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The UFC debuted the ‘Baddest Motherf**ker’ title at UFC 244 in November 2019, and pitted Nate Diaz against Jorge Masvidal in the inaugural fight with symbolic belt on the line. Masvidal captured the title by stopping Diaz via doctor stoppage due to a cut at the concussion of the third round.
The ‘BMF’ belt was then held by current interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, who knocked out Dustin Poirier at UFC 291 to earn it. Gaethje was booked to defend the pseudo-championship against former featherweight champion Max Holloway at UFC 300. The fight ended in a highlight reel knockout for the Hawaiian. Holloway became the first fighter to defend the ‘BMF’ title defeating Poirier at UFC 318.
Holloway took on former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira in the UFC 326 main event earlier this month looking to defend the symbolic title a second time. Oliveira dominated Holloway with takedowns and grappling on his way to a unanimous decision win. Some didn’t think Oliveira’s approach to the fight was representative of what the ‘BMF’ belt means. One of those critics was former middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis.
“Charles Oliveira did something to Max that we’ve never seen before,” Du Plessis told Fight Forecast and Betway South Africa. “Charles, his wrestling and grappling is world class even among world class athletes.”
“I think if you’re looking from a technical standpoint, he won that fight,” said Du Plessis. “Charles Oliveira shut him down completely. Was it a BMF title fight? I don’t think so. I mean, that’s not what the BMF represents.”
“Charles Oliveira did an incredible job,” Du Plessis continued. “I’m not bashing him at all. I’m just saying, what that belt represents is not what that was. He did what he had to to win that, but that kind of takes away the whole BMF thought for that belt.”
