UFC 244

UFC 244: Masvidal vs. Diaz was a mixed martial arts pay-per-view event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on November 2, 2019 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, United States.[2] It was the UFC's 500th live event.[3]

UFC 244: Masvidal vs. Diaz
The poster for UFC 244: Masvidal vs. Diaz.
Information
PromotionUltimate Fighting Championship
DateNovember 2, 2019 (2019-11-02)
VenueMadison Square Garden
CityNew York City, New York, United States
Attendance20,143[1]
Total gate$6,575,996.19[1]
Event chronology
UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Askren UFC 244: Masvidal vs. Diaz UFC Fight Night: Magomedsharipov vs. Kattar

Background

Card changes and main event jeopardy

A welterweight bout between Jorge Masvidal and former UFC Lightweight Championship challenger and The Ultimate Fighter 5 lightweight winner Nate Diaz headlined the event.[4] After his UFC 241 win against former lightweight champion Anthony Pettis, Diaz proclaimed himself the "baddest motherfucker in the game" and issued a challenge to Masvidal. When the fight was scheduled, Dana White announced that a celebratory "baddest motherfucker" belt, embossed "BMF," would be awarded to the winner.[5] However, on October 24, Diaz tweeted a statement saying he would not be competing due to an adverse drug test finding, which put the bout in jeopardy.[6] On October 26, the UFC announced that Diaz had been cleared to compete, as his positive test had traces of LGD-4033, or Ligandrol, a selective androgen receptor modulator which was known to be linked to a tainted batch of organic, vegan multivitamins.[7]

Krzysztof Jotko was scheduled to face Edmen Shahbazyan at the event. However, Jotko was removed from the card in early October for undisclosed reasons and replaced by Brad Tavares.[8]

Weigh-ins

At the weigh-ins, former Invicta FC Flyweight Champion Jennifer Maia weighed in at 127.2 pounds, 1.2 pounds over the flyweight non-title fight limit of 126 pounds. The bout proceeded at a catchweight and Maia was fined 25% of her purse, which went to her opponent Katlyn Chookagian.[9]

Prior to the ceremonial weigh-ins, the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) issued a rare statement in which it was announced that they would be pursuing disciplinary action against The Ultimate Fighter: Team Jones vs. Team Sonnen middleweight winner and former interim title challenger Kelvin Gastelum. In the statement, the Athletic Commission stated that following a review of Gastelum's weigh-in video they "determined that Mr. Gastelum made contact with another person while on the scale, a violation of the weigh in policy. In light of this violation, the Commission will pursue disciplinary action. At this time, the official weight determination will not be disturbed, and Mr. Gastelum will not be disqualified from competing in UFC 244."[10]

Fines

On November 8, it was announced that Corey Anderson had been fined $10,000 by the NYSAC for "unsportsmanlike and disorderly conduct" for taunting and screaming at Johnny Walker and shoving the referee away during his post-fight celebration. Kelvin Gastelum was also fined $1,000 for making physical contact with his coach Rafael Cordeiro while on the scale at the weigh-ins.[11]

Event

The event consisted of twelve mixed martial arts bouts sanctioned by the NYSAC and contested under the unified rules of mixed martial arts. The first eleven bouts were scheduled for three five-minute rounds and the main event between Masvidal and Diaz was scheduled for five five-minute rounds. Five main card bouts were televised live on ESPN+ pay-per-view. Four preliminary bouts were televised live on ESPN2 and three were streamed live on UFC Fight Pass and ESPN+.[12] UFC 244 set the second best mixed martial arts gate record in New York. The event earned $6,575,996.19 in ticket sales, behind the previous record set at UFC 205.

Early Preliminary card

In the first bout at the event, Hakeem Dawodu outpointed Julio Arce at featherweight to win via split decision, 29–28 on two judges scorecards.[13]

The second match up saw Lyman Good defeat Chance Rencountre via technical knockout (TKO) in the third round.[14]

Next, in a women's bantamweight bout, Katlyn Chookagian defeated Jennifer Maia via unanimous decision; the score was 29–28 on all three judges scorecards.[15]

Preliminary card

The prelims began at 8 p.m. Eastern Time Zone and four bouts were broadcast on ESPN2. All four bouts ended in round one via TKOs or knockouts (KOs), except one finished in round three.[16]

The first fight on the preliminary card was between Jairzinho Rozenstruik and former UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovski. Rozenstruik defeated Arlovski via KO, just 29 seconds into the first round.[17]

The next fight was a middleweight bout between Edmen Shahbazyan and Brad Tavares. Shahbazyan won via head kick KO in the first round.[18]

The penultimate preliminary bout saw Shane Burgos defeat Makwan Amirkhani via TKO due to punches in the third round.[19]

In the preliminary card's final match, a light heavyweight contest between Corey Anderson and Johnny Walker, Anderson beat Walker via TKO in round one.[20] After the fight, Dana White criticized Walker for his in-fight behavior.[21]

Main card

The first bout on the pay-per-view portion of the event saw former interim title challenger Kevin Lee take on the undefeated Gregor Gillespie in a lightweight contest. Lee defeated Gillespie via head kick KO in the first round.[22] This win earned him the Performance of the Night bonus.[23]

Derrick Lewis defeated Blagoy Ivanov by via split decision, winning 30–27 and 29–28 on two judges scorecards.[24]

Stephen Thompson defeated Vicente Luque via unanimous decision. This fight earned them the Fight of the Night bonus.[25]

Darren Till returned to the middleweight division, defeating Kelvin Gastelum via split decision. Till won 29–28 and 30–27 on two judges scorecards.[26]

Main event

The final bout of the main card, a welterweight match between Jorge Masvidal and former UFC Lightweight Championship challenger Nate Diaz, was for the symbolic "BMF" belt.[27] Masvidal was awarded the TKO victory when the cageside doctor, Nitin K. Sethi, ruled that Diaz was unable to continue between the third and fourth rounds.[28]

Jorge Masvidal won the "BMF" belt

Results
Main card
Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Welterweight Jorge Masvidal def. Nate Diaz TKO (doctor stoppage) 3 5:00 [lower-alpha 1]
Middleweight Darren Till def. Kelvin Gastelum Decision (split) (27–30, 29–28, 30–27) 3 5:00
Welterweight Stephen Thompson def. Vicente Luque Decision (unanimous) (30–26, 30–26, 29–27) 3 5:00
Heavyweight Derrick Lewis def. Blagoy Ivanov Decision (split) (30–27, 28–29, 29–28) 3 5:00
Lightweight Kevin Lee def. Gregor Gillespie KO (head kick) 1 2:47
Preliminary card (ESPN2)
Light Heavyweight Corey Anderson def. Johnny Walker TKO (punches) 1 2:07
Featherweight Shane Burgos def. Makwan Amirkhani TKO (punches) 3 4:32
Middleweight Edmen Shahbazyan def. Brad Tavares KO (head kick) 1 2:27
Heavyweight Jairzinho Rozenstruik def. Andrei Arlovski KO (punch) 1 0:29
Early Preliminary card (UFC Fight Pass)
Catchweight (127.2 lb) Katlyn Chookagian def. Jennifer Maia Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
Welterweight Lyman Good def. Chance Rencountre TKO (punches) 3 2:03
Featherweight Hakeem Dawodu def. Julio Arce Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 29–28) 3 5:00
  1. For the symbolic "BMF" Championship.

[29]

Bonus awards

The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.[30]

  • Fight of the Night: Stephen Thompson vs. Vicente Luque
  • Performance of the Night: Kevin Lee and Corey Anderson

See also

References
  1. Trent Reinsmith. "UFC 244 Delivers Second-Best Gate And Attendance For UFC Event In New York". forbes. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
  2. Guilherme Cruz (2019-07-08). "UFC announces fourth quarter schedule for 2019". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2019-07-08.
  3. Staff (2019-09-07). "UFC will hold its 500th event at Madison Square Garden headlined by Jorge Masvidal vs Nate Diaz". fightbookmma.com. Retrieved 2019-10-26.
  4. Ariel Helwani (2019-09-07). "Diaz-Masvidal to headline UFC 244 on Nov. 2". espn.com. Retrieved 2019-09-07.
  5. Dave Doyle and Matt Erickson (2019-09-19). "Dana White confirms Nate Diaz-Jorge Masvidal winner will get 'BMF' belt". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2019-09-20.
  6. Steve Marracco (2019-10-24). "Nate Diaz claims he's failed drug test, won't fight at UFC 244". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
  7. Dave Doyle and John Morgan (2019-10-26). "UFC 244 main event of Jorge Masvidal vs. Nate Diaz still on". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2019-10-26.
  8. Mike Bohn and Farah Hannoun (2019-10-02). "Brad Tavares moved to UFC 244 for matchup with unbeaten Edmen Shahbazyan". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2019-10-02.
  9. Cole Shelton (2019-11-02). "UFC 244 weigh-in results: main event set; Jennifer Maia misses weight". sherdog.com. Retrieved 2019-11-02.
  10. Steven Marrocco (2019-11-01). "NYSAC decides to pursue 'disciplinary action' against Kelvin Gastelum, but UFC 244 bout will go on". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2019-11-01.
  11. Steven Marrocco (2019-11-08). "NYSAC fines Kelvin Gastelum, Rafael Cordeiro and Corey Anderson for UFC 244 actions". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2019-11-09.
  12. MMA Fighting Newswire (2019-11-02). "UFC 244 start time, TV schedule for Masvidal vs. Diaz". mmafighting. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
  13. Shillan, Keith (2019-11-02). "UFC 244 Results: Hakeem Dawodu Beats Julio Arce by Narrow Split Decision". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-02-12.
  14. Anderson, Jay (2019-11-02). "UFC 244 Results: Lyman Good Bludgeons, Bloodies Chance Rencountre". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-02-12.
  15. Anderson, Jay (2019-11-02). "UFC 244 Results: Katlyn Chookagian Decisions Jennifer Maia, Wants Title Shot". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-02-14.
  16. Trent Reinsmith. "UFC 244: ESPN2 Preliminary Card Delivers Solid Ratings". forbes. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
  17. Anderson, Jay (2019-11-02). "UFC 244 Results: Jairzinho Rozenstruik Looks Fierce in Knockout of Andrei Arlovski". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-02-14.
  18. Doherty, Dan (2019-11-02). "UFC 244 Results: Edmen Shahbazyan Knocks Out Brad Tavares With First Round Head Kick". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-02-15.
  19. Doherty, Dan (2019-11-02). "UFC 244 Results: Shane Burgos Batters Makwan Amirkhani With Late Stoppage". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-02-15.
  20. Doherty, Dan (2019-11-02). "UFC 244 Results: Corey Anderson Makes Huge Statement With First-Round KO". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-02-15.
  21. "Dana White on Johnny Walker UFC 244 loss: You can't 'goof around like that'". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2020-02-15.
  22. Richardson, Andrew (2019-11-02). "Lee Knocks Gillespie Out With Huge High Kick!". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
  23. Fuentes, Jon (2019-11-03). "UFC 244 Bonuses, Attendance & Gate". LowKickMMA.com. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
  24. Richardson, Andrew (2019-11-02). "Lewis Bloodies Ivanov, Wins Split-Decision". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
  25. Fuentes, Jon (2019-11-03). "UFC 244 Bonuses, Attendance & Gate". LowKickMMA.com. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
  26. Fuentes, Jon (2019-11-03). "UFC 244 Bonuses, Attendance & Gate". LowKickMMA.com. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
  27. "Dana White confirms Nate Diaz-Jorge Masvidal winner will get 'BMF' belt". MMA Junkie. 2019-09-20. Retrieved 2020-02-12.
  28. "Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal Results and News - UFC 244: Masvidal vs. Diaz - MMA Fighting". www.mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2020-02-19.
  29. "UFC 244: Masvidal vs. Diaz". Ultimate Fighting Championship. Retrieved 2019-09-09.
  30. Jon Fuentes (2019-11-03). "UFC 244 Bonuses, Attendance & Gate". lowkickmma.com. Retrieved 2019-11-03.
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