Kamaru Usman recently shared his thoughts on the BMF title in the UFC, calling it a “made-up” belt that lacks legitimacy. The BMF title, short for “Baddest Motherf*****,” has been held by three fighters so far: Jorge Masvidal, Justin Gaethje, and Max Holloway. Interestingly, all three fighters went on to suffer brutal knockout losses in their subsequent fights, leading to speculation of a curse surrounding the BMF title.
Usman believes that the creation of the BMF title was influenced by his own fight booking against Colby Covington, which was initially scheduled to headline UFC 245 in Las Vegas. However, due to the fight falling through, the UFC needed a high-profile bout to headline the event at Madison Square Garden. This led to the matchup between Masvidal and Nate Diaz, with the inaugural BMF Championship on the line.
The welterweight champion expressed his skepticism about the BMF title, questioning its validity as a true championship. He highlighted the promotional aspect of creating the BMF belt as a marketing strategy to generate interest in the Masvidal-Diaz fight. Usman also revealed that he wanted the BMF title to be on the line when he faced Masvidal in a rematch in 2021, but Masvidal declined the offer, citing his belief that Usman did not qualify as a “bad mother *****” for beating him previously.
Moreover, Usman pointed out the unfortunate trend of fighters suffering knockout losses after being labeled as the BMF, including Masvidal, Gaethje, and most recently, Holloway. This pattern has raised concerns about the potential curse associated with holding the BMF title in the UFC.
In conclusion, Usman’s comments shed light on the controversial nature of the BMF title and its perceived lack of authenticity as a genuine championship. The discussion surrounding the curse of the BMF belt adds an intriguing layer to the narrative of these high-profile fights in the UFC. As the debate continues, fans and fighters alike will be watching closely to see if the trend of knockout losses for BMF titleholders persists in the future.