The BMF is not really that important but I think some fighters really want to claim it just to be called the BMF, for some reason Conor McGregor wants some additional belt on top of the Championship belt, Many belt much better,
The BMF belt will have a short life if Justin gets the title fight, which he should and that's what he's after. So if the BMF is put on the line it'll get unified with the lightweight title. If UFC want it to be a thing, they'll have to come up with some special rules on how it is to be passed on.
He is on a 6 losing streak now, for sure it is really up to him if he really likes to still fight then he likely is free to do so, it is just me I would likely not forcing him I am really waiting for the day he would likely lay the gloves off that was all,
As I said, he's past his prime, there's no question about that, but if he still feels like he have a couple more fights in him - why not?
And what people tend to forget that 6 losing streak was to guys from the very top, while his 12-win streak was earned mostly on low/average-rated guys. So looking just at wins/losses record can give you a bit distorted picture.
I really looks like his contract is over. UFC either give 3 or 6 fight contracts. If we divide his UFC record to 3 or 6, it would be a round number, which makes he has no more fight. Maybe UFC will offer him sort of a farewell fight, as he said he has lost current mostly due to accidental eye poke (but we have seen the fight and Tony was dominated in every round).
Are you sure about that 3/6 fights thing? I vaguely recall some fighter saying that they got an initial contract for 10 fights, but that was looong time ago, so it might have changed.
And sure, if Tony decided to retire and wanted to do a farewell fight, I'm sure UFC would get that arranged. But it doesn't seem like that's what he's after.
Lewis is pretty old at this point. I don’t know if it is going to be a great performance from him after this. I suspect he might decline in terms of success.
Age is not as important in the heavyweight as it is in the lower divisions. Lewis is still an exciting fighter and that's what the UFC heavyweight desperately needs right now, especially when it's probable that Jon Jones may retire after the Stipe fight.
I'm sure UFC will make Lewis 'some' offer, but it might be worse than what he previously had, and he's at the end of his career so might want to squeeze as much as possible, so if he gets a better offer from elsewhere, he'll probably go for that.