UFC LW Champion Islam Makhachev Scoffs at BMF Title - ”I Don’t Want This S***”

Makhachev believes that the BMF title is for "the people who never can be champion."

Islam Makhachev may end up defending his lightweight title against the winner of Dustin Poirier vs. Justin Gaethje at UFC 291, but that doesn't mean he has to take the challenger's 'Baddest Motherf***er" (BMF) title seriously.

The BMF belt was originally created by the UFC to add extra intrigue for a welterweight matchup between Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal, which served as the headlining bout for UFC 244. Masvidal won that fight, but the UFC seemingly abandoned the whole concept of the BMF title shortly after wrapping the belt around his waist.

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Masvidal "vacated" the title when he retired at UFC 287, which encouraged the UFC to decide that the belt would be up for grabs again when Gaethje and Poirier headline UFC 291 and try to earn a shot at Makhachev's lightweight crown.

“If Dustin Poirier beats Gaethje and [he's] gonna fight next for the lightweight title, [he's] gonna come with BMF title?" Makhachev said on Daniel Cormier's YouTube channel. "He gonna come to Abu Dhabi with BMF title? I don’t want this sh*t. BMF, what is this?”

The BMF title was rarely mentioned after Masvidal won it at UFC 244. (Sarah Stier/USA TODAY Sports)

Both Gaethje and Poirier have shared differing views on the relevance of the BMF belt, but for Makhachev it’s just a consolation prize for fighters that can’t win an actual UFC title.

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“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 [laughs]. 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 s***.”

The winner between Poirier and Gaethje would certainly have a strong case to challenge Makhachev regardless of the legitimacy of the BMF title, but many fans are calling for former champion Charles Oliveira to rematch with Makhachev following his first-round win over the top-ranked Beneil Dariush at last weekend’s UFC 289.

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