UFC 326: Why BMF title has become an important commodity to fighters

The creation of the BMF title introduced an element of chaos into the world of the UFC. Originally created as a one-off ceremonial title to crown the “baddest mother” in the game when Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal met at UFC 244, the title is now regularly defended, including a fight between current champion Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira in the main event of UFC 326 on Saturday.

Saturday marks only the fourth BMF fight in promotional history. It all started in 2019 when Diaz faced Masvidal for the inaugural belt where Dwyane “The Rock” Johnson was on hand to place the title around the winner’s waist. It wasn’t until four years later, in 2023, that the title reappeared for a clash between Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier at UFC 291, where Gaethje scored a brutal knockout victory. The title was then “defended” by Gaethje against Holloway at UFC 300.

How do you even consider a title that is both symbolic but also actively presented as a prize between some of the best fighters in the world?

Sign up for Paramount+ and watch UFC 326 live Saturday night at no extra cost – every numbered UFC and UFC Fight Night event is included in the price of your subscription! Plans start at just $8.99/month or $89.99/year!

One of the main appeals of the title fight between Diaz and Masvidal — aside from Diaz declaring himself “the baddest son of a bitch in the game” — was that both were extremely popular fighters who had never held true UFC gold. That’s not the case for all the other men competing for the belt, with Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje having held interim titles and Holloway and Oliveira having been full UFC champions.

Fighting for the BMF title identifies you as a true fan favorite and one of the most exciting fighters in the sport.

UFC BMF Fight History

Masvidal never defended the BMF belt, which, again, was not initially intended to be a regularly defended championship. Masvidal vs. Diaz was fought at welterweight, marking the only time the BMF championship was fought outside of the lightweight division.

The fact that the BMF title was only fought at 170 to 155 pounds marks a departure from the standard combat sports idea of ​​who is “the baddest”, as heavyweight champions in boxing and MMA have often been referred to as “the baddest man on the planet”, with Mike Tyson having that nickname during his career.

“Not many people can fight for it, but not many people can even be in the conversation about this belt,” Holloway told CBS Sports on Tuesday. “It’s incredible, it’s huge. I’m using it to try to get back to the undisputed title. I had a history with the interim titleholder. [Justin Gaethje]. I have a history with the undisputed title holder [Ilia Topuria]. If we can go there and have a UFC 300 moment, it’s all about moments now. The viewership numbers that UFC numbered cards have been getting on Paramount+ are ridiculous. »

When it comes to the BMF title, the defining trait of fighters competing for the belt is excitement, which is reflected in the sheer volume of post-fight bonuses earned by competitors.

Let’s take a look at the bonus numbers for the men who competed for the BMF title.

That’s a stunning total of 87 post-fight bonuses combined among men who have fought — or should, in Oliveira’s case — for the BMF title. Oliveira’s 21 bonuses are the current UFC record, which is no surprise for the man who also has the most finishing victories inside the Octagon, also at 21.

BMF championship fights have delivered iconic moments, from The Rock strapping the belt around Masvidal’s waist after the opening fight to Gaethje brutally knocking out Poirier with a head kick to Holloway’s iconic knockout of Gaethje in the final second of their UFC 300 fight.

Saturday has every opportunity to deliver another one of those iconic moments where Holloway’s excellent striking, which has seen him defeat many of the greatest fighters in UFC history, meets Oliveira’s solid striking and elite submission skills. Combat is rarely so perfectly designed to reflect the spirit of BMF.

Who wins Holloway vs. Oliveira 2 and how exactly does the fight end? Visit SportsLine now to get detailed picks and analysis from the incomparable expert who has made more than $21,000 on his UFC picks since May 19, 2018, and find out.