UFC Commentator Picks ‘Most Worthy’ Contender for BMF Title Battle Against Max Holloway

UFC’s lead commentator name drops exciting option for Max Holloway's exciting BMF battle and second defense of the sliver after UFC 318.


UFC Commentator Picks ‘Most Worthy’ Contender for BMF Title Battle Against Max Holloway

Max Holloway to have exciting option for BMF fight, post UFC 318 PPV (Source: X)

The BMF title was created for Jorge Masvidal’s UFC 244 PPV clash with Nate Diaz in 2019. Fast-forward almost years, the title will be on the line for the fourth time at this month’s pay-per-view event in New Orleans. Right now, it is housed with the gritty Max Holloway, who puts it up for grabs at UFC 318.

Dustin Poirier will challenge Max Holloway’s silver for his retirement fight. After his failed bid at the UFC 155-pound crown, the former interim champ wants to add another symbolic belt to his arsenal. Given the visceral nature for which the “BMF” was created, the tag was added onto this swan song, and he means to go out with his sword rather than on his shield.

‘The Diamond’ has always been prone to visceral, gritty affairs and was even up to go through the chipper with the promotion’s #1 pound-for-pound name. Hence, last September’s Louisiana State Boxing & Wrestling Commission meeting arraigned for a ‘last war’ with equally gritty Holloway.

If ‘Blessed’ can hold on to his title in this upcoming event, one lead UFC play-by-play broadcaster sees another fitting name contending for the BMF.

Dan Hooker, …I think, is the most worthy fighter across every division who has never fought for the BMF title to get an opportunity to do so; …So a fight between Max Holloway and Dan Hooker, I think, makes a lot of sense for the BMF title were Max Holloway to successfully defend it here against Dustin Poirier.

Jon Anik told Denis Shkuratov of ‘Submission Radio’

Holloway has gone through the grinder and is 0-2 in the equation; he wants to play spoiler at UFC 318 and snag one against Poirier. He bagged the BMF belt with a momentous buzzer-beater, thunderous KO at the UFC 300 PPV. If he keeps hold of it in what is all but super-guaranteed to be a violent war, the logical next step would be to put it up against another similar brawler.

The UFC’s lead play-by-play commentator Jon Anik bills it to be Dan Hooker. The #7 lightweight on the Athletes’ Listings is known to love violence just as much. Following his split-decision victory over Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 305 PPV, Hooker identified a BMF fight as one of his desired next steps. He was also open to a potential money fight with Conor McGregor as well.

Team CKB’s ‘Hangman’ is on a three- fight win streak, and given his persistence, he was set to go up against Justin Gaethje. However, he couldn’t, and the No.4-ranked lightweight scored a near-finish of striker Rafael Fiziev at the UFC 313 PPV in a thrilling rematch.

Now, Gaethje has told that he wants some love for chipping in, and would retire without a title shot. Even Hooker has backed and propelled ‘The Highlight’ for a title shot, given he’s doubling down without his dues. There are two or three other names in the convoluted lineup gunning for gold as well in the 155-pound division.

In the slightly shifting scenario, Hooker makes for a perfect warrior-esque name to go for the BMF strap instead. However, given the momentum after UFC 318, Anik mentioned that he’d much yet prefer that Holloway pursued the 155-pound gold rather than a second defense of his BMF. Good thing is: Holloway aligns with those thoughts, too.

Max Holloway wants title crack, but also elated to be top choice for White House PPV card

Max Holloway felt a certain amount of good tickle when Ilia Topuria relinquished his 145-pound title for a move up. Holloway challenged Topuria’s gold, but was knocked out the first time in his life by the crisp ‘El Matador.’ Ever since, Holloway had been keen to face the winner of the UFC 317 PPV lightweight main event; specifically, if it were Topuria.

Max Holloway a frontrunner for a White House concept card
Max Holloway a frontrunner for a White House concept card (Source: X)

Accounting for the fulfilling 155-pound hydration right before, Max Holloway himself made a more permanent move to lightweight. Now, calling it his home, he could end up as a top contender in the equation given how UFC 318 goes. However, there is yet another place the reigning, defending BMF champ can end up at.

The State head and UFC officials subsequently announced a White House PPV concept card for the ‘America 250′ celebration in 2026. Many have already pitched in for the top spot, and so did Max Holloway.

On the lawn, bro! …You know what I mean? My first amateur kickboxing fight was on a lawn,…Why not headline a fight at the White House on the lawn? That’d be ridiculous. That’d be huge. That’d be cool.

Max Holloway told MMAJunkie in a Stake.Com sponsored pre-fight media interview

In the event that the White House PPV lineup does come to fruition, there is ample time until that moment arrives to determine who could be available to compete. While Jon Jones and Conor McGregor have expressed interest, Holloway is both reliable and in active contention.

BetOnline.Ag soon released the odds for fighters who could headline the prospective event on their website. The most prominent contender, Dustin Poirier, who was favored at +250, is set to retire at UFC 318 when he engages in combat with Holloway. Meanwhile, the Hawaiian was listed as the underdog at +300.

Also Read: