Usman wants the BMF Title on the line as well at UFC 251, but that won’t be the case according to UFC President Dana White.
“It is not on the line,” White told TMZ Sports (via MMA Junkie). “Usman wants it to be on the line so bad, he will not stop texting me saying, ‘I don’t understand why this belt isn’t on the line. This guy’s running around saying he’s the ‘BMF’ champ. I want to squash it all. He’s not going to win my title, and I’m going take his ‘BMF’ belt.’ Believe me, Usman has not stopped terrorizing me about this. That was like a one-and-done, the ‘BMF’ title.”
Masvidal won the BMF Title by defeating Nate Diaz at UFC 244 and hasn’t defended the gold since.
White also admits that it was a brilliant move by Masvidal to accept the short notice title fight against Usman.
“It was brilliant of Masvidal to slide in after Gilbert Burns tested positive,” White said. “Gilbert Burns is the No. 1 ranked guy in the world. Great fight, it fell out. The fight the people want to see, the people’s fight, is this fight. It was absolutely brilliant of Masvidal to slide into this slot and take the fight.”
UFC 251 takes place on Saturday, July 11 from Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi with Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.
