Joaquin Buckley has proposed a dramatic restructuring of the BMF title format, advocating for an open weight tournament that would eliminate traditional weight class restrictions. The welterweight contender outlined his vision on social media, suggesting that any fighter willing to compete should be eligible regardless of size.
The Open Weight Tournament Proposal
Buckley’s concept returns to the tournament format that defined early UFC competition. His proposed system would allow fighters from flyweight to heavyweight to compete against each other for the BMF championship. The only qualification would be a willingness to enter the tournament.
According to Buckley’s statements, the open weight format would determine who legitimately deserves the “baddest” designation. This approach contrasts sharply with the current BMF title structure, which has functioned more as a secondary championship within specific weight divisions.
Buckley’s Proposed Bracket
The welterweight fighter created a hypothetical quarterfinal bracket that illustrates the cross divisional matchups his format would produce:
Quarterfinal Matchups
- Max Holloway versus Islam Makhachev
- Kevin Holland versus Joaquin Buckley
- Jon Jones versus Jiri Prochazka
- Alex Pereira versus Paulo Costa
These pairings demonstrate the dramatic size disparities that would characterize an open weight BMF tournament. The bracket includes fighters ranging from lightweight champion Makhachev to heavyweight titleholder Jones.
BMF Title History and Current Status
The BMF championship originated from a concept proposed by Nate Diaz. Jorge Masvidal became the inaugural titleholder after defeating Diaz in 2019. The title then remained inactive until 2023, when Justin Gaethje captured it against Dustin Poirier.
Max Holloway successfully defended the title against Poirier before losing it to Charles Oliveira at UFC 326. Oliveira’s unanimous decision victory came through dominant grappling, a performance that raised questions about what the BMF designation actually represents.
Title Lineage Timeline
- 2019: Jorge Masvidal defeats Nate Diaz (inaugural champion)
- 2023: Justin Gaethje defeats Dustin Poirier (title reactivated)
- 2024-2025: Max Holloway defeats Gaethje, then defends against Poirier
- 2026: Charles Oliveira defeats Holloway at UFC 326
Practical Challenges of Open Weight Competition
Implementing Buckley’s proposal would create significant logistical and safety concerns. Athletic commissions have established weight classes specifically to protect fighter safety and create competitive equity. An open weight tournament would eliminate these protections.
Historical open weight competitions in early MMA demonstrated the challenges of size mismatches. Smaller fighters occasionally succeeded through superior technique, but the format consistently favored larger competitors. Modern athletic oversight has moved away from open weight contests for these reasons.
Regulatory Considerations
State athletic commissions would need to approve any open weight tournament. Current regulations in major jurisdictions limit weight disparities between opponents. Nevada, California, and other key states enforce strict weight class boundaries for sanctioned professional competition.
The UFC would need to secure special exemptions or hold such a tournament in jurisdictions with more flexible regulatory frameworks. This requirement could limit venue options and complicate event logistics.
Strategic Implications for Fighters
An open weight BMF tournament would require different preparation than standard divisional competition. Training camps would need to account for opponents of vastly different sizes, reaching abilities, and physical capabilities.
Fighters would face difficult strategic decisions about weight management. Competing at natural weight offers strength advantages but creates size disadvantages against larger opponents. Bulking up provides size parity but may sacrifice speed and cardio conditioning.
Technical Adjustments
- Distance management becomes more complex with varied opponent reaches
- Takedown defense must account for larger opponents with different leverage points
- Strike selection changes when facing opponents with significant height differences
- Ground fighting requires adjusted positional strategies against varied body types
The BMF Title’s Identity Crisis
Oliveira’s grappling heavy victory over Holloway highlighted ongoing questions about what the BMF championship represents. The title was originally conceived to honor aggressive, fan friendly fighting styles. However, its champions have included fighters with diverse approaches.
Buckley’s tournament proposal attempts to address this identity problem by making the competition itself more extreme. The open weight format would theoretically require exceptional toughness and versatility, qualities aligned with the “baddest” concept.
Whether the UFC adopts any version of this proposal remains uncertain. The promotion has shown willingness to experiment with specialty titles and exhibition formats, but large scale open weight competition represents a significant departure from current practice.
Expert Fighter Final Verdict
Buckley’s open weight BMF tournament proposal demonstrates creative thinking about how to differentiate the title from standard championships. The concept would certainly create compelling stylistic matchups and resolve questions about cross divisional dominance. However, the practical obstacles are substantial. Athletic commission approval represents a major barrier, and fighter safety concerns cannot be dismissed. The extreme weight disparities in Buckley’s proposed bracket would create matchups that modern regulatory frameworks specifically prevent.
For fighters and trainers, the proposal offers an interesting thought experiment about cross divisional skills. The technical and strategic adjustments required for open weight competition differ significantly from standard divisional preparation. Camp planning would need to address an unprecedented range of potential opponent profiles. From a competitive standpoint, the format would likely favor larger fighters unless specific rule modifications leveled the playing field.
The BMF title does face legitimate identity questions after Oliveira’s grappling focused victory. Whether an open weight tournament represents the solution depends on whether the promotion prioritizes spectacle over regulatory practicality. The concept captures attention and generates discussion, which may be Buckley’s primary objective beyond actually competing in such a format.