Jack Della Maddalena drops a bombshell: Challenges Ilia Topuria for the BMF belt!

Only in the UFC could a belt that’s not technically a real championship become the center of a three-man war of words, involving stars from three different weight classes.

The BMF (Baddest Motherf*er) title**, first introduced in 2019 as a novelty belt when Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz battled in Madison Square Garden, has morphed into one of the strangest and most controversial titles in combat sports. It was never meant to be defended like a regular championship, yet fighters are now lining up to claim it—whether they won it or not.

And now, it’s Jack Della Maddalena, the reigning UFC welterweight champion, who has entered the chaos—taking direct aim at lightweight champion Ilia Topuria for declaring himself the rightful owner of the BMF title after defeating Max Holloway.

Ilia Topuria’s Dubious Claim

It all started when Ilia Topuria, the undefeated 145-pound king who recently claimed the 155-pound title by knocking out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317, posted a picture of the BMF belt on X (formerly Twitter) with the caption:

“It’s still mine.”

This claim stems from Topuria’s dominant knockout victory over Max Holloway at UFC 308 in a featherweight title defense. The problem? The BMF belt wasn’t on the line during that fight.

The BMF title had been won by Holloway after he brutally knocked out Justin Gaethje at UFC 300, and he then successfully defended it against Dustin Poirier at UFC 318. Technically, and according to the UFC’s own rules, Topuria never fought for the BMF title—so his claims of ownership are shaky at best.

But that didn’t stop him from continuing to push the narrative on social media.

Jack Della Maddalena: “It’s Actually Mine”

Enter Jack Della Maddalena—the ruthless Aussie who has been tearing through the welterweight division with surgical precision. Clearly irritated by Topuria’s antics, Della Maddalena fired off his own verbal jab:

“Little fella is confused. It’s actually mine.”

The jab was more than just playful. It was a clear dig at Topuria’s size (a featherweight/lightweight) and a not-so-subtle callout claiming ownership of the BMF identity.

Della Maddalena elaborated that, in his opinion, if the BMF title were truly “real,” it should change hands every time someone wins a fight. If someone knocks out the BMF champ, they should automatically become the new holder. Under that logic, since Topuria beat Holloway, he could make a symbolic claim to it—but Della Maddalena takes it further by implying he embodies the BMF ethos more than either of them.

And, judging by the Aussie’s no-nonsense fighting style and aggressive climb to the title, many fans agree.

Max Holloway Responds: “Get Over It”

The actual BMF champion, Max Holloway, wasn’t about to sit back and let others hijack his hardware.

After seeing Topuria parade around online with what he called a “fake BMF belt”, Holloway didn’t mince words:

“Get over it.”

Holloway emphasized that he earned the belt in the cage, not on Twitter. He knocked out a fan-favorite like Gaethje and then beat Poirier in a high-stakes rematch—two legends with iron wills. That’s the kind of resume the BMF belt was built for.

And in Max’s eyes, no social media post can replace that kind of grit.

Three Men. One Belt. No Clarity.

So now we’ve got:

• Max Holloway, the current BMF champion and rightful owner by official UFC standards.

• Ilia Topuria, who beat Holloway in a non-BMF bout but still insists the belt is his.

• Jack Della Maddalena, who believes the whole title is symbolic anyway—and he’s the real BMF based on performances alone.

It’s a wild triangle of ego, legacy, and brand power—and somehow, this “non-title” belt is causing more chaos than a real championship.

What’s Next? Could the BMF Belt Be Defended Again—Against Topuria or Della Maddalena?

Despite the confusion, fans are already salivating at the idea of a BMF super-fight.

• A rematch between Topuria and Holloway for the BMF + Lightweight titles? Sign us up.

• A Holloway vs. Della Maddalena showdown—cross-division, no belts, just violence? That sells.

• Or maybe even Topuria vs. Della Maddalena—two young, undefeated stars colliding for bragging rights.

With the BMF belt acting more like a brand than a title, the UFC can essentially do whatever they want with it. And that’s both the chaos and beauty of it.

Final Thoughts: The BMF Belt May Be Fake—But the Heat Is Real

Say what you will about the BMF belt—it might not follow traditional championship rules, but it continues to generate buzz, provoke rivalries, and deliver some of the most entertaining trash talk in the sport.

Now, with Topuria feeling entitled, Della Maddalena laying claim, and Holloway holding it, we’re looking at one of the most absurd and entertaining feuds of 2025.

One thing is certain: whoever truly wants to be the Baddest, better be ready to fight for it.

Because in the UFC, talk is cheap—but violence is currency.