UFC 244: Jorge Masvidal stops Nate Diaz via doctor’s stoppage

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: I thought Hakeem would be in tough and he was, but he grinded out the win.

LYMAN GOOD VS. CHANCE RECOUNTRE 

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: KATLYN CHOOKAGIAN VIA UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) 

ANDREWS PREDICTION: KATLYN CHOOKAGIAN 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 TAVARES 

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: SHANE BURGOS VIA SD

Andrews: Close fight until the third. Great win for Shane.

#7 COREY ANDERSON VS. #11 JOHNNY WALKER 

The right hand was on 🎯#UFC244 pic.twitter.com/QZxSoq5H8r

— UFC (@ufc) November 3, 2019

WINNER: COREY ANDERSON 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: KEVIN LEE VIA TKO (HEADKICK) R1 2:47

ANDREWS PREDICTION: GREGOR GILLESPIE 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: BLAGOY IVANOV VIA UD

Andrews: Lewis barely won, but a win is a win.

#9 STEPHEN THOMPSON VS. #14 VICENTE LUQUE 

Those kicks!!#UFC244 pic.twitter.com/prJohkXxKg

— UFC (@ufc) November 3, 2019

WINNER: STEPHEN THOMPSON VIA UD (30-26, 30-26, 29-27)

ANDREWS PREDICTION: VICENTE LUQUE VIA TKO

Andrews: I guess The Wonderboy has something left in the tank. Good win.

#4 DARREN TILL VS. #10 KELVIN GASTELUM 

WINNER: DARREN TILL VIA SD (27-30, 29-28, 30-27)

ANDREWS PREDICTION: LYMAN GOOD VIA SD

Andrews: What’s up with the scores?

MAIN EVENT 

#3 JORGE MASVIDAL VS. #7 NATE DIAZ 

Masvidal drops Diaz in round 1!! #UFC244 pic.twitter.com/IuiZRgpMOK

— UFC (@ufc) November 3, 2019

WINNER: JORGE MASVIDAL VIA TKO (DOCTOR’S STOPPAGE) R3 5:00

ANDREWS PREDICTION: JORGE MASVIDAL VIA TKO

Andrews: The doctor probably made the right call, but still disappointing as Nate was starting to smoke.

@kenaiandrews