“Never Can Be Champion”: Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje Get Ruthlessly Mocked by Islam Makhachev as UFC Champ Dismisses BMF Strap Ahead of UFC 291

A potential red-letter day for many in UFC management could be July 29, 2023, but not everyone is thrilled about it. If you’re wondering what happens on this day, this is the day when Justin Gaethje faces off against Dustin Poirier at UFC 291 for the second edition of the ‘BMF’ title.

While the UFC has been promoting the event with its usual fervor and gusto, one man has now voiced his dislike for the strap and the players associated with it: the current lightweight champion of the UFC, Islam Makhachev. The champ opened up about his thoughts on the title and the two contenders for the belt in a YouTube interview with former UFC Hall of Famer, Daniel Cormier. And his thoughts on the subject were far from pretty.

Islam Makhachev is not impressed with the BMF belt or its contenders

Makhachev might be impressed with many things, but the BMF (Baddest Mo**er F**ker) title is not one of them. Speaking to ‘DC’ on his YouTube channel, the Dagestani phenomenon said, “BMF is for people who never can be champions. First time, who fought for this belt? Masvidal and Nate Diaz. Two people (who) never can be champion, you know?”

“They give him some belt (and say), ‘Be happy, fight for ‘BMF. But this is what is it I don’t know brother… They (Gaethje & Poirier) fight for the real belt many times and they are always losing. … Honestly, if somebody gave me this belt tomorrow, I don’t want this sh*t.”

And it is not like he sees the contenders in a lot of positive light. Speaking about ‘The Highlight’ and ‘The Diamond’, the two contenders for the BMF belt, he said, “I can fight (this) Poirier or Gaethje, but I don’t need this BMF sh*t brother, and that’s it. I can beat these guys easy…yeah, but without this belt, please.”

‘DC’ was thoroughly entertained by Makhachev’s opinions and couldn’t stop laughing.

What is the BMF, and why all the noise around it?

For the uninitiated, the inaugural edition of the ‘BMF’ title took place in 2019 between Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal. Both were fan favorites and for UFC head honcho Dana White, it was good enough to have a matchup between the two for a new title.

Read more: After Mocking “Stupid” BMF Strap, Justin Gaethje Reveals Surprising Behind-the-Scenes UFC Exchanges

Masvidal defeated Diaz and won the BMF title. However, ever since its inception, the belt has had its fair share of detractors. One of the first critics of the inaugural edition was former UFC champion Ben Henderson, who called it a “made-up title on the line.”

Former UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov also went on record to say, “Don’t make sense, you know.”  Ironically, one of the contenders for the July 29 fight, Justin Gaethje, also confessed to finding the title “kind of stupid” before looking at the positives in it.

What are your thoughts about the ‘BMF’ title, and do you find it as gimmicky as some others imply? Do you think Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier deserve this shot at each other? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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