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Credit Imago
Imago
Credit Imago
UFC head honcho Dana White, in his decades-long journey as the promotion’s president, has relentlessly pursued ways to make it more exciting and profitable for fans, fighters, and the company itself. Consistently, he has pioneered innovative strategies to boost UFC events’ success, whether by enhancing fighter bonuses and PPV points to transforming the UFC from modest origins into one of the world’s wealthiest fight promotions, setting new standards in the combat sports world.
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A recent surge of excitement among fans and fighters stems from the introduction of the ‘Baddest Motherf–ker’ (BMF) belt, first showcased during the Jorge Masvidal vs. Nate Diaz super-fight in 2019, which infamously concluded with a ‘doctor stoppage.’ With its distinctive silver design, the BMF belt provides a rare opportunity for fighters who have yet to secure a traditional title, igniting questions about its significance.
Is it simply a fresh addition to keep fans intrigued, much like an interim championship, or does it come with added perks such as earning PPV points? How much does a BMF titleholder earn? We’ve taken a deep dive into the details, so without further ado, let’s explore.
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How much does the BMF champion make?
The UFC has been known for rewarding its fighters, especially when they deliver impressive performances on the fight card. With this in mind, the BMF title was created as an additional incentive. For instance, the first BMF titleholder, Jorge Masvidal, earned $500,000 for his fight alone, not including sponsorships and pay-per-view points. ‘Gamebred’ held onto his BMF belt until he retired, leaving it vacant for almost four years until Justin Gaethje claimed it at UFC 291.
There, Justin Gaethje resolved an old rivalry with Dustin Poirier by knocking him out—a finish impactful enough that ‘The Highlight’ later remarked in an interview, “My true assessment: When Masvidal and (Nate) Diaz fought for it, I was like, ‘This is stupid.’ I still think it’s kind of stupid. However, to the fans that say it’s stupid, I say that it’s ultimately the UFC giving one more fighter one more opportunity to win and gain an opportunity to get pay-per-view points.”
Max Holloway proved he is a real BMF with this KO! 🌺🥊 #UFC308 pic.twitter.com/RRCqgxPs8D
— Sixth Round MMA (@mmasixthround) October 21, 2024
Holloway’s total bonus reportedly reached around $600,000, not counting the rest of his fight earnings. It is safe to say that the BMF title has evolved into an immensely valuable reward, enticing even veterans to step back.
Could the BMF Title tempt Jorge Masvidal out of retirement?
Former UFC BMF champ Jorge Masvidal has been out of the UFC spotlight after losing his fourth consecutive fight in the promotion against Gilbert Burns. Since his last appearance in the Octagon, Masvidal has been pursuing new goals in other combat sports, eventually finding a path in boxing. However, his first exhibition boxing match against Nate Diaz this past summer ended in controversy, as he claimed it was a “robbery.”
This turn of events reignited Masvidal’s interest in a potential comeback to the UFC and the prospect of reclaiming the BMF belt from Justin Gaethje—a title that guarantees champion-level status and other notable perks.
While speaking to Lowkick MMA, Masvidal opened up about his intentions for the BMF title, saying, “Justin is very good, but I just feel like, man, if you put BMF against BMF—put me against Gaethje—I will break his f****** eye orbital and I will f****** chop him up. So hopefully that can happen at some point, you know?”
The BMF title is now held by Max Holloway, who is set to clash with featherweight king Ilia Topuria. ‘Blessed’ will no doubt aim to deliver another stellar performance against ‘El Matador’, even though the title isn’t at stake. Who are you rooting for—Topuria or Holloway? Drop your opinion below!
Written by
Edited by
Kshitiz Kumar Singh