After Mocking “Stupid” BMF Strap, Justin Gaethje Reveals Surprising Behind-the-Scenes UFC Exchanges -“We Always Ask Them to…”

Back in 2019, when the BMF belt was first introduced, it was an interesting concept. It pitted two fighters, who weren’t necessarily the top contenders, but fans loved to watch them. Fast forward to 2023, and the BMF belt has been all but forgotten as a gimmick. The first BMF winner, Jorge Masvidal never defended his belt and has been on a 4-fight losing streak since. But now, the UFC has brought the concept back once again, this time into its shark-infested Lightweight division.

Justin Gaethje, who is going to fight for the BMF title, expressed his thoughts on the belt. In an interview with Cageside Press, Justin said: “So to the people who say it’s stupid, it’s the UFC throwing a bone like we always ask them to throw a bone and they never do. So I’m thankful there is an opportunity that I get to fight for. Especially because there is only one in the world. It’s a cool-looking belt.”

The former WSOF Lightweight champion doesn’t seem too impressed by the idea of the BMF belt, but understands the promotion’s intentions behind it. At first, he dismissed the title as stupid. But later in the belt’s defense, he said it’s ultimately the promotion’s way of giving him the next fight and scoring PPV numbers. As of now, Gaethje sits third on the UFC’s lightweight ranking. But other fighters are ahead of him in line for fighting for the lightweight gold next. This makes this fight a great opportunity for the former NCAA wrestler to stay in action.

Justin Gaethje will lock horns with an old rival at UFC 291

There are hardly two fighters who share a similar career trajectory as UFC’s Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier. Despite early setbacks, both fighters managed to become UFC Lightweight Interim Champions but failed to unify their belts against the same opponent, Khabib Nurmagomedov. However, both of them bounced right back for another title shot, only to lose against former Lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira.

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This is not the first time that the two will square off against each other. Previously, the two Lightweights fought in 2018, with the bout ending in a stoppage victory for ‘The Diamond’. This makes their UFC 291 encounter in July a grudge match and a chance for retribution for Gaethje against his fellow American. Both the fighters are coming off as victors in their last encounters and considering the evenly matched skill set, it would be interesting to see who bags the second BMF title.

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