Photo by Michael Owens/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC
Former UFC champion Ben Henderson shares his thoughts on the upcoming “BMF” title fight between Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz at UFC 244.
While many are on board with the UFC’s inaugural “baddest motherf—r” title fight between Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz at UFC 244, it also has its critics. One of them is former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson.
“They can put the millions of dollars behind promotion, that’s their job, what they are supposed to do,” Henderson told MMA Fighting in a Bellator Dublin pre-fight interview (transcript by MMA Mania). “They are a promotion company so their job is to promote things and say, ‘This is a huge fight!’ When you look at it, in reality it doesn’t really mean anything. There is no title on the line.
“There’s a made up title on the line, someone just told me like five minutes ago there is that belt on the line. That’s hilarious. It’s awesome, good for those guys it’s great, but it’s hilarious.”
“Bendo” did acknowledge it was all part of the UFC’s promotion efforts, while also giving props to both Masvidal and Diaz, both of whom he’s fought in the past.
“But that’s what you do as a promotion,” he said. “That is their job, so if you say, ‘It’s the BMF title, we put $50,000 behind making a belt,’ that is because it’s their job, to get you to care about it, to watch it, when really it’s not that big of a deal of a fight.
“It is, great for those guys. But UFC’s job is to spin it, create the thing for more people to watch. They do a great job of that. But for Nate and Jorge, good for them, I am happy for them. I like both those dues, their camps, it’s awesome and I am happy for them.”
UFC 244 is scheduled for November 2nd at Madison Square Garden.