The BMF title was up for grabs for only the fourth time at UFC 318.
And Max Holloway became the first in UFC history to defend the coveted belt when he outpointed Dustin Poirier in the New Orleans main event.


Both men exchanged knockdowns in the opening rounds, but Holloway put on a vintage performance to spoil his opponent’s retirement party in Louisiana at UFC 318.
The epic five-round bout smashed local records, as over 18,000 fans packed into the Smoothie King Center for a record live gate of over $8million.
Holloway was the current BMF titleholder; therefore, the belt was on the line once again.
If Poirier had defeated Holloway, it may have been the last time UFC fans got to see the strap.
This is because ‘The Diamond’ confirmed his trilogy with Holloway was his last fight, and he subsequently laid down the gloves in the octagon after suffering a unanimous decision defeat.
Nonetheless, both men had the special opportunity to fight for the coveted prize at UFC 318.
Even though the event was such a spectacle, several MMA fans are still unaware of what the belt represents.
What is the BMF title?
The BMF title represents the baddest mother****er in the UFC.
It originated after UFC 241 in August 2019, when Nate Diaz claimed a unanimous decision win over Anthony Pettis on his return to the sport after a three-year hiatus.
“We’re fighting for the baddest mother****er in the game belt, and that’s mine,” Diaz told UFC commentator Joe Rogan after his win.

“I would like to defend it against Jorge Masvidal.”
And that’s exactly what happened, as the first-ever BMF title bout took place three months later when the Stockton native fought ‘Gamebred’ at UFC 244.
Masvidal was awarded the strap by Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson in New York due to a doctor’s stoppage after Diaz was cut above his right eye.
Who else has won the BMF title?
Four years after Masvidal was crowned the inaugural BMF champion, the special belt was up for grabs again when Poirier fought Justin Gaethje at UFC 291.
Masvidal had fought and lost to Kamaru Usman twice, Colby Covington, and Gilbert Burns after he was crowned the inaugural champion, but the BMF title was never on the line in these bouts.
It was therefore vacated when Masvidal announced his retirement from the sport, meaning Gaethje and Poirier were the next two candidates to fight it out for the title.


Gaethje knocked Poirier out cold with an incredible head kick in the second round of their main event bout at UFC 291 to secure the BMF title.
Nine months later, Gaethje lost the belt at UFC 300 after he was floored in the last second of his co-main event with Holloway.
The KO has since etched itself into the UFC’s history books as one of the greatest in the promotion’s history.
Who is the current BMF champion?
Holloway is the current BMF champion and defended the belt against Poirier at UFC 318 on July 19.
What does BMF stand for?
BMF stands for ‘baddest mother****er.’
And Holloway was crowned the promotion’s baddest man at UFC 318.
Every BMF Title Winner

Three BMF champions
- Jorge Masvidal (UFC 244 – November 2019)
- Justin Gaethje (UFC 291 – July 2023)
- Max Holloway (UFC 300 – April 2024)
- Max Holloway (UFC 318 – July 2025)
Poirier had already beaten Holloway twice in the promotion, but ‘Blessed’ exacted revenge in New Orleans to conclude the longest-standing trilogy in the UFC.
He hopes the win over can set up a lightweight title bout with Ilia Topuria.