Max Holloway will defend his BMF title against Charles Oliveira in the main event of UFC 326 on Saturday in Las Vegas. The ceremonial belt, created in 2019, has evolved from a novelty into a prestigious honor under Holloway's reign. This fight marks the third defense of the title overall.
The BMF title, short for "baddest motherf---er," originated as a one-off ceremonial belt for the UFC 244 bout between Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal on November 2, 2019. Diaz had pitched the idea, stating, "We’re fighting for the baddest motherf***er in the game belt, and that’s mine. I’d like to defend it against Jorge Masvidal." Masvidal won via doctor's stoppage in their welterweight clash, but he never defended it.
The title was revived at UFC 291 on July 29, 2023, when Justin Gaethje knocked out Dustin Poirier to claim the lightweight belt. Gaethje then lost it to Max Holloway at UFC 300 on April 13, 2024, in a dramatic finish. Holloway, ahead on points, invited Gaethje to the center of the cage in the final seconds, landing a knockout punch one second before the bell, creating an iconic moment.
Holloway made his first successful defense against Poirier before this upcoming bout. Fighters competing for the BMF title are known for their excitement, with competitors like Oliveira holding a UFC record 21 post-fight bonuses. Holloway has emphasized its value, telling CBS Sports, "Not too much people get to fight for it, but not too much people get to even be in the conversation of this belt. It's amazing it's huge. I'm using it to try to get back to the undisputed title."
The matchup pits Holloway's striking against Oliveira's submission skills, promising another high-stakes lightweight fight. All BMF bouts have occurred at lightweight or welterweight, diverging from traditional heavyweight notions of the "baddest."
