UFC 291’s Dustin Poirier embracing BMF title idea: ‘It just makes sense’

Don’t call it a comeback.

UFC 291 on July 29, 2023, marks the return of the Baddest Motherf—ker (BMF) title. In the evening’s Lightweight main event, two of the most exciting fighters in mixed martial arts (MMA) history go toe-to-toe for the second time. It’s Dustin Poirier vs. Justin Gaethje part two.

A lot was made about the BMF crown when created in Nov. 2019 for a Welterweight affair between Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz. Boasted as a special occasion one-off title, Masvidal’s recent retirement and the non-title main event nature of Poirier vs. Gaethje 2 was enough for UFC President, Dana White, to go back on his word. Therefore, leading to mixed reactions from the community as well as those involved.

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MASSIVE MIDDLEWEIGHT MATCH! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) makes its highly anticipated return to Sydney, Australia, for the first time in five years on Sat., Sept. 9, 2023, with a 185-pound world title fight inside Qudos Bank Arena. In the ESPN+-streamed pay-per-view (PPV) main event, Middleweight roost-ruler, Israel Adesanya, plans to silence No. 5-seeded contender, Sean Strickland. In UFC 293’s hard-hitting Heavyweight co-main event, No-6-ranked fan favorite, Tai Tuivasa, locks horns with towering Russian, Alexander Volkov (No. 8).

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“It is what it is,” Poirier told MMA Junkie. “I’ve seen people excited about the BMF title. I’ve seen people talking s—t about it. To me, if you look at our track record, look at Justin’s history, look at my history. It just makes sense. … All the Fight of the Year contenders we’ve been in. He has other ones from other organizations coming into the UFC, Fight of the Year contenders. It just makes sense. This is going to be a great fight.

“It never crossed my mind that I would be fighting for a BMF belt, but it’s awesome,” he continued. “I would love to hang it up in my living room. … I don’t think the BMF belt’s stupid. I like it. And it’s going to get wrapped around my waist.”

Poirier, a friend and teammate of Masvidal’s at American Top Team (ATT), defeated Gaethje in the pair’s first encounter. At UFC on Fox 29 in April 2018, Poirier and Gaethje put on a “Fight of the Year” contender, resulting in a Poirier victory via fourth round technical knockout.

Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 291 fight card right here, starting with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. ET, then the remaining undercard on ESPN/ESPN+/ABC at 8 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.

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