BMF stands for “Baddest Motherf***er” — and if that sounds less like a championship and more like a barroom dare, that’s kind of the point.
The UFC’s BMF title is unlike any other belt in the promotion. It has no weight class. It doesn’t follow the traditional rankings system. You can’t earn a shot at it by winning three straight fights and climbing a divisional ladder. The BMF belt exists in a category of one: it’s awarded to the fighter who best embodies raw toughness, aggression, and the kind of reckless confidence that makes fans lose their minds.
How the BMF Belt Was Created
The title was born in 2019, dreamed up in real time around one of the most electric matchups the UFC had seen in years.
Nate Diaz had just come off a long absence and was itching for a big fight. Jorge Masvidal had just knocked out Ben Askren in five seconds — the fastest finish in UFC history — and was riding the kind of momentum that doesn’t come around often. The two were friends-turned-rivals, both with massive fanbases and a mutual willingness to fight anyone, anywhere.
Dana White decided the moment was too big for a regular main event. He created the BMF title on the spot for UFC 244 at Madison Square Garden, and to make it official, had Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson present the belt in person.
Masvidal won by third-round TKO when a doctor stopped the fight due to cuts on Diaz’s face — a controversial but definitive result. The first BMF champion had been crowned.
BMF Title History
The belt has only changed hands a handful of times, and each transition has come with its own memorable moment:
Jorge Masvidal — First champion, won at UFC 244 (November 2019) via doctor’s stoppage over Nate Diaz
Justin Gaethje — Won the vacated title at UFC 291 (July 2023) after Masvidal retired, defeating Dustin Poirier
Max Holloway — Became champion at UFC 300 (April 2024) with one of the most jaw-dropping finishes in recent memory, knocking out Gaethje in the final seconds of the fifth round
Max Holloway (def.) — Successfully defended against Dustin Poirier at UFC 318 (2025) via unanimous decision
Holloway’s knockout of Gaethje may be the defining moment in BMF history so far. Down on the scorecards, he waved Gaethje forward in the closing seconds and then dropped him with a right hand at the buzzer. It was the kind of moment the belt was literally invented to reward.
What Makes the BMF Belt Different
UFC’s BMF Championship Belt (Rendering)UFC’s BMF Championship Belt (Rendering)
The BMF title fills a gap that the traditional UFC belt structure can’t. A fighter can be a great champion — technically sound, smart, efficient — without ever being the kind of guy who makes 20,000 people in an arena collectively hold their breath. The BMF belt is for the guys who do.
It’s also worth noting what the belt is not: it doesn’t guarantee a divisional title shot, it doesn’t affect the official rankings, and holding it doesn’t make you the top contender at any weight class. It’s purely symbolic — which, in its own way, makes it mean more. Nobody fights for the BMF title for positioning. They fight for it because they want to be called the baddest.
Who Holds the BMF Belt Now
Max Holloway is the current BMF champion and has a defense coming up at UFC 326 this Saturday, March 7, against former UFC Lightweight Champion Charles Oliveira. Check out our full UFC 326 preview for everything you need to know about fight night.