Former UFC star Nate Diaz had one thing to say as Dustin Poirier battled it out one last time against BMF champion Max Holloway.
Diaz and Poirier were once meant to fight but an injury scuppered plans for a 2018 showdown. Now, that matchup will stay in the fantasy realm after ‘The Diamond’ hung up his gloves at Saturday’s UFC 318 pay-per-view.
In the main event, Holloway beat Poirier via decision in a memorable five-round war that served as an apt farewell for the retiring Louisiana native in his home state.
Following the headliner in New Orleans, Poirier has been sent well wishes and praise from many fans, fighters, and analysts in the MMA community.
Diaz, though, had another pressing matter to bring up.
Nate Diaz sent a BMF reminder during Max Holloway vs. Dustin Poirier
Poirier and Holloway traded knockdowns in the third installment of their series, coming 13 years after ‘The Diamond’ submitted ‘Blessed’ with a triangle-armbar in the Hawaiian’s UFC debut.
Having slugged it out for 25 minutes in their 2019 rematch, the pair recreated something similar in a bout fitting for the BMF title stakes at UFC 318.
The symbolic belt was created for Jorge Masvidal and Diaz’s Madison Square Garden clash. While he was defeated by ‘Gamebred’, that has not stopped the Stockton native from laying claim to BMF status.
And that trend continued during Saturday’s main event in New Orleans, as Diaz reminded both Holloway and Poirier who the title’s true owner is.
“This fights for my belt,” Diaz wrote.
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Jon Anik does not want to see Max Holloway defend the BMF title again
The BMF title continues to divide opinion as to its legitimacy and place in PPV main events, but it’s safe to say that the matchups under its banner have never disappointed.
Despite that, though, lead UFC commentator Jon Anik hopes to see its holder move on to bigger and better things after UFC 318.
“I don’t really have a huge appetite to see him defend the BMF title again, were he to successfully defend it here against Dustin Poirier,” Anik told Odds Shark during fight week.
“I think he should be chasing the undisputed lightweight title. Of course, we’ll see what happens with Ilia Topuria. But if you were to match Max Holloway up with Ilia again at ’55, or to match him up with someone like Arman Tsarukyan, or to do a rematch with Charles Oliveira…
“There’s a lot of big fights for Holloway at 155 pounds, win or lose this fight,” Anik continued. “I don’t know, man. Holloway vs. Oliveira 2? I mean, God, I think that’s the fight.”