New York Athletic State Commission chief medical officer Nitin K. Sethi assessed Nate Diaz (20-12-0) after the third round and ordered the fight stopped in favour of Jorge Masvidal (35-13-0) after three rounds at UFC 244 Saturday night.
Both Masvidal and Diaz started fast with Masvidal opening up a big cut in the first round with an elbow off the break that proved to be one of the definitive moments of the contest.
Masvidal drops Diaz in round 1!! #UFC244 pic.twitter.com/IuiZRgpMOK
— UFC (@ufc) November 3, 2019
Diaz was also knocked down by a nice headkick but Masvidal’s reluctance to engage on the round allowed him to slowly recover. By the third round, Diaz was starting to score with his trademark boxing but by then, the cuts and lacerations under his right eye were too much for Sethi.
It was a disappointing ending for the fans to be sure, but fighter safety probably prevailed in the end, according to UFC president Dana White in the post-fight press conference.
The FOTN was an MSG classic!
💰 @WonderboyMMA vs @VicenteLuqueMMA 💰#UFC244 pic.twitter.com/dH6hZ6USZx
— UFC (@ufc) November 3, 2019
Big bonuses!@CoreyA_MMA & @MoTownPhenom earn an extra 💰 $50K EACH at #UFC244
(B2YB @P3Protein) pic.twitter.com/gKVE6UkjnG
— UFC (@ufc) November 3, 2019
Stephen Thompson and Vincent Luque were awarded Fight of the Night, while Corey Anderson and Kevin Lee earned performances of the night. Each fighter earned a $50,000 USD bonus.
Kenai Andrews checks in with his thoughts on the card.
UFC FIGHT PASS PRELIMS
JULIO ARCE VS. HAKEEM DAWODU
"Give Canada some respect!"@MeanHakeemKO wants some respeck on his name after #UFC244 pic.twitter.com/NAhdwL4KrV
— UFC (@ufc) November 2, 2019
WINNER: HAKEEM DAWODU VIA SD (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Andrews:Â I thought Hakeem would be in tough and he was, but he grinded out the win.
LYMAN GOOD VS. CHANCE RECOUNTREÂ
CYBORG gets it done!@LymanGoodMMA finishes Rencountre on home soil! #UFC244 pic.twitter.com/MHRw71VEI5
— UFC (@ufc) November 2, 2019
WINNER: LYMAN GOOD VIA TKO (PUNCHES) R3 2:03
ANDREWS PREDICTION: LYMAN GOOD VIA SD
Andrews: Good went after the finish and got it. “Good” win.
#1 KATLYN CHOOKAGIAN VS. #5 JENNIFER MAIA
New York's own!@BlondeFighter gets it done at #UFC244 pic.twitter.com/KrCyPe8rNC
— UFC (@ufc) November 2, 2019
WINNER:Â KATLYN CHOOKAGIAN VIA UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)Â
ANDREWS PREDICTION:Â KATLYN CHOOKAGIANÂ VIA UD
Andrews: Katlyn did her thing, as usual.
ANDREI ARLOVSKI VS. JAIRZINHO ROZENSTRUIK
Over before it started!@JairRozenstruik has SERIOUS power! #UFC244 pic.twitter.com/4nzxSMTWSn
— UFC (@ufc) November 3, 2019
WINNER: JAIRZINHO ROZENSTRUIK VIA TKO (PUNCHES) R1 0:29
ANDREWS PREDICTION: JAIRZINHO ROZENSTRUIK VIA TKO
Andrews: It’s time, Andrei.
#13 EDMEN SHAHBAZYAN VS. #11 BRAD TAVARESÂ
EDMEN SHAHBAZYAN IS FOR REAL!@EdmenShahbazyan stops Tavares in round 1! Wow! #UFC244 pic.twitter.com/qC8mSnM4JD
— UFC (@ufc) November 3, 2019
WINNER: EDMEN SHAHBAZYAN VIA TKO (HEADKICK) R1 2:27
ANDREWS PREDICTION: EDMEN SHAHBAZYAN VIA TKO
Andrews: Very impressive. That was Brad Tavares in there.
#12 SHANE BURGOS VS. MAKWAN AMIRKHANI
BURGOS! @HurricaneShaneB stops Amirkhani on home soil in round 3! #UFC244 pic.twitter.com/LY8c0e2rXy
— UFC (@ufc) November 3, 2019
WINNER: SHANE BURGOS VIA TKO (PUNCHES) R2 4:32
ANDREWS PREDICTION:Â SHANE BURGOSÂ VIA SD
Andrews: Close fight until the third. Great win for Shane.
#7 COREY ANDERSON VS. #11 JOHNNY WALKERÂ
The right hand was on 🎯#UFC244 pic.twitter.com/QZxSoq5H8r
— UFC (@ufc) November 3, 2019
WINNER:Â COREY ANDERSONÂ VIA TKO (PUNCHES) R1 2:07
ANDREWS PREDICTION: JOHNNY WALKER VIA TKO
Andrews: Wow! Anderson put a stop to the hype train. Walker now needs to get serious.
#10 KEVIN LEE VS. #11 GREGOR GILLESPIE
OMG KEVIN LEE!!!#UFC244 pic.twitter.com/2gHsekDIg5
— UFC (@ufc) November 3, 2019
WINNER:Â KEVIN LEEÂ VIA TKO (HEADKICK) R1 2:47
ANDREWS PREDICTION:Â GREGOR GILLESPIEÂ VIA SUBMISSION
Andrews: Lee outsmarted Gillespie! Now, can he build on this.
#5 DERRICK LEWIS VS. #8 BLAGOY IVANOV
The Black Beast!#UFC244 pic.twitter.com/2autadF2ue
— UFC (@ufc) November 3, 2019
WINNER: DERRICKS LEWIS VIA SD (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION:Â BLAGOY IVANOVÂ VIA UD
Andrews: Lewis barely won, but a win is a win.
#9 STEPHEN THOMPSON VS. #14 VICENTE LUQUEÂ
Those kicks!!#UFC244 pic.twitter.com/prJohkXxKg
— UFC (@ufc) November 3, 2019
WINNER:Â STEPHEN THOMPSONÂ VIA UD (30-26, 30-26, 29-27)
ANDREWS PREDICTION:Â VICENTE LUQUEÂ VIA TKO
Andrews: I guess The Wonderboy has something left in the tank. Good win.
#4 DARREN TILL VS. #10 KELVIN GASTELUMÂ
WINNER:Â DARREN TILLÂ VIA SD (27-30, 29-28, 30-27)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: LYMAN GOOD VIA SD
Andrews: What’s up with the scores?
MAIN EVENTÂ
#3 JORGE MASVIDAL VS. #7 NATE DIAZÂ
Masvidal drops Diaz in round 1!! #UFC244 pic.twitter.com/IuiZRgpMOK
— UFC (@ufc) November 3, 2019
WINNER:Â JORGE MASVIDALÂ VIA TKO (DOCTOR’S STOPPAGE) R3 5:00
ANDREWS PREDICTION:Â JORGE MASVIDALÂ VIA TKO
Andrews: The doctor probably made the right call, but still disappointing as Nate was starting to smoke.
