All articles tagged with #bmf belt
Fiziev, after a KO win at UFC Fight Night 280 in Baku, says a shot at the undisputed UFC lightweight title is distant, but he could pursue the BMF belt—potentially against Charles Oliveira—as he plots ahead with Justin Gaethje currently atop the division.
Charles Oliveira says he’s next in line for a rematch with Justin Gaethje to unify the BMF belt with the UFC lightweight title, claiming he’s waiting for a phone call after Gaethje’s latest title win; Oliveira notes the history between them (including Oliveira’s 2022 submission win) and suggests the bout could crown a true double-champion, though the title picture could shift depending on other contenders.
Charles Oliveira dominated Max Holloway for 25 minutes at UFC 326, raising questions about the relevance of the BMF belt as analysts suggest the title may be retired or moved aside in favor of Oliveira pursuing the real lightweight belt. The event also featured the announcement of the UFC White House card, while Holloway’s next steps and a slate of potential matchups for him and other fighters were debated, with fans and pundits expressing mixed reactions to the card’s entertainment value.
McGregor floated a possible next opponent after UFC 326, suggesting Charles Oliveira or Max Holloway as his next foe to chase the BMF belt, while signaling a larger plan that could involve reclaiming a title at 170 pounds and pursuing a Nate Diaz trilogy; Oliveira downplayed the matchup as a money fight but acknowledged McGregor’s drawing power, and McGregor emphasized openness to multiple paths with the UFC.
After Charles Oliveira defeated Max Holloway at UFC 326 to claim the BMF belt, he teased a 'Grand Prix' that would pit him against Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz on the same day. Diaz replied on X with, "If I were you, I’d learn how to fight," continuing his public back-and-forth with Oliveira as Diaz teases a UFC return amid boxing bouts and ongoing McGregor discussions.
Charles Oliveira edged Max Holloway on points to claim the BMF belt in a grappling-heavy UFC 326 main event, but the fight drew heavy criticism as a disappointing showcase, sparking early exits from the crowd and labeling it the worst BMF fight since the belt’s inception.
Charles Oliveira defeated Max Holloway to claim the BMF belt at UFC 326 and then invited a mega showdown with Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz, proposing a one-day Grand Prix or multi-weight bouts, while keeping an eye on potential welterweight possibilities and addressing critics and rivals.
Charles Oliveira is confident ahead of his UFC Rio main event against Mateusz Gamrot, aiming to finish the fight early and secure a title shot or a BMF belt fight against Max Holloway, who is currently injured. Oliveira sees the fight as a stepping stone to further championship opportunities in a crowded lightweight division.
Ilia Topuria is eager to fight Max Holloway at The Sphere, but only if the "BMF" title is on the line, claiming that he had been asking for the fight before Holloway's recent win. Topuria, who recently claimed the featherweight title, is open to fighting Holloway because of the BMF belt, but is not interested otherwise. He also expressed interest in fighting in Spain and hinted at a potential rematch with Alexander Volkanovski.
Justin Gaethje secures a second-round knockout victory over Dustin Poirier at UFC 291, earning the honorary "BMF" title. Gaethje calls for a shot at the lightweight title, aiming to challenge current champion Islam Makhachev. Despite a previous loss to Charles Oliveira, Gaethje is determined to prove himself as the best in the world and is willing to take on any challenge.
The UFC is bringing back the BMF belt for a rematch between Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje at UFC 291 on July 29. The event will also feature a bantamweight title fight between Aljamain Sterling and Sean O'Malley. UFC 292 on Aug. 19 will have two title fights, with Zhang Weili and Amanda Lemos fighting below Sterling and O'Malley. Other notable fights include Jan Blachowicz vs. Alex Pereira, Tony Ferguson vs. Bobby Green, Kevin Holland vs. Michael Chiesa, and Paulo Costa vs. Ikram Aliskerov.