UFC 291, Gaethje vs. Poirier: Who is the baddest mother f***er?

UFC 291 main event not for the lightweight title, but for the "iconic" BMF belt.

[{"selector":"#anim-a1148b80-4a7c-4d9d-8f88-c9dc16d15b0b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-75ed6e57-63b8-4ee2-9352-298633dfdd1b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Justin Gaethje eager to compete for the BMF belt against Dustin Poirier on July 29.

[{"selector":"#anim-e2b5ba53-fa9e-4150-90ba-10acf14a5d40 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-24ee575d-cb0a-49b8-83cb-25563b972345","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Gaethje sees the belt as significant for building a legacy and gaining recognition.

[{"selector":"#anim-2c3981da-bb2e-472c-a8ce-0f3d85a685d0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a0ea0c85-9ea2-4278-aa7d-3a4ac26383a9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Only Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal have fought for the BMF belt, created for them.

[{"selector":"#anim-ec524d47-e1ce-426b-858f-d470991e7326 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d48ab75e-03c4-4d53-8c00-01d836c0e2e6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The upcoming fight is a rematch between Dustin and Justin; Dustin won the first match in 2018.

[{"selector":"#anim-ed2abcba-02ee-421f-96a7-f39d22728428 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-520baae4-476c-4c56-b1f6-b9a959b73b39","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Gaethje views the first fight as part of his journey but not a major factor in his current game plan.

[{"selector":"#anim-a0a670e2-76fb-406a-8ba6-461785c83e6d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cf784808-d45a-47f6-95a4-c7815185c044","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Gaethje and Poirier are ranked #3 and #2, respectively, in the lightweight division.

[{"selector":"#anim-a3acc46a-c36a-4bad-a684-ea8d9bed9631 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-df2604df-2a2f-42d9-b95a-5da969fc1e0d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The winner of their fight could potentially face the winner of Makhachev vs. Oliveira for the title.

[{"selector":"#anim-1679e67c-2960-4939-874e-921e64d8dde3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-3.552713678800501e-15%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5cd184f6-fd24-43cb-9e36-464b61c4c891","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Makhachev and Oliveira are fighting at UFC 294 on October 21.

[{"selector":"#anim-cbf4b6fe-0fe6-4956-961a-f2afb4eed28b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-861c5576-d9e7-4d2f-86e4-ac0fc009b52e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Gaethje not overly concerned about title implications right now; focused on the upcoming bout.

[{"selector":"#anim-4217027d-9d01-404f-a3e0-6b3986adee2a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-8.983685002525661%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f1f747b3-34dd-4ece-b97f-cba497afb42a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The ultimate question to be answered: Who is the baddest mother f***er?