Justin Gaethje Wants ‘Iconic’ BMF Belt, Believes Title Fight Next

In the main event of UFC 291, the lightweight title may not be on the line, but the highly coveted “iconic” BMF belt will be… and Justin Gaethje is determined to get his hands on it!

TMZ Sports had the opportunity to speak with the 34-year-old UFC star ahead of his matchup against Dustin Poirier on July 29. Gaethje expressed his interest in the BMF belt and its significance.

“I think the belt is really iconic,” Justin stated confidently.

“There have only been two individuals in the world who have ever fought for it. Now, we will be the third and fourth guys. I believe it adds to our legacy, which is what we aim to build in this sport. Making money is one thing, but this belt can propel us into championship talks. It’s absolutely perfect.”

For those unaware, only Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal have previously fought for the BMF belt, which was created specifically for them. Gamebred emerged victorious in their clash in November 2019, winning via TKO. Since then, the belt has remained inactive.

The rematch between Dustin and Justin will be a thrilling affair. The two warriors previously faced each other in an intense Fight Night card back in April 2018, where Dustin secured a 4th round TKO victory over Gaethje. At the time, it was only Justin’s third UFC fight.

Reflecting on the impact of their initial encounter on UFC 291, Gaethje mentioned, “It’s part of my journey. It’s something that I’ll cherish forever, but you know, I don’t think it’s a huge factor. It’s five years ago.”

“Since then, we have both evolved tremendously and have been involved in some monumental battles. So although it will always hold a special place in my heart, it won’t be a key factor in my game plan for this fight,” he added.

We also asked Justin about his aspirations for the 155-pound title if he emerges victorious in this fight.

“I’m not too concerned about that right now. Dustin is currently the number two-ranked fighter in the world, and I hold the number three spot. Regardless, it’s almost guaranteed that the winner of this bout will face the winner of the Islam Makhachev vs. Charles Oliveira fight. If one of us manages to secure a quick knockout without sustaining significant damage, there’s a chance we could be ready for the October fight,” Gaethje explained.

Makhachev and Oliveira are set to clash at UFC 294 on October 21 in Abu Dhabi.

However, before we delve into the championship picture, let’s settle the age-old dispute… who truly is the baddest motherf***er?! Stay tuned!