The BMF championship is here to stay. Despite its mixed reception within the MMA community, it made a return at UFC 318, where Max Holloway was to defend his platinum title against former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier.Holloway and Poirier put on a show for the fans at UFC 318. Holloway appeared to be cruising to a dominant finish in the early going, dropping Poirier several times and getting dangerously close to getting a finish with vicious ground-and-pound attacks in the second frame.However, Poirier shocked the Hawaiian and everyone watching, as he got back on his feet, knocked Holloway down with an overhand right, jumped into his trademark guillotine choke, and nearly finished the fight with ground-and-pound of his own until the bell saved Holloway.The duo continued to trade cautiously through Rounds 3 and 4, where Poirier appeared to be landing the more powerful strikes, while Holloway was stringing combinations more effectively, statistically leading the numbers.Holloway refused to engage as Poirier tried to make things chaotic in the final frame. However, the two agreed to stand and trade in the center of the cage with 10 seconds left on the clock. Holloway got the better of Poirier in the exchanges, forcing him to clinch up right before the final bell.The judges scored the contest in Holloway's favor, declaring him the winner by unanimous decision (49-46 X 2, 48-47). View this post on Instagram Instagram PostThe trilogy fight between Holloway and Poirier was the fourth time that the BMF title has been in contention. The prior matchup involving the platinum strap was Holloway's iconic UFC 300 fight and knockout win over former BMF title holder Justin Gaethje in April 2024.After a dominant showing, Holloway invited Gaethje to stand and trade with him in the center of the cage in the closing seconds. Gaethje gladly obliged, but got viciously knocked out with an overhand right, leading to Holloway's crowing as the BMF champion.Before that, Gaethje and Poirier faced off for the BMF title at UFC 291, in what was the rematch of their first fight that took place in April 2018.The pair's fight was over within two rounds, ending with Gaethje knocking Poirier out cold with a head kick. In doing so, he was crowned the BMF champion by none other than previous champion Jorge Masvidal, who first captured the title at UFC 244.Masvidal faced ex-UFC star Nate Diaz in a bout brimming with star power. Unfortunately for Diaz, he had nothing in his toolbox and was beaten brutally. He was cut open, bruised, and knocked down before a cage-side doctor stepped into the fray to bring an end to the action by declaring Diaz unfit to continue.He did so as, in his opinion, the cuts the Stockton legend had suffered were too substantial to allow him to continue fighting. The doctor's decision drew a chorus of boos from fans in attendance, and the outcome was initially regarded as controversial. But as time went on, the displeasure over its conclusion waned.Now, it is remembered as a pivotal night in UFC history, for it was the very first time that a symbolic title represented the sport's toughest and most thrilling action fighters.How many BMF champions have there been?Thus far, there have only been three BMF champions in history. The bout at UFC 318 marked the first time that the BMF title was defended.While the BMF title was expected to be a "one-off" fight between Masvidal and Diaz as Dana White had announced in 2019, Holloway's win and recent history of the title changing hands suggest that it may continue to be on the line in the foreseeable future.