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USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
History of the BMF title: The unique UFC championship inspired by Nate Diaz
If it wasn't for Nate Diaz, there would be no BMF title belt in the UFC. Coming off a three-year layoff, Diaz returned to the octagon at UFC 241 in August 2019 and won a dominant unanimous decision against Anthony Pettis, beating up the former UFC lightweight champion over the course of 15 minutes. Afterward, Diaz put down the entire sport and made his feeling clear that there was only one man at the time worthy of sharing the cage with him. "The reason I was off is because everybody sucks. There's nobody to fight," Diaz said in his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan. "With this belt, I want to defend it against – Jorge Masvidal had a good last fight. All respect to the man, but there ain't no gangsters in this game anymore. There ain't nobody who's done it right but me and him. So I know my man's a gangster, but he ain't no West Coast gangster." That callout instantly received a rousing reaction from the Southern California crowd at Honda Center in Anaheim, including from Masvidal standing cageside. But what belt was Diaz talking about defending? We found out during his post-fight news conference. 'This is the fight game,' Diaz told reporters. 'Quit acting like this is a professional sport. (Take) whatever they want to give me? No, I'm going to take what's mine. That's what I'm talking about, the baddest mother(expletive) title. I need that belt made as soon as possible.' Dana White and the UFC brass heard Diaz loud and clear. Just like that, the BMF title was born. Here's a look at the complete history of BMF title fights since then. UFC 244: Jorge Masvidal vs. Nate Diaz (November 2, 2019) The original BMF title fight obliged Diaz's request and pitted two OGs of the fight game against each other, two guys who had reputations for being "bad motherf*ckers." With Masvidal coming off his record-breaking knockout of Ben Askren and Diaz coming off his aforementioned dismantling of Pettis, their popularity was at an all-time high. The UFC recognized this and shrewdly made a huge deal about the matchup, announcing Masvidal vs. Diaz as the UFC 244 main event at Madison Square Garden and enlisting Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson to oversee their faceoff and present the freshly minted BMF belt to the winner. The fight turned out to be mostly one sided, with Masvidal's speed presenting problems for Diaz, whose durability was on display as he absorbed a good number of significant strikes and kicks. Diaz had moments and might've started to turn the tide in Round 3, but a nasty gash over his right eye made Masvidal the winner by doctor stoppage for a rather disappointing conclusion. The BMF title belt figuratively belonged to Diaz heading into UFC 244, but it was Masvidal who became the first actual BMF champion. UFC 291: Dustin Poirier vs. Justin Gaethje 2 (July 29, 2023) The BMF title originally was conceived as a one-off, which is why Masvidal never defended it in his ensuing four fights (all defeats) before announcing his retirement following an April 2023 loss to Gilbert Burns. The belt was an afterthought until the UFC revived it almost four years later for a rematch between Poirier and Gaethje. While the decision felt like it was made simply because the UFC was in "need" of a title fight to headline a pay-per-view, there was no question that Poirier and Gaethje were both worthy of the "baddest motherf*cker" moniker given their history of violence. Poirier and Gaethje put on a classic in their first fight in 2018, and the rematch had the same energy – until Gaethje unleashed a head kick that sent Poirier crashing to the canvas for a knockout win. Masvidal was on hand to do the honors of wrapping the belt around Gaethje's waste for a literal passing of the BMF torch. UFC 300: Justin Gaethje vs. Max Holloway (April 13, 2024) With the BMF title now officially a thing, the UFC booked Gaethje to defend his title against former featherweight champion Holloway, who was returning to lightweight for the first time in five years. What a freaking fight. Holloway was brilliant as he pieced up Gaethje for the majority of almost five full rounds. Then as the 10-second clapper sounded, Holloway pointed to the center of the cage where Gaethje met him, and the two men thew haymakers at each other. Holloway landed a brutal right hand that crumbled Gaethje for the knockout win with 1 second remaining, giving us one of the most memorable finishes in UFC history. UFC 318: Max Holloway vs. Dustin Poirier 3 (July 18, 2025) After his BMF title win over Gaethje, Holloway returned to featherweight for a title fight with Ilia Topuria and suffered the first knockout loss of his career at UFC 308. That result prompted Holloway to declare himself done with competing at 145 pounds, and so he returned to lightweight for a trilogy against Poirier, who announced the UFC 318 main event for Holloway's BMF title would be his retirement fight. Holloway had lost their two previous encounters but for the most part dominated the third meeting. That said, Holloway and Poirier gave us a memorable Round 2 in which both men scored knockdowns and had a chance to finish each other. After that, though, the fight was mostly one way traffic for Holloway, who put on a striking clinic and became the first man to successfully defend the BMF title.
News18
18-07-2025
- Sport
- News18
Erase Or Be Erased: The Tale Of Paulo Costa
Last Updated: Paulo Costa, "The Eraser," faces Roman Kopylov at UFC 318. With one win in his last five fights, Costa aims to revive his reputation and prove he's still a top contender. If Paulo Costa were a superhero, his power would be sheer, unadulterated violence—delivered with a megawatt smile and the swagger only Brazilian fighters seem to master. At 34, Costa, aka 'The Eraser," finds himself teetering on the edge between revival and irrelevance. In an exclusive conversation with News18 Sports, he revealed his plans to resurrect the Costa that once faced the juggernaut Yoel Romero, and emerged triumphant. He now faces a career-defining crossroads at UFC 318 against the surging Roman Kopylov. This fight? It's not just another number on his record. It's about recultivating the fearsome aura that once made Borrachinha (his Brazilian nickname, meaning 'Little Rubber Man," a nod to his early flexibility) the division's boogeyman. Costa's name is still synonymous with fireworks, but lately, the explosions have fizzled—just one win in his last five bouts, dropping him to 13th in the rankings and shaking the faith of even his staunchest fans. The Ascent Let's rewind. Costa's journey began in the rough-and-tumble streets of Contagem, Brazil. As a kid dodging street scraps, he picked up Muay Thai at nine, following the path blazed by his older brother, Carlos, himself a professional fighter. The UFC debut came in 2017. It was brutal, it was efficient, and it was the start of a storm: he bulldozed Garreth McLellan with a first-round TKO. Thirteen fights, thirteen wins, eleven finishes by knockout—Costa quickly embodied the phrase 'must-see TV." A fighting style that was pure, controlled chaos: relentless forward pressure, sledgehammer fists, an iron chin, and tank-like cardio. He was a force willing to take a punch to give back three. Costa's defining moment? The Yoel Romero war at UFC 241—fifteen minutes of mutual destruction, both fighters trading seismic shots that would have crushed mere mortals. The win, via unanimous decision, was cemented in the memory of any fan who loves a slugfest. After this victory, the buzz was deafening: Costa was THE shark in a pool full of guppies. Anatomy of A Fall Then came September 27, 2020; UFC 253: Costa vs. Adesanya. Two undefeated titans, a packed Fight Island, the stakes sky-high. The hype was real—until reality struck. Adesanya demonstrated why technical brilliance trumps brute force. Turkey-feather light on his feet, Adesanya chopped away Costa's lead leg, picked him apart from range, and eventually sent him crashing to the canvas with a pinpoint left hand. A minute left in round two, and Costa's perfect record was erased—his powerful, pressure-heavy style outclassed by the Kiwi's footwork and precision. The aftermath? Rocky. Costa's confidence evaporated; his aura, unspooled. He followed up with losses against Marvin Vettori, Robert Whittaker, Sean Strickland, and a wild win over Luke Rockhold that was less vintage Costa, more desperate brawl. Weight cut disasters, flaky training camps, and a refusal—or maybe an inability—to evolve his game surfaced. The 'Eraser" was stuck erasing his own legacy. The Secret Juice Era But Costa isn't just a gladiator—he's also an entertainer. In MMA, if you can't keep winning, you'd better stay interesting. Thus emerged the 'secret juice" era: a running gag involving his ever-present coloured drink, riffing on the whispers of PED use that haunt many elite athletes. Instead of shying away, Costa leaned in. His 'secret juice" caught on as a meme, an inside joke among fans and fighters alike. Playing the character is no accident. Costa described himself as 'a super funny guy" to News18 Sports. Someone who thrives on 'the most trash comedy" and takes mischievous pleasure in stories about pilfering food from training partners. He's riding the meme train so hard, there are plans to sell 'secret juice" worldwide. This weekend, Costa's not squaring off against just any opponent. Roman Kopylov is a dangerous test—a slick striker from Russia, ranked 14th, and red-hot off six wins in his last seven, including an eye-popping head-kick KO of Chris Curtis. Kopylov brings the kind of risk that separates gatekeepers from comeback kings. Costa's promise? To bring back the pressure-heavy Costa of old at UFC 318. 'I was looking to be faster and more footwork in the last two fights," he admits. 'Now I bring back the old style that I had, which means just chase and pressure and cut the angles, you know, be right there to punch, punch hard as I can." In characteristic bravado, Costa insists, 'I'm feeling very good. I think I'm in my prime now, you know, I'm 34. I'm here in UFC since 27 years old, but I feel more mature, I feel, but still with a lot of desire to fight, you know, hungry, I'm feeling hungry" There's urgency, too—he knows his back is to the wall. Even Israel Adesanya, his old nemesis, has poked him to 'get serious" and 'show some balls." For Costa, this is less about rankings and more about redemption. Beyond the Brawls Costa isn't blind to what's at stake. Asked about his legacy, he dreams big: 'a great fighter, a great warrior, and a good personality as well. A great personality. Yeah, a good human being as well—most important, right?" It's the statement of a man who has crashed, burned, and wants to prove there's more to his story than a string of knockouts or defeats. When asked of Dustin Poirier—who headlines the card, and despite missing out on gold, walks away with legacy points through sheer heart and highlight wins, he said, 'I think Dustin just has a great legacy. He beat Conor McGregor twice and all the big names. So he deserves all the credit. 'He deserves rest as well and all support that fans can give to him." Costa needs to convince both himself and the world that the fired-up Eraser of 2017-19 is still in there—behind the memes, the wild interviews, and the training missteps. He needs to be what made him a superstar: meaner, more confident, and, above all, violently entertaining. He says as much: 'dangerous than before because now I have more experience and my power, my strength is the same." top videos View all For Paulo Costa, UFC 318 isn't just about winning a fight—it's a shot at redemption and rewriting his story. Is the Eraser ready for a fresh page—or will the curtain fall? As the Octagon door closes Saturday night, one thing is guaranteed: fun, fireworks, and just maybe, a second act worth the legend. Watch UFC-318 – Holloway vs. Poirier 3 on 20th July 2025 at 7:30 AM IST LIVE On Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD, Sony Sports Ten 3 Hindi SD & HD , Sony Sports Ten 4 Tamil & Sony Sports Ten 4 Telugu News18 Sports brings you the latest updates, live commentary, and highlights from cricket, football, tennis, badmintion, wwe and more. Catch breaking news, live scores, and in-depth coverage. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championship view comments Location : New Orleans, LA (US) First Published: July 18, 2025, 12:42 IST News sports Erase Or Be Erased: The Tale Of Paulo Costa Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
