LAS VEGAS – Jorge Masvidal wants to set a tradition in motion with the “BMF” title when it comes back into play for the UFC 291 headliner between Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje.
Masvidal won the inaugural “BMF” belt in November 2019 when he defeated Nate Diaz. Nearly four years later, the promotion will reintroduce the strap for the rematch between fan favorites Poirier (29-7 MMA, 21-6 UFC) and Gaethje (24-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC), who meet in the July 29 pay-per-view headliner at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson wrapped the belt around the Masvidal’s waist when he won it, and now “Gamebred” thinks it’s his turn to bestow the strap upon the new holder.
“It should only be me and me alone,” Masvidal told MMA Junkie. “It should be me giving it to the winner of that and the winner of that giving it to the winner (of the next fight) and so on and so on. That’s the tradition right.”
UFC president Dana White said he brought the “BMF” belt back because Masvidal retired from MMA competition earlier this year. Masvidal said he wasn’t consulted about the decision, but he had no issues with it.
“They didn’t come to me at all, but I wasn’t caught off guard,” Masvidal said. “I like it, that they’re going to continue the legacy. I’m retired now. These guys will fight for the belt, one of them will retire. They’ll wrap the belt around somebody.”
As far as who he expects to leave UFC 291 as “BMF” champ, Masvidal has some bias toward longtime friend and American Top Team teammate Poirier, who already defeated Gaethje once by fourth-round TKO in the 2018 Fight of the Year.
“Dustin damn near caught a body the first time they fought,” Masvidal said. “I’ve been watching Dustin, he’s got some tricks and things up his sleeve for this fight coming. I think it’s going to be one of his best masterpieces.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 291.
