Kamaru Usman will be defending his UFC welterweight championship against Jorge Masvidal in the main event of UFC 251, and Usman has plans to leave the Octagon with two titles when he meets his rival on Saturday.
Masvidal enters the fight as the reigning "BMF" champion after defeating Nate Diaz last November to become the inaugural titleholder. UFC president Dana White created the symbolic "Baddest Motherf—er" belt ahead of Diaz-Masvidal at UFC 244, and Masvidal won it via doctor's stoppage at the end of the third round. Saturday will be the first time Masvidal has fought since winning the title.
Usman has been vocal about the special belt being put on the line at UFC 251.
“They’re really considering this a title, so you know what? After I go out there and beat his ass and rag-doll him, that s— is coming home with me so I can throw it in my closet," Usman told TMZ.
Unfortunately for Usman, Masvidal's unique title "is not on the line," White told TMZ Sports.
"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,'" White said.
White added that Usman had been "terrorizing" him ever since the fight with Masvidal was made, but he's standing firm that the "BMF" title was a "one and done" belt created specifically for Masvidal's bout with Diaz.