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Din Thomas believes that, in some aspect, the BMF title holds more value than a UFC championship.
Since the BMF title debuted in 2019, Jorge Masvidal, Justin Gaethje, and Max Holloway have held the belt. Holloway (27-8 MMA, 23-8 UFC) scored an iconic last-second knockout of Gaethje to become BMF champion at UFC 300.
For Thomas, the BMF title signifies something different.
“At some level I almost honor the BMF belt a little higher (than a regular UFC title),” Thomas told MMA Junkie. “It’s not politicking at all. It’s taking your losses and coming back and showing that. There’s something to that as a fighter. The brotherhood of the fight community really respects that.
“Obviously you’ve got to respect the champs, but there’s some lobbying involved and something about that. But a BMF champ, there’s something to that, and I almost wish they wouldn’t cross that over and muddy the waters with either or belt.”
Holloway was called out by Charles Oliveira (36-11 MMA, 24-11 UFC), who returned to the win column by submitting Mateusz Gamrot in the UFC Fight Night 261 headliner this past Saturday. Oliveira’s story in the UFC embodies a bounce back as he went from a skidding featherweight to a lightweight champion.
“He reminded us how good he is,” Thomas said of Oliveira. “That’s one thing fighters need to keep in mind. When the UFC is asking you to fight backwards, don’t treat it as disrespect. Treat it as an opportunity to show us again how good you are.”
Despite his praise toward Oliveira, Thomas doesn’t see him beating Holloway.
“I like Holloway in that fight,” Thomas said. “I think that Holloway, he’s just so disciplined in his approach. He’s got an underrated takedown defense, and he’s probably not going to shoot on Charles. I think just as the fight goes on, Max finds the ways to apply pressure and put his game on his opponents.”
