Justin Gaethje will defend the ‘BMF’ title against Max Holloway at UFC 300, it was announced on Tuesday (17 January).

UFC 300 is set to take place on 13 April in Las Vegas, and although a number of intriguing match-ups are scheduled for the card, fans have expressed disappointment at a lack of star power. Many will therefore be glad about the announcement of Gaethje vs Holloway, a five-round lightweight fight for the ‘Baddest Motherf*****’ title.

Gaethje, a former interim lightweight champion, won the vacant BMF belt by knocking out Dustin Poirier in July. The title had previously appeared just once, when Jorge Masvidal stopped Nate Diaz to become the inaugural champion in 2019.

Holloway is a former featherweight champion, who unsuccessfully challenged Poirier for the interim lightweight title in 2018, and the Hawaiian will hope for a better outcome as he moves up to 155lbs again.

American Gaethje has not fought since his first-round knockout of compatriot Poirier, while Holloway last fought in August, knocking out Chan Sung Jung. The “Korean Zombie” retired after the bout.

It is unclear whether Gaethje, 35, and Holloway, 32, will compete in the main event or co-main event of UFC 300. It is expected, however, that at least one more title fight will be added to the card, potentially headlining the event.

Earlier this week, Benoit Saint-Denis told The Independent that he believes his fight with Poirier at UFC 299 will be a BMF “No 1 contender” bout.

It was also announced on Tuesday that UFC veteran Jim Miller will face Bobby Green in another lightweight fight at UFC 300.

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