UFC 244 brought us something that we rarely see in the mixed martial arts community, a new belt. We do see fighters now are starting to give themselves titles such as Mike Perry with the “Platinum Belt” that he put on the line ever so recently against Michael Venom Page in a BKFC main-event. Jake Paul also had his own, “The MVB belt” (Most Valuable Boxer), he brandished in the Woodley rematch.
Colby Covington, who took a page out of Chael Sonnen’s book, paraded around with their own belts as the champions of their respective divisions. Colby also was awarded the “King of Miami belt” by an unnamed source after beating Jorge Masvidal at UFC 272.
The main difference between these belts that the fighters brought and wore themselves and the BMF belt is that they were not commisioned by the UFC.
The UFC has this authority to commision their own belts while being a type of sports league, and additionally mixing the roles of a combat sports promotion company and a sanctioning body.
Who is the BMF champion?
The legitimate and current BMF title holder is Jorge Masvidal. Masvidal won it at UFC 244 where he squared off against Nate Diaz. He won it by doctors stoppage in the third round. Diaz had a gash under his eye that was gushing and the ringside physician waived it off. Jorge was crowned BMF that night.
Why has their been no lineage to the title? Dana White specified that it was just a one off and Jorge has never requested to put the BMF belt on the line. He has only been challenged for it but never accepted. Many other fighters have come out challenging Jorge for that belt as well.
Kamaru Usman crowned himself the BMF champ after beating Jorge the first time at UFC 251 going to a five round decision. But it wasn’t until after UFC 261 where Kamaru finished Jorge by Knockout in the second round that the fans questioned if Jorge was the BMF. Stating that Usman is the new BMF champ, in addition to the welterweight champ. Although the belt never passed hands.
Usman holding the welterweight and figuratively the BMF belt defended it (theoretically) against Covington, but retained the title. Masvidal, still holding the BMF title was beaten by Covington in a five round fight where Colby mostly dominated. This is where Colby said he didn’t want the BMF belt and was given the “King of Miami belt” days after the event. Meaning that Usman is still (figuratively) the BMF champ in the fans eyes but Masvidal still holds the title.
(Hope you are still following up until now)
UFC 278, round five, with less than a minute to go, Leon Edwards knocks out the pound-for-pound fighter, welterweight champ, the man who was reigning over the welterweight division cold.
Up until now, if you are following Usman would have been the BMF champion.
With Leon Edwards knocking out Kamaru Usman. Does this not solidify him as the welterweight champ and BMF champion? Yes, the BMF belt has to do with “attitude” and “grittiness” but at the end of the day it is a title and the belt was commisioned as the other belts where in the UFC and Edwards proved he has attitude and grittiness in his rematch against Usman.
Therefore the belt should have lineage. Of course nobody is telling Jorge Masvidal to put the title up officially, but a rematch with Diaz for the belt would be exciting for the fans to see. But sadly we may never see that with Diaz leaving the promotion fighting Chimaev on his last fight.
As it stands Leon Edwards is the BMF Champion as of now until beaten.
MMA Loki news room staff
