONUS SECTION
Jump The Gilly UFC BMF Rankings (P4P)
1. Justin Gaethje (C)
2. Max Holloway
3. Jon Jones
4. Alex Pereira
5. Islam Makhachev
6. Khamzat Chimaev
7. Charles Oliveira
8. Sean Strickland
9. Micheal Chandler
10. Robert Whittaker
All Time World BMF Rankings
1. Achilles
2. Bruce Lee
3. Steven Seagal
4. Mike Tyson
5. Rocky Balboa
6. Jet Li
7. Batman
8. Jackie Chan
9. Dick Butkus
10. Mic Foley (Mankind)
As long as he avoids a heel hook, Achilles is the king BMF of all time. Congratulations!
