The main event match of UFC 244 proved to be every bit exciting as it was billed as Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz -- two of the toughest men in the UFC -- finally met in the Octagon on Saturday in Madison Square Garden. On one side, it was Masvidal, a Miami-native riding two straight brutal KO finishes. On the other, it was Nate Diaz, a "west cost gangster" who returned to the Octagon last August in a win over Anthony Pettis after a three year hiatus.
Masvidal came out look sharper, faster, and stronger than Diaz. After landing a pair of short elbows that cut the right eye of Diaz, he dropped him with a powerful kick. With Diaz on his back, Masvidal picked his shots carefully before allowing Diaz to rise to his feet.
The second round was more of the same, with both fighters trading punches and neither backing down. Diaz continued to attack, but Diaz seemed to land cleaner, more powerful shots. He once again knocked Diaz down with but it was only for a moment.
With cuts above and below his right eye, Diaz found a little more success in his trades with Masvidal in the third round. However, Masvidal continued to land clean counters that did damage. Diaz went for an ill-advised roll late in the third, landing on his back, which allowed Masvidal to land some big shots to close the round.
In a five-round fight, rounds four and five are typically considered the "championship rounds" because that is where the true champions find the will power to continue to fight for 10 more minutes. Anyone who has seen Nate Diaz fight knows he tends to wear down opponents and excels in these rounds.
Unfortunately, the fight didn't get that far. Prior to the start of the fourth round, the doctor waived off the bout after examining the cut above Diaz's right eye. It was a lackluster, disappointing finish to an entertaining fight that drew boos from the crowd. However, the controversial doctor's stoppage doesn't take anything away from what Masvidal accomplished in the Octagon at UFC 244, picking apart Nate Diaz soundly.
Now that he has claimed the BMF title, Masvidal will look to fight for the welterweight title in the near future. That said, he also didn't appreciate the way the UFC 244 main event ended and promised to run it back with Diaz at some point in the future.