Fans were all fired up for Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz to meet in the octagon on Saturday night to decide the UFC BMF Championship. Madison Square Garden was ready for a great fight, but fans left the UFC 244 feeling a bit jilted by the end of the fight. Masvidal walked away with the belt but did so after cage-side officials stopped the fight due to an open cut on Diaz’s face. Adding to some of the frustration is the fact that this bout was set the tone a one-time-only affair where the custom championship would only be defended once. Four rounds in and neither fighter had the chance to end this encounter on their terms. In the entire week leading up to this bout, the rivalry between these fighters boiled as both wanted to be known as “the baddest motherf—er in the game.” Now, after the fight, both fighters seemed a bit wanting themselves as each expressed a desire to run it back again for another go after a bit of an anticlimactic finish.
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What a year it has been for Masvidal, as the MMA veteran broke the record for the fastest knockout in UFC history. He destroyed Ben Askren in six seconds with a flying knee right out of the gates back at UFC 239. That impressive moment caught Diaz’s eye and the wheels were already turning. From there, Dana White designed the promotion of the fight around the BMF belt and the bragging rights associated with a one-off title. For his part, Masvidal talked earlier this week about why his road to main-event booking in the UFC has been so long.
“I think it just comes down to we both fight and we’re dogs in that cage, but at the same time, we see the bullsh—, and we don’t play in the bulls—,” Masvidal told the press on a conference call. “You’re not going to tell me jump, or wear a suit, or do this. I’m going to do what the f— I feel like, and when I want to do it. It’s part of the reason it’s taken me so long to get the UFC to truly get behind me.
Masvidal entered the fight as the favorite by Las Vegas oddsmakers, with a line of -160 to Diaz’s +140.
Cover photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images
Diaz is ready for another go
“I’m coming back for your a**.” @NateDiaz209 wants to run it back asap with Masvidal. #UFC244 pic.twitter.com/eS04Zyt9cR
— UFC (@ufc) November 3, 2019
Blood is worse than it looks
Nate Diaz is in the back getting stitched. Once he got back here, I haven’t seen him, but sounds like it looked worse than it may have in the cage. UFC executives I’ve seen are not too upset about it being stopped. Sounds like Nate is though.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) November 3, 2019
A great fight, but a weird finish
Hats off too both fighters.That doc took away masvidals performance,nates heart after endured the storm and our long 3 months of waiting for this great https://t.co/pehEl4pK2C it asap
— MMA LOVER (@MMALOVER8) November 3, 2019
Even The Rock didn’t know how to feel TBH
Bruh, you know someone’s fucking up when even @TheRock is disappointed @ufc #BMFBelt
— KBDS (@KsBirdDogSeries) November 3, 2019
HE BLEEDS!
NATE bleeds.
— Theo Rossi (@Theorossi) November 3, 2019
That’s what he does!!
He’s also a marathon runner and fighter.
So while others are slowing, he’s gettin’ it moving for the long haul.
Disappointing finish but GREAT night of fights regardless.@UFC#UFC244
🙏🏽👑
Houston Rockets Superstar James Harden wants a REMATCH
Rematch ASAP! #UFC
— James Harden (@JHarden13) November 3, 2019
This fan got some EXCLUSIVE footage
Unseen footage of the UFC Doctor examining Diaz after round 3. #UFC244 pic.twitter.com/fnpdnabTRu
— Luke Bingham (@TheLukeBingham) November 3, 2019
The better man won if we’re keeping it real
In all Honesty, those 3 rounds belonged to @GamebredFighter so not an entirely undeserved win but we have to wonder what would have happened in the championship rounds. But still, I call #bullshit @UFCNews #ufc @ufc
— Jean Rosseau (@UFCNOISES) November 3, 2019
RUN IT BACK
@ufc @NateDiaz209 @GamebredFighter BMF currently stands for #BadMedicalFinish you better #RunItBack for us fans
— Richard Prevost (@RichardPrevost9) November 3, 2019
