LAS VEGAS – Dana White likes the idea of a four-man BMF title tournament that’s been proposed by Dustin Poirier.
Poirier (30-8 MMA, 22-7 UFC), who lost to Justin Gaethje by knockout in their BMF title fight at UFC 291, would love to enter that title picture again. The BMF title has since changed hands when Max Holloway scored an iconic knockout of Gaethje at UFC 300 in April.
Poirier knows he doesn’t have too many fights left in him but would be all in for a four-man BMF tournament between him, Gaethje (25-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC), Holloway (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC), and Dan Hooker (24-12 MMA, 14-8 UFC). Poirier has history with all three fighters, going 1-1 with Gaethje, and defeating both Holloway and Hooker.
“That excites me because that kind of stuff is for the dogs, man,” Poirier told MMA Today. “That’s like the old PRIDE days or grand prixs, you know? That’s a real BMF. If you can fight in a tournament in one night, multiple opponents, I mean, dude, that’s kind of the definition of a BMF.”
White, who’s instantly shot down other tournaments before, had a positive reaction when asked about Poirier’s idea.
“Sounds fun,” White said during a Dana White’s Contender Series 75 post-fight news conference at the UFC Apex. “Never thought about it, but yeah, I love it.”
A tournament would also excite Hooker, who responded on “X.”
Don’t threaten me with a good time. 😂 https://t.co/ag45arvez4
— Dan Hangman Hooker (@danthehangman) October 9, 2024
Since losing his BMF title fight against Gaethje, Poirier rebounded with a knockout of Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 299. He then challenged lightweight champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 302 but fell short by fourth-round submission.
As for BMF champion Holloway, he will look to add another belt when he challenges featherweight champion Ilia Topuria in the UFC 308 main event Oct. 26 in Abu Dhabi.
