The BMF Belt: What’s at Stake in Holloway vs. Poirier 3 at UFC 318

Understanding the BMF Belt

In UFC lore, “BMF” stands for “Baddest Motherf***er,” a tongue-in-cheek title that signifies a fighter’s toughness, excitement factor, and willingness to fight anyone. Unlike traditional championship belts tied to weight classes, the BMF belt is a one-of-a-kind title created for special occasions. Its origin traces back to 2019, when fan-favorite fighters Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal concocted the idea of fighting for a “baddest MFer” title to determine who’s the toughest guy in the game. Initially, UFC President Dana White wasn’t keen on the gimmick, but massive fan interest changed his mind. At UFC 244 in November 2019, the promotion unveiled a physical BMF championship belt – complete with “BMF” emblazoned on it – and The Rock presented it to the winner. In that inaugural BMF bout, Jorge Masvidal defeated Nate Diaz via doctor’s stoppage, becoming the first holder of the BMF title.

The BMF belt was conceived as a one-off novelty, but its popularity endured. After Masvidal’s victory, the title went dormant for a few years. It resurfaced when Masvidal retired in 2023, leaving the BMF belt without an owner. The UFC saw an opportunity and booked the explosive rematch between Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje at UFC 291 (July 2023) for the vacant BMF championship. That fight delivered on its “badass” hype: Gaethje knocked out Poirier with a head kick in Round 2 to claim the BMF belt. Fast forward to April 2024, and the belt was defended for the first time when Gaethje put it on the line against former featherweight champ Max Holloway at UFC 300. In a thrilling contest, Holloway dominated and then flattened Gaethje with a brutal last-second knockout, capturing the BMF title for himself. This made Holloway only the third man to hold the “Baddest MFer” title, after Masvidal and Gaethje.

Now at UFC 318, the BMF belt is set to be contested for the fourth time in its history – and perhaps the last time, at least for a while. The matchup: Max Holloway, the reigning BMF champ, vs. Dustin Poirier, a former challenger who is fighting his final bout. It’s a scenario loaded with significance for both men and for the very concept of the BMF title.

Holloway vs. Poirier 3: BMF Title on the Line

When Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier meet in the UFC 318 main event, it won’t be for a divisional championship, but the stakes feel just as high. Holloway’s BMF belt will be on the line in this trilogy showdown, giving the fight a “winner takes all” allure. For Holloway, defending the BMF title is a matter of pride. The Hawaiian earned that belt in spectacular fashion – his face-plant KO of Gaethje at UFC 300 is already etched in highlight reels. Retaining it against Poirier would cement Holloway’s status as the UFC’s undisputed “Baddest MFer” and reinforce that his move to lightweight is off to a triumphant start. Holloway has always been an action fighter with a granite chin and endless cardio, traits that embody the BMF spirit. A victory on July 19 means he keeps the black-and-gold BMF strap around his waist and continues his quest toward a lightweight title shot with serious momentum.

For Dustin Poirier, the BMF title fight at UFC 318 represents the chance for a fairytale ending to his career. Poirier fell short in his first attempt at the BMF crown when Gaethje knocked him out in 2023, but now fate has handed him another shot – this time in front of a home crowd and as the capstone to his legacy. Poirier has never held an undisputed UFC title (he was interim lightweight champ in 2019), so winning the BMF belt would be a unique accolade to carry into retirement. Importantly, Poirier has expressed that the BMF belt does hold meaning to him: “Of course [the BMF belt] does hold significance,” he said. “There haven’t been many guys [to hold it]… to even get mentioned or have your name in the hat for a BMF fight, you gotta be a fan favorite, you gotta bring it every time. You have to be cut from that cloth, that never-say-die cloth. And Max is that. I am that”. In Poirier’s eyes, being considered for a BMF fight is an honor in itself – and winning it would put a final exclamation point on a warrior’s career. “If I can get my hand raised again, retire with the BMF belt – I’m the BMF forever,” Poirier said, looking ahead to this fight. Indeed, if Poirier wins and lays the gloves down, he walks away as the final BMF titleholder, a distinction that can never be taken from him.

Title Implications and Legacy

While the BMF championship is not an official divisional title, it carries significant implications for the fighters’ legacies and potentially their future title prospects (for Holloway, at least). In terms of rankings, a win for Holloway at UFC 318 could catapult him into immediate lightweight title contention. He would have beaten a top-ranked lightweight (Poirier) and proven that he can handle elite power at 155 lbs. Given that the lightweight division’s title picture is in flux – Islam Makhachev, the long-reigning champion, vacated his belt in 2025 to move up in weight – a Holloway win might even set up a scenario where the BMF champion angles for a shot at the vacant lightweight title. Holloway has made it clear he’s aiming for gold in a new division, and successfully defending the UFC BMF championship would strengthen his case. At the very least, it bolsters his resume as a two-division threat.

If Poirier wins, the title implications are more symbolic, since he intends to retire. There’s an intriguing discussion among fans and pundits about what happens to the BMF belt if “The Diamond” does indeed capture it and call it a career. UFC analyst Din Thomas even suggested that the promotion should perhaps retire the BMF belt along with Poirier, concluding its chapter with this trilogy fight. Poirier himself mused that if he could ride off into the sunset as BMF champion, the UFC likely wouldn’t crown another one anytime soon: “If I can be the last BMF champion and retire – hey, that’s forever. I don’t think they would ever do it again unless something crazy happened,” he said. In essence, a Poirier win might turn the Holloway vs. Poirier 3 bout into the final BMF title fight, ending the lineage with a legendary moment.

Beyond belts, there’s the matter of the Holloway vs. Poirier rivalry itself. This fight is the third installment of a trilogy that Poirier currently leads 2-0. Holloway, despite all his accomplishments, has never solved the Poirier puzzle. You can bet that defending his BMF title comes with an extra motivator: finally defeating Poirier. For Holloway, this is about legacy redemption. Losing three times to the same opponent is a tough pill for any great fighter to swallow. A win would not only allow him to keep the BMF belt but also put to rest the head-to-head narrative with Poirier. On the flip side, Poirier surely wouldn’t mind the distinction of sweeping a fellow legend in a trilogy. A 3-0 record against Holloway would underscore Poirier’s standing as one of the best lightweights ever and the one man Holloway could never overcome. It’s a fascinating subplot to a fight already filled with stakes.

The BMF Spirit in UFC 318

One thing fans can count on: Holloway vs. Poirier 3 will be fought in the true spirit of the BMF ethos. Both men are celebrated for their exciting fighting styles and toughness. Holloway is known for engaging in high-volume striking battles (think of his wars with Yair Rodriguez or Brian Ortega), and Poirier has been in classic slugfests with the likes of Justin Gaethje and Dan Hooker. It’s fitting that these two are meeting for the BMF belt because neither has ever shied away from a brawl or backed down from a challenge. Their second fight in 2019 was an absolute barnburner, earning Fight of the Night as both traded heavy blows for 25 minutes. Expect nothing less in the trilogy – especially with the added incentive that this is Poirier’s last fight and a homecoming. As Poirier told fans, “In true knucklehead fashion, I’m going to stand in the middle and trade with Max. We’re going to bleed and put on a show for the last one”. That quote encapsulates what the BMF title fight is all about: grit, entertainment, and heart.

Finally, consider the mutual respect and lack of trash talk in this build-up. Both Holloway and Poirier are fan favorites precisely because they carry themselves with class outside the cage and deliver excitement inside it. The absence of bad blood hasn’t dampened interest; if anything, it has highlighted the prestige of the UFC BMF championship they’re fighting for. This isn’t about personal animosity – it’s about two of the “baddest” fighters on the planet testing themselves against each other one more time, with a unique prize awaiting the winner.

In summary, the BMF belt at UFC 318 represents different things for each fighter. For Holloway, it’s a trophy validating his status as one of the toughest fighters and a springboard to lightweight glory. For Poirier, it’s a coveted crown and the cherry on top of a stellar career. And for fans, the BMF title adds an extra layer of excitement and prestige to a fight that was already compelling as a trilogy. Come fight night, as Holloway and Poirier touch gloves, the audience will know they’re about to witness something special – a battle worthy of the “Baddest MFer” title. In the end, whoever walks out of New Orleans with the BMF belt around their waist will have earned not just a win, but a legacy-defining moment in this unconventional yet cherished chapter of UFC history.

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