Interestingly, the main event for UFC 291 doesn’t start with the first meeting between Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje, instead, we go back to UFC 244.
Dana White announced the bout alongside the “BMF” belt which would be awarded to the winner. The first of its kind for the UFC and would be contested between Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz. The Rock was there to present the belt and it was a huge spectacle as Jorge Masvidal won the belt in a third-round doctor’s stoppage.
We fastforward to UFC 287, Masvidal vs Burns. Jorge Masvidal lost the fight via decision and announced his retirement. That meant the BMF belt was vacant and ready to be fought for once more.
That’s the timeline of the belt, but how about the fighters? Well as we all know, Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje have met before back at UFC on FOX 29: Poirier vs. Gaethje. Poirier emerged victorious via a fourth-round TKO.
Dustin Poirier is coming off a win over Michael Chandler back at UFC 281 while Justin Gaethje beat Rafael Fiziev at UFC 286. Both fighters lost their fights before their most recent one, both to Charles Oliveira. The winner of this fight will not only win the BMF belt but the chance to fight Islam Makhachev for the Lightweight belt.
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