UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev has made it clear he isn’t a fan of the symbolic ‘BMF’ belt that Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje will be fighting for at UFC 291 in July, but he does have a strong opinion on who will win it.
“I don’t want that s***,” Makhachev told Daniel Cormier when asked for his thoughts on the BMF title. “This belt for the bums, you know? First time, who fight for this belt? Nate Diaz and [Jorge] Masvidal. The people who never can be champion, you know? They give him some belt. ‘Guys, be happy. Fight for BMF.’ Bro, what is this? I don’t know. They have to stop this after this (laughs). Stop.
“Gaethje and Poirier, I don’t know when — they fight for the real belt many times and they always lose, you know? Now Dana [White] like good guy, give them other belt. ‘Guys, you have to be BMF champion.’ Honestly, if somebody give me this belt tomorrow, I don’t want this s***. Of course, brother. Keep this away from me. Never say this fight gonna be vs. lightweight champion and BMF champion. Never say this, okay?”
Makhachev’s next title defense hasn’t been decided yet, but the man he defeated to claim the belt, Charles Oliveira, may well be the front-runner after his impressive first round finish of Beneil Dariush this past weekend.
However, the winner of Poirier vs Gaethje could also be a possibility, and Makhachev is not only open to that but believes he knows who will emerge victorious in that fight.
“I can beat them,” Makhachev said. “I can fight with Poirier or Gaethje but I don’t need this BMF s***, brother. That’s it. I can beat these guys easy. I think better fight for me [is] with Gaethje or Poirier because, for the fans, the people gonna watch this fight. But without this belt, please. I can say, ‘Dana. Tell this guy keep this belt in the home, come to the fight.’
“I think Poirier gonna beat him. What Gaethje have for Poirier? Nothing. Poirier have good boxing, better than Gaethje, and that’s it. It’s gonna be boxing match. [Gaethje] looked good in this match [against Rafael Fiziev] but Poirier I think is different level. Fiziev and [Michael] Chandler, these guys good but not top level.”
