What does the BMF title mean now?
- La Voz Latina
- 15 hours ago
- 3 min read
By: Xavier Serrano🇵🇷
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) BMF title’s prestige in question after an underwhelming bout at UFC 326
Charles Oliveira (37-11) scored takedowns in all five rounds and controlled former champion Max Holloway (27-9) in the main event of UFC 326 to add the BMF (Baddest Motherf—er) title to his list of accomplishments, dampening fan expectations of a slug fest.
The T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas hosted the fifth BMF title fight on March 7, as Holloway defended his title against a familiar foe, Oliveira. The sanctioned bout was a rematch between the two, as their first encounter ended before the action began, with Oliveira sustaining a shoulder injury in the first round.
10 years have passed since their first fight as the two grew into dominant competitors, going on to win belts in their respective weight classes. Fans were excited to see the two evolved challengers face off again.
When the Octagon door shut for the UFC 326 main event, fans expected a striking classic between the two, but were forced to watch a 50-45 grappling clinic, courtesy of Oliveira. The performance left fans as well as the MMA community feeling underwhelmed so they took to the internet to vent their frustrations:
Fans were unhappy about the performance as they took to the comment section.
“I thought BMF was about swinging them?!”, a fan said.
The performance was heavily criticized, with some fans arguing it was the smartest approach to victory, while others argued it did not meet BMF standards. The previous four fights for the BMF title were grueling back-and-forths that saw blood spilling and fists flying. With those fights burned into the memories of fight fans, it isn’t surprising to see what expectations had developed.
Despite the criticism, Oliveira’s resume continues to grow in stature with a win over someone like Holloway, as it reminds us just how dangerous a competitor Oliveira has become. As one of the most decorated grapplers in UFC history, with the most finishes(21) and submission wins(22) in the company.
As the new BMF title holder, Oliveira bears the responsibility given to him by the MMA community to put on exciting fights, but realistically, he has the skills to take other paths to victory that may not be available to other fighters.
The expectation of what a BMF is taking a turn, according to fight fans, and we are witnessing the flames of excitement extinguish regarding the belt created in 2019.
Some see the title as a promotional item or a cash grab; others see it as a trophy that only a select few can compete for. After announcing a 7.7 billion media rights deal with Paramount, the MMA community reaffirms its preconceived notions about money-hungry shareholders in the UFC organization.
It’s unclear who the next title challenger should be, but as long as Oliveira continues to hold such the title, it’s going to be a tall order for anyone.
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