UFC 244 live results: Jorge Masvidal vs. Nate Diaz

Welcome to F4WOnline.com’s live coverage of UFC 244: Masvidal vs. Diaz, emanating from Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.

The Octagon heads to the World’s Most Famous Arena with what is arguably the biggest fight of the year in the main event as well as a stacked undercard in one of the deepest events of the year.

Jorge Masvidal takes on Nate Diaz to crown the one and only BMF champion in the headline bout in what has become one of the most anticipated fights in UFC history. Masvidal is coming off arguably the greatest knockout in UFC history, the five-second flying knee knockout of Ben Askren, in July, while Diaz is coming off a win over Anthony Pettis in his first fight in three years in August.

Both men asked for the fight. It was the fight the fans wanted, and it was quickly put together to headline this show.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will present the BMF title to the winner of the main event.

In the co-main event, Kelvin Gastelum looks to get back into title contention as he welcomes Darren Till to the middleweight division. Also on the stacked main card is a welterweight bout between Stephen Thompson and Vicente Luque, a heavyweight bout that sees Derrick Lewis taking on Blagoy Ivanov, and a lightweight bout as Kevin Lee looks to hand Gregor Gillespie his first career loss.

The stacked preliminary card is capped off by a light heavyweight bout as Corey Anderson takes on exciting Johnny Walker in a potential title eliminator bout. Also on the prelims is a featherweight bout between Shane Burgos and Makwan Amirkhani, a middleweight bout between Brad Tavares and the undefeated Edmen Shahbazyan, as well as a possible title eliminator in the women’s flyweight division between Katlyn Chookagian and Jennifer Maia.

Follow along with our live coverage of the event beginning at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time with preliminary action all the way through the main card.

We are looking for your thoughts on tonight’s event, so send a thumbs up, a thumbs down or a thumbs in the middle along with a best fight and a worst fight to Dave at dave@wrestlingobserver.com.

ESPN+/UFC FIGHT PASS PRELIMS | 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT

> Julio Arce (16-3, 3-1 UFC) vs. Hakeem Dawodu (10-1-1, 3-1 UFC)
Featherweights

Dawodu looking for high kicks early. He lands a hard leg kick and then a high kick that almost landed clean on the chin. Dawodu with a combo as they get in a clinch. They broke after not a lot of action. Arce just misses a left hand and Dawodu counters with a leg kick. Arce lands a hard left hand. Dawodu with a body kick and then a front kick to the body. Arce with a straight left hand. Dawodu with a hard inside leg kick. They trade knees in a clinch at the end. 10-9 Dawodu.

They trade punches to start the second. They clinch and trade knees and Dawodu pushes Arce against the fence. They break the clinch back to the center. Dawodu with some body kicks. Arce with the jab and Dawodu lands a hard body kick. Arce with a trip takedown into the half-guard. Arce with some elbows to the body. Dawodu gives up his back and Arce looking for a rear-naked choke. Dawodu able to reverse into the guard of Arce and then stands. Arce tries some upkicks and then stands and they trade late. Close round. 10-9 Arce, 19-19.

They trade to start the third and go into a clinch. They break and Dawodu with a body kick. They trade and Arce with a right hand before they clinch. Arce with some uppercuts with his back against the fence. They break. Dawodu with a right hand. Dawodu with a front kick to the body. They clinch and Arce pushes Dawodu against the fence. They break. They trade in close range and Dawodu lands a knee but Arce lands a counter left and Dawodu responds with a right hand. Jab then a body shot by Arce. They trade in close and Dawodu lands a little more. They are slugging away inside the pocket and both are getting tagged. Really good fight. 10-9 Dawodu, 29-28 Dawodu.

Official Result- Hakeem Dawodu def. Julio Arce by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

> Lyman Good (20-5 1 NC, 2-2 UFC) vs. Chance Rencountre (14-3, 2-1 UFC)
Welterweights

Good lands a right hand right away. Good with some inside leg kicks. Good lands some good punches. Rencountre with a left hand. Good with an inside leg kick followed by a right hand. Good with some punches as they clinch but they break and Good lands a right hand followed by a jab and a hard leg kick. Rencountre attempts a takedown but Good defends as they clinch against the fence. Good lands some right hands that stun Rencountre. Good with some hard right hands and then left hands and Good with a hard combination. Rencountre was rocked there and they clinch. Good with a body kick. 10-9 Good.

Good with a leg kick. Rencountre tries a flying knee but Good counters with a right hand and then a combo. They trade and Good lands a good right hand. Rencountre with a left hand. Good with a right hand. Good with the jab. They trade punches. Rencountre with a combo. Good breathing with his mouth open. Rencountre with a left hand to the body. Rencountre with a few good punches. Good with a right hand. 10-9 Good, 20-18 Good.

They trade to start the third as Good has slowed down just a little. Good lands a hard right hand. Rencountre circling around and is bleeding from his nose. Good with a high kick and then knocks Rencountre down with a right hand and finishes it off. Good with the knockout and he looked good here.

Official Result- Lyman Good def. Chance Rencountre by TKO (punches) at 2:03 of Round 3

> Katlyn Chookagian (#1, 12-2, 5-2 UFC) vs. Jennifer Maia (#5, 17-5-1, 2-1 UFC)
Women’s Flyweights* (Maia missed weight by 1.2 pounds)

Chookagian with a left hand. They trade leg kicks. Maia with a body kick and then a right hand. Maia with a right hand. Chookagian with a left hand and Maia lands a jab and a right hand. Chookagian with a side kick to the body. Chookagian with a combo. Maia lands a left hand. Maia with a right hand. Chookagian with a left hand. They clinch for a moment and Maia lands a right hand as they break. Maia with a leg kick. Chookagian with a side kick. Chookagian with a high kick. They trade late. 10-9 Chookagian.

They trade to start the second. Maia with a right hand. Chookagian with a high kick. They are trading and Chookagian with a head kick. They are trading and Chookagian with a leg kick and then another. Chookagian with a jab. They trade and Maia lands a clean right hand. Maia with a right hand as Chookagian landed an uppercut. Chookagian with a combo and a side kick. 10-9 Chookagian, 20-18 Chookagian.

Chookagian with a leg kick. Maia coming forward and clinches against the fence. They break and both are throwing punches outside the pocket but not much is landing. Maia with a right hand. Maia with a left hand followed by a body kick. Maia with a combo as Chookagian retreats. Chookagian with a right hand. Maia with a combo. Maia comes in and scores a takedown and is in the half-guard. Maia landing from the top but not trying to finish it which is what she needed. 10-9 Maia, 29-28 Chookagian.

Official Result- Katlyn Chookagian def. Jennifer Maia by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

ESPN2 PRELIMS | 8 PM ET/5 PM PT

> Andrei Arlovski (28-18 2 NC, 17-12 1 NC UFC) vs. Jair Rozenstruik (8-0, 2-0 UFC)
Heavyweights

Rozenstruik landing big punches early. They trade leg kicks. Arlovski rushes in and Rozenstruik knocks him out with a left hand as he was rushing in. Big win for Rozenstruik as he remains undefeated.

Official Result- Jair Rozenstruik def. Andrei Arlovski by knockout (punch) at :29 of Round 1

> Brad Tavares (#11, 17-5, 12-5 UFC) vs. Edmen Shahbazyan (#13, 10-0, 3-0 UFC)
Middleweights

They trade early. Tavares tries a body kick but Shahbazyan grabs it though he lets go. They trade punches. Tavares with a leg kick. Shahbazyan drops Tavares with a right hand but Tavares gets back up and is still in trouble. Shahbazyan with a high kick and lands punches. He then drops Tavares with a head kick and this fight is over. What a performance by Shahbazyan as he stays undefeated.

Official Result- Edmen Shahbazyan def. Brad Tavares by knockout (head kick) at 2:27 of Round 1

> Shane Burgos (#12, 12-1, 5-1 UFC) vs. Makwan Amirkhani (15-3, 5-1 UFC)
Featherweights

Amirkhani with a right hand and they clinch and he trips Burgos down to the ground. Amirkhani in the guard of Burgos. Amirkhani with some left hands from the top. They get to their feet and Amirkhani has the back. Amirkhani gets another brief takedown. They continue to roll around as Amirkhani has the back. Amirkhani switches to an arm-in guillotine but it doesn’t look tight. He looks to get it in better as Burgos tries to escape and he does as they get to their feet. Amirkhani tries a takedown but Burgos defends. Burgos with a right hand. Amirkhani lands a combo. Burgos with a late right hand. 10-9 Amirkhani.

Amirkhani lands a snap jab to start the second but fails on a takedown attempt. Burgos with a right hand and Amirkhani lands a counter left. Burgos with a leg kick. Amirkhani gets the body lock and they fall to the mat. They get up and Amirkhani still has the body. Burgos with an open ear slap. They scramble to the mat but get up. They break. Burgos with a right hand to the body. Amirkhani is definitely tired. Burgos with a combo. Amirkhani shoots for a takedown but Burgos defends. Burgos with body punches in the sprawl position. Burgos with a hammerfist as he goes into the guard of Amirkhani. Big end to the round for Burgos. 10-9 Burgos, 19-19.

Amirkhani tries a flying knee and lands a left hand. Burgos hurts him with a right hand and Amirkhani falls to the ground and Burgos gets in his guard. Burgos lands big punches from the top. He is trying to finish as he continues to land and stands up. The ref orders Amirkhani to his feet and he has trouble standing. Burgos with a head kick. Burgos with a right hand. Amirkhani tries to grab a leg and Burgos defends and lands punches. They get up. Amirkhani goes for the single leg and Burgos is punching and elbowing him in the head. Amirkhani slumps to the ground as he is holding onto the leg. Burgos gets side control. Burgos with hammerfists to the body. Burgos with lots of punches from the top. They stand. Burgos with more body punches and a high kick. Burgos with a body punch and drops Amirkhani with a right hand and it is stopped. This was such a beating by Burgos in the third.

Official Result- Shane Burgos def. Makwan Amirkhani by TKO (punches) at 4:32 of Round 3

> Corey Anderson (#7, 12-4, 9-4 UFC) vs. Johnny Walker (#11, 17-3, 3-0 UFC)
Light Heavyweights

Walker with a leg kick. Anderson tries a takedown but Walker defends. They break. Anderson with a right hand and Walker is in trouble. Anderson gets the back and is landing. Anderson gets a takedown but Walker gets to his feet. They break and Anderson landing punches and then a right hand finishes it standing. The referee stopped it and Walker was in trouble on the feet. Anderson then did a lot of trash talking towards Walker after the fight.

Official Result- Corey Anderson def. Johnny Walker by TKO (punches) at 2:07 of Round 1

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> Kevin Lee (#10, 17-5, 10-5 UFC) vs. Gregor Gillespie (#11, 13-0, 6-0 UFC)
Lightweights

Gillespie with a right hand. Both throwing punches. Lee lands a big right hand. Gillespie responds with a right hand. Lee with the jab. Lee lands a right hand. They trade jabs. They trade inside the pocket. They trade in close. Lee with a head kick on Gillespie and he goes out cold. Oh my what a knockout. That was vicious.

Official Result- Kevin Lee def. Gregor Gillespie by knockout (head kick) at 2:47 of Round 1

> Derrick Lewis (#5, 21-7 1 NC, 12-5 UFC) vs. Blagoy Ivanov (#8, 18-2 1 NC, 2-1 UFC)
Heavyweights

Lewis misses a kick. Lewis with a body kick and Ivanov grabs the leg and pushes Lewis to the ground. Ivanov gets to side control. Lewis explodes out from the bottom and starts unloading punches. Ivanov lands a head kick and Lewis throwing punches and they clinch. Lewis gets a takedown and Ivanov has the neck and they get to their feet. Ivanov with a knee in the clinch. Lewis with a big elbow. Lewis lands some big punches as they break. Not much happens at the end. 10-9 Lewis.

Lewis with a leg kick. Ivanov lands a left hand. They clinch and Lewis just misses an uppercut on the break. Ivanov with a leg kick. Lewis with a leg kick. They trade in close and Lewis lands some big punches and Ivanov is wobbly. They trade big punches in close range and then clinch and Ivanov with a trip takedown. Ivanov looking for a kimura and turning it into a keylock. Lewis explodes to his feet and lands some big punches and Ivanov is retreating. Ivanov cut open. They clinch and Ivanov with an uppercut. Lewis with a big knee and then an uppercut and a huge right hand. Ivanov has an incredible chin. Ivanov with a combo. Ivanov with a judo takedown late. 10-9 Lewis, 20-18 Lewis.

Lewis with a punch as the pace has really slowed to start the third. Ivanov comes in with some punches that miss and they clinch. They remain clinched. Ivanov tries a trip and Lewis escapes. Ivanov with a left hand and Lewis misses a loaded uppercut. They clinch and Lewis with a knee. Lewis tries a takedown but Ivanov defends and grabs the neck but Lewis gets up and lands a big uppercut. They clinch again. They remain tied up against the fence battling for position. They break. Lewis lands a flurry of punches late. Entertaining fight. 10-9 Ivanov, 29-28 Lewis.

Official Result- Derrick Lewis def. Blagoy Ivanov by split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)

> Stephen Thompson (#9, 14-4-1, 9-4-1 UFC) vs. Vicente Luque (#14, 17-6-1, 10-2 UFC)
Welterweights

Luque with some leg kicks right away and Thompson returns fire with his own leg kicks. Both miss on punch attempts. Thompson with a side kick to the body followed by a leg kick. Luque with a right hand and Thompson counters with a left hand and then a jab. Thompson with a body kick. They trade kicks. Thompson with a right hand. Luque with a combo. Luque with some left hooks and catches Thompson with a right hand. Thompson with a right hand. They trade and Luque with a body kick. They trade inside the pocket. Thompson with a left hand. They trade late. 10-9 Luque.

Thompson with a body kick. Luque with a body kick. Thompson explodes with a combo. Thompson pops the jab. Thompson with a left hand. Luque rushes in with some punches and Thompson lands nice counters. Thompson with a straight left hand. Thompson with a combo and then a left hand to the body. Thompson knocks Luque down with a kick. Luque gets up and they exchange in close range and both hurt each other. Thompson with a wheel kick. Luque with a right hand. Thompson with a spin kick to the body. Thompson with a left hand and a side kick. Thompson with a combo and he has Luque hurt against the fence. Luque fires back with a left hook. Thompson with a right hand. Thompson with a wheel kick. They trade kicks and Thompson with a right hand. 10-9 Thompson, 19-19.

Luque with a body kick. Thompson with a left hand. Thompson with a side kick to the body and Luque falls down. Thompson with a left hand drops Luque and now Thompson trying to finish but he lets Luque up. Thompson with a high kick. Thompson just unloading with all sorts of punches and kicks. Luque’s left eye is a mess. They trade and Luque lands two good punches. Luque with a left hand. They trade right hands. Thompson stuns Luque with a combo and lands a high kick. Thompson with a combo and unloads with more punches. Thompson with some good punches late. Thompson looked fantastic in the last two rounds. 10-8 Thompson, 29-27 Thompson.

Official Result- Stephen Thompson def. Vicente Luque by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 29-27)

> Kelvin Gastelum (#4, 15-4 1 NC, 10-4 1 NC UFC) vs. Darren Till (#10 WW, 17-2-1, 5-2-1 UFC)
Middleweights

They clinch right away. Till breaks away. Till with a leg kick. They clinch again and Till with an elbow as Gastelum pushes him against the fence. They remain pressed against the fence. Gastelum with some knees. They break free. Till with a leg kick. They trade inside leg kicks. Till with a leg kick. Till with a leg kick. Not a lot of action going on here. Till with an elbow and a left hand. 10-9 Till.

Gastelum with a leg kick and Till responds with his own leg kick. Till with a combo. Till lands some punches. Till with another leg kick and follows it with a left hand. They clinch and Gastelum with an elbow on the break and then he pokes Till in the eye. Till gets back in right away. They trade leg kicks. They clinch and Gastelum pushes Till against the fence. They break. The crowd boos the lack of action. Gastelum with a leg kick. Gastelum tries a takedown but Till defends and then lands a left hand. 10-9 Till, 20-18 Till.

Gastelum with some early leg kicks. Gastelum tries a body kick but Till catches the leg and lands a hard left hand. Gastelum grabs the body for a takedown but Till defends and they go to the fence but break. Till with a hard left hand. Gastelum with a left hand. Till with a spinning elbow and he attacks the legs with kicks again. Gastelum with a body kick and Till grabs it and pushes Gastelum down but they get up. Gastelum just misses a right hand. Till tries a takedown but Gastelum defends. Gastelum with a body punch. Gastelum with a takedown but Till gets right back up. Gastelum lands a left hand. Gastelum with a leg kick followed by a left hand. Gastelum with a takedown but they get right up and Till lands a combo. 10-9 Gastelum, 29-28 Till.

Official Result- Darren Till def. Kelvin Gastelum by split decision (27-30, 29-28, 30-27)

> Jorge Masvidal (#3, 34-13, 11-6 UFC) vs. Nate Diaz (#7, 20-11, 15-9 UFC)
Welterweights

Diaz lands a left hand. Masvidal with a body kick and they clinch. Masvidal breaks and lands a flurry with a head kick that drops Diaz. Masvidal cut Diaz with an elbow. Masvidal with big punches from the top looking to finish. Masvidal not wanting in the guard of Diaz and its allowing Diaz to recover. Diaz with an upkick to the body. Masvidal goes to the top and lands some punches. Masvidal with a body kick and Diaz grabs the leg. Masvidal with an elbow in the clinch and they break. Diaz with a combo that stuns Masvidal and they clinch. Masvidal with short punches and they break and Masvidal with a combo. Diaz with a big left hand late. 10-9 Masvidal.

Diaz comes forward to start round two. Diaz with a left hand. They both throw wild punches. Diaz with a leg kick. Masvidal with a body kick. Masvidal with the jab. Diaz with a combo. Masvidal with a body kick. Masvidal with a right hand. Masvidal with a huge right hand and then a body kick hurts Diaz. Diaz goes to the mat and Masvidal with a body punch and then lets Diaz up. Masvidal with a left hand and they clinch. They break and Masvidal lands a combo and they clinch again. Masvidal with some hard body punches as they break. Masvidal with a right hand followed by a knee and they clinch. Masvidal with a takedown and has the back and lands some punches. Diaz rolls and they scramble and Masvidal on top and Diaz has the leg but time runs out. 10-9 Masvidal, 20-18 Masvidal.

They trade to start the third. Diaz applying pressure. Masvidal with a hard right hand and then a body kick. Diaz with a nice left hand. Masvidal with a nasty body kick. They clinch as Masvidal pushes Diaz against the fence. Masvidal with a right hand. Diaz now landing punches. Masvidal with a body kick followed by a right hand. Masvidal with a right hand. They clinch and Diaz pushes Masvidal against the fence. Diaz tries a trip but Masvidal defends and is on top and lands some punches. Diaz with punches from the bottom and some slaps. Masvidal with some big elbows and punches at the end. 10-9 Masvidal, 30-27 Masvidal.

The doctor stopped the fight after the third round due to the cut by Diaz’ eye. This was an absolutely horrible stoppage. The crowd was not happy. Masvidal, Diaz and Dana White also weren’t happy. Diaz wasn’t even bleeding in between rounds and there have been way worse cuts that haven’t been stopped.

Official Result- Jorge Masvidal def. Nate Diaz by TKO (doctor stoppage- cut) at 5:00 of Round 3