The UFC’s inaugural BMF champion has revealed who he thinks best fits the tag.
Jorge Masvidal stopped Nate Diaz at UFC 244 to close out a star-making year for ‘Gamebred’. It also ensured that he entered 2020 with a belt around his waist.
A symbolic BMF title was created for that fight. While it was intended to be a one-off, the strap was later resurrected for Dustin Poirier’s rematch against Justin Gaethje in 2023.
It has remained active since then and now sits in the possession of Charles Oliveira. Masvidal, however, does not think the Brazilian is the top BMF currently competing on MMA’s biggest stage.
- LATEST NEWS: Darren Till accuses Mike Perry of ‘running’ from him by taking Nate Diaz MMA fight on Netflix
Jorge Masvidal picks Ilia Topuria as the UFC’s true BMF over Alex Pereira
Oliveira beat Max Holloway at UFC 326 in March to become the fourth BMF champion. Many were unhappy with that fight and the way in which ‘Do Bronx’ won the belt.
Masvidal has defended Oliveira’s BMF status, but the Brazilian could still only just make the Miami native’s top five when it comes to the UFC’s top BMFs.
‘Gamebred’ made his picks during an appearance on Paramount’s Deep Waters podcast and reserved the top spots for lightweight king Ilia Topuria and recent light heavyweight champ Alex Pereira.
“I got Ilia, No. 1,” Masvidal said.
“Chama (Pereira), No. 2, because that guy fights. Everybody knows, in Japan, in Korea, it doesn’t matter whether it’s Thailand or Japan. International. He is a star. He is an effing star, bro. Like, it’s crazy, man.
“No. 3, I’ll go with (Khamzat) Chimaev. I think Chimaev is a huge star worldwide,” Masvidal continued. “No. 4, I’m going to throw a curveball at y’all. But I think especially after his next fight, he’s going to be one of the biggest names, Sean Strickland, bro. And he’s got like that whole love and hate. He’s going to be up there.
“No. 5, I’m going to go with Charles Oliveira. He’s so famous worldwide. He’s got the whole Brazil on his back without even mentioning it.”
- LATEST NEWS: Ronda Rousey says she’s ‘more qualified’ to be the new Dana White than UFC’s Hunter Campbell
Ilia Topuria knocked out Max Holloway when he was the BMF champion
Interestingly, the UFC’s lightweight champion does have a legitimate claim to BMF status.
After unseating Alexander Volkanovski from the featherweight throne, ‘El Matador’ was booked to defend the title against Max Holloway in October 2024.
‘Blessed’ was six months removed from knocking out Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 to become the third BMF champion, following in the footsteps of ‘The Highlight’ and Masvidal.
Holloway was then brutally KO’d by Topuria, but his symbolic title was not on the line alongside the featherweight championship.
That has not stopped the Spaniard from laying claim to BMF status, something many have backed given his dominant display against the Hawaiian.