The biggest news coming out of last weekend wasn’t Khabib’s Nurmagomedov’s dominant win over Justin Gaethje, it was the UFC officially announcing that Nate Diaz would face Jorge Masvidal for the Baddest Motherf*cker in the Game belt in the main event of UFC 244. The BMF title was specifically called for by Diaz after his win over Anthony Pettis and will now be commissioned as a “one-and-done” title by the UFC. That’s a shame because that means the man previously most associated in MMA with the term BMF, won’t even get a chance to challenge for the title.

Speaking at pre-fight scrum yesterday, Donald Cerrone made it clear that if he got to invent a belt, it would’ve been the BMF belt, but that he’s got no ill will towards either Diaz or Masvidal.

“Oh that’d be it, for sure,” Cerrone said.

“That’s cool though. Good for them. I don’t have any regrets or hostility towards them. Good for them. Yeah, why not?”

Of course he would. Cerrone is the owner of BMF Ranch in New Mexico, a facility that serves as home, gym, and playground to a number of fighters. Though the facility has been in operation for a number of years, Cerrone says he never trademarked the term. He could attempt to win the BMF title the old-fashioned way, by paying the iron price, but “Cowboy” admits that might be tough given his history.

“There we go,” Cerrone said to the suggestion he fight the winner of the BMF title. “Except both of them whipped my ass already so that’d be kinda hard. [Laughs].”

Cerrone lost a unanimous decision to Nate Diaz back in 2011 and TKOed by Masvidal in 2017. Both were only speed bumps in the road for Cerrone though he returns to action this weekend against Justin Gaethje in the main event of UFC Vancouver. The winner of that bout will be on the short-list of possible challengers for the lightweight title but with Tony Ferguson having first dibs on that, Cerrone says he’d be happy to fight either Diaz or Masvidal next, if the opportunity presented itself.

“I’d fight either one of them, I don’t care,” Cerrone said. “I love fighting so it doesn’t matter to me.”

UFC ESPN+ 16 takes place in the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC this Saturday.

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MUST-READ STORIES

Close. Justin Gaethje almost withdrew from UFC Vancouver due to eye infection.

Highlight. Justin Gaethje: Conor McGregor or Khabib vs. Ferguson winner are only options after ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone.

Trilogy. Paul Felder defends his victory over Edson Barboza, open to trilogy under one condition.

Nice try. Leon Edwards: ‘F*ck Colby Covington’, calls for title shot against Kamaru Usman.

Burnt out. Stefan Struve explains decision to return to fighting: ‘I was just burnt out’.

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VIDEO STEW

UFC 242 Rewind.

Gaethje scrum.

Gaethje breaking down his KO of James Vick.

Whittaker in awe of Khabib.

The BMF belt saga.

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LISTEN UP

Heavy Hands. Discussing UFC 242, Justin Gaethje, and the ATT civil war.

Pull No Punches. Discussing UFC Vancouver and the UFC’s current Canadian star power.

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SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

Apparently Poirier’s (Khabib’s) post-fight shirt has been sold for a handsome sum.

Felder.

Neil Magny on USADA and lifting his provisional suspension.

Poirier already got the fire back.

Conor responds to Askren.

Don’t attempt to rob this Qdoba.

Melbourne, smartest people in the room.

I often find Boss Logic’s stuff a little stale but this one is absolute fire.

This is also good.

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Irene Aldana (10-5) vs. Vanessa Melo (10-5); UFC Mexico City, Sept. 21.

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FINAL THOUGHTS

Not that I expected any less but dope of Cowboy to be so cool with the whole BMF thing.

Thanks for reading and see y’all tomorrow.

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EXIT POLL

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