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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is just a few days away from its upcoming UFC 244: “Masvidal vs. Diaz” pay-per-view (PPV) event, which takes place TONIGHT (Sat., Nov. 2, 2019) inside Madison Square Garden in New York City — and requires a cheap subscription to ESPN+ to watch (sign up here). Headlining the “Big Apple” fight card is the welterweight showdown between Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz. Marketed as an east coast vs. west coast “gangster” fight, UFC 244 will crown the “Baddest Mother F*cker” in the sport in a special ceremony featuring former WWE superstar Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. In UFC 244’s co-main event, welterweights-turned-middleweights Kelvin Gastelum and Darren Till will collide for a spot in the crowded 185-pound title chase. In addition, striking wunderkind Stephen Thompson returns to action against the venerable Vicente Luque. Fan favorites Derrick Lewis, Johnny Walker, and Andrei Arlovski will also be in action in one of the more stacked line ups of 2019. Be sure to follow along with us right here all night long!
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 244 fight card below, starting with the ESPN+/ESPN2 “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. ET, then the remaining undercard balance on ESPN2 at 8 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
Keep in mind that we will also be the spot for the latest news, recaps, and post-fight analysis following “Masvidal vs. Diaz.” Without further delay, see below for the latest UFC 244 results. (Note: This will go from the bottom up; therefore, scroll toward the bottom for the latest detailed round-by-round action.)
UFC 244 QUICK RESULTS:
Jorge Masvidal vs. Nate Diaz — Masvidal def. Diaz by TKO (cut) at 5:00 of Round Three
Kelvin Gastelum vs. Darren Till — Till def. Gastelum by split decision (27-30, 29-28, 30-27)
Vicente Luque vs. Stephen Thompson — Thompson def. Luque by unanimous decision (30-26 x2, 29-27)
Blagoy Ivanov vs. Derrick Lewis — Lewis def. Ivanov by split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)
Kevin Lee vs. Gregor Gillespie — Lee def. Gillespie by KO (head kick) at 2:47 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS!
Corey Anderson vs. Johnny Walker — Anderson def. Walker by TKO (punches) at 2:07 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS!
Makwan Amirkhani vs. Shane Burgos — Burgos def. Amirkhani by TKO (punches) at 4:32 of Round Three
Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Brad Tavares — Shahbazyan def. Tavares by KO (head kick) at 2:27 of Round One
Andrei Arlovski vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik — Rozenstruik def. Arlovski by KO (punch) at 0:29 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS!
Katlyn Chookagian vs. Jennifer Maia — Chookagian def. Maia by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Lyman Good vs. Chance Rencountre — Good def. Rencountre by TKO (punches) at 2:03 of Round Three — HIGHLIGHTS!
Julio Arce vs. Hakeem Dawodu — Dawodu def. Arce by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
UFC 244 PLAY-BY-PLAY:
170 lbs.: Jorge Masvidal vs. Nate Diaz
Round 1: Diaz advancing, firing 1-2s and a teep. Low kick and knee from Masvidal. Knees and elbows from Jorge and Diaz is hurt! Head kick catches Diaz leaning and sends him to the ground. Masvidal staying patient, dropping some heavy ground-and-pound. Diaz doing a good job of keeping him away with his legs. Two minutes in. Sneaky punches. Diaz trying to kick off of his back. Masvidal forces him back down and lands some punches. He lets Diaz up. Body kick from Masvidal, Diaz catches it. Two minutes to go.
Elbow and knee from Masvidal again before they separate. Diaz is badly cut. Huge two-piece suddenly stings Masvidal, who cracks a smile as he ties up. He shoves Diaz away, fires a combination that’s blocked. Diaz still pressuring. Masvidal taunts him as he retreats. Diaz cracks him with a straight left and they mean mug to end the round. 10-9 Masvidal.
Round 2: Diaz back on the advance. Counter 1-2 from Masvidal. They trade on the fence. Body kick lands for Masvidal. Diaz still marching forward. One minute in. Hard left hook lands for Masvidal. Diaz sending out kicks as he advances, knocked back by a right hand. Overhand right staggers Diaz, who pulls guard after eating a heavy body kick. Masvidal lets him up. Overhand left from Masvidal this time and Diaz puts him on the fence. Masvidal grabs double underhooks, lands a short elbow. Two minutes to go.
Diaz tries to swat him with punches, gets blasted with body shots on the break. Big right hand and knees by Masvidal. He grabs a body lock, slams Diaz down with a minute to go. Some short punches on the turtling Diaz. Great scramble and now Diaz is looking for a heel hook. Masvidal pops free before the bell. 10-9 Masvidal.
Round 3: Trading low kicks to start. Diaz backs him to the fence and tries to open up. Masvidal catches a body kick, can’t use it. Overhand right lands clean for him, then the body kick behind it. 1-2-3 from Diaz, eats another right and an elbow. Masvidal follows up with another body kick. One minute in. Huge 2-3 connects and he ties up. Two-piece on the break. Straight right lands and they trade. Both landing big on the fence. Body kick and 1-2 knock Diaz back two minutes in. Left hook to the body and a right hook appears to ding up Diaz’s eye. Another overhand right. Another body shot. They tie up in the center.
Diaz hauls him to the fence. Masvidal reverses. Diaz trying to swat him from the clinch. He looks for a clinch, can’t get it. One minute to go. He tries a throw/roll, ends up on the bottom in guard. Some slaps and punches off of his back. Masvidal comes back with some heavy blows from the top. 10-9 Masvidal.
The doctors stop it between rounds due to Diaz’s myriad cuts. Oh, well.
Final result: Masvidal def. Diaz by TKO (cut)
185 lbs.: Kelvin Gastelum vs. Darren Till
Round 1: Gastelum on the advance early. They tie up, trade knees. Double unders for Gastelum. They separate. Low kick from Till. They tie up, elbow from Till and Gastelum puts him on the fence. Jockeying for position. Gastelum with the better control so far. They separate with two minutes to go.
Leg kick from Till. Both attack the lead leg, then Till lands a 1-2. One minute to go. Gastelum ties up, lands an elbow before separating. Gastelum fakes a shot, eats an elbow and 1-2. 10-9 Till.
Round 2: Trading leg kicks to start. 1-2 lands for Till. Nice elbows. Gastelum tries to blitz. One minute in. Another Till low kick, then a lead left. Knee from Till after taking a low kick. He grabs double unders, gets reversed on the fence. Elbow from Gastelum, then a finger in the eye. Trading leg kicks again two minutes in. Till ducks a punch and ties up, gets taken to the fence. Gastelum tries to change levels, unable to. Two minutes to go.
Low kicks by Gastelum. Till switching stance, not throwing anything. One minute to go. Till hasn’t thrown a strike in like 90 seconds. There’s an elbow on the break and a 1-2. More Gastelum low kicks. 10-9 Gastelum on activity.
Round 3: Gastelum lands a series of low kicks, eats a left hand after Till catches a body kick. Well-timed shot by Gastelum denied and he eats a 1-2. Till head kick attempt. One minute in. Good left from Gastelum on the break. Double jab. Till lands a spinning elbow and leg kick. Two minutes in. Till catches a body kick, dumps Gastelum down, can’t keep him there. Lead left lands for Gastelum. Till lands a knee with two minutes to go.
Till again dumps Gastelum but can’t establish. Till left to the head, Gastelum left to the body. Till ties up for a moment on the fence. Nice double-leg from Gastelum, can’t keep him down with a minute to go. Elbow by Gastelum. Leg kick and body shot. Till lands a straight left, gets taken down, pops back up. 1-2 from Till. 10-9 Till but he was lackadaisical enough to lose this.
Final result: Till def. Gastelum by split decision
170 lbs.: Vicente Luque vs. Stephen Thompson
Round 1: Luque opens with leg kicks. Thompson answers in kind. Luque right hand falls short. One minute in. Both men keeping up the low kicks. Right hand from Luque, switching stance. Luque doubles up the right, connects with the second. Thompson with a straight left in return. Lead left this time a little over two minutes in. 1-2-body kick. Combinations landing for Thompson. 2-1 by Luque. Luque blitzes, lands some heavy shots. Good body shot, flying knee behind it. Two minutes to go.
Thompson answers a body kick with a straight left. Hard 1-2 lands for him. Luque leg kick, Thompson jab and counters. Clean 1-2 from Thompson. One minute to go. Luque body kick and 2-1. Hard counters by Thompson with his back on the fence. Big counter left in the center. 2-1-body kick. Check right hook. 10-9 Thompson.
Round 2: Side kick from Thompson. Luque looking for body kicks. Counter right comes back at him. Hard left from Thompson answered by a knee. Thompson sharpshooting and not getting his in return. As I say that, Luque cracks him with a right cross a minute in. Luque blitzes, can’t land clean. Thompson answers a low kick with a straight left. Body shot lands for him. Two minutes in. Side kick knocks Luque over, he rolls back to his feet. Luque tries to pressure, gets stunned by a right hand, and stuns Thompson in return. Thompson tries a wheel kick, splits his guard with a straight left. Body kick behind it. Big counter right by Luque. Left hook and right hand knock Thompson back. Spinning back kick by Thompson in return. Two minutes to go.
Counter right from Thompson. Body kick by Luque. Straight left comes back at him. Thompson piecing him up from out of range, lands a heavy combination. He backs Luque to the fence and tees off on him, Luque waving him on and throwing back. Huge Thompson right hand met by a 2-1. 2-1 from Luque again, avoids a wheel kick. Body kick and 1-2 from Thompson, who eats a low kick. 10-9 Thompson.
Round 3: Side kick from Thompson. Jab connects. Luque still trying to walk him down. Body kick and right hand. Thompson continuing to move well, knocks him over again with a side kick. HUGE straight left catches Luque throwing and Thompson looks to pound him out. When the finish isn’t there, he waves Luque up. Body shot and side kick from Thompson. Landing jabs on the outside. Luque’s eyes are not in great shape. Two minutes in. Body kick from Luque. Straight left by Thompson. Landing jabs. Overhand right from Luque, his best shot of the round. Two minutes to go.
Luque pressuring, starting to land a bit. Check hook by Thompson. Hard left and side kick by Thompson. 2-1 has Luque stumbling, head kick glances off. One minute to go. Big 1-2 by Thompson. Thompson opening up on the fence. Spinning back kick connects. Hook kick blocked. Body kick and 1-2 land. Hard straight left. What a performance by Wonderboy. 10-9 Thompson.
Final result: Thompson def. Luque by unanimous decision
265 lbs.: Blagoy Ivanov vs. Derrick Lewis
Round 1: Lewis advancing early, launching kicks. Ivanov flicking out his lead hand. Ivanov catches a body kick, drags Lewis to the mat a minute in. He quickly moves to side control. He looks for an Americana and Lewis explodes to his feet, landing huge punches. He lands a head kick, Ivanov tanks it and throws back. Lewis chances levels and brings him to the mat. Ivanov threatens a guillotine, then stands. Knee lands for him. Two minutes to go.
Lewis still pressing him against the fence. Ivanov looks for another guillotine, eats an elbow. He tries a head-and-arm throw, ducks a right hand. One minute to go. Lewis lands a knee and they slug on the break. Ivanov lands a left hand downstairs. 10-9 Lewis.
Round 2: Low kick lands for Lewis. Ivanov swats him with an overhand left. He steps into the clinch and they jockey for position. Lewis tries a hip toss, settles for putting Ivanov on the fence for a moment. One minute in. Trading low kicks. Lead right by Lewis and he buzzes Ivanov, only to eat some heavy punches in retaliation. Ivanov grabs double unders and takes him down into side control, immediately looking for the americana. Two minutes in. Ivanov cranking on it, loses it. Lewis comes up throwing, cracks Ivanov with a right that opens up a cut. Two minutes to go.
Ivanov steps into the clinch once again. Knee and left hands lands for him. Hard knee and cuffing right hands by Lewis. Ivanov again eats it all. One minute to go. 1-2 from Ivanov. He grabs double underhooks for a moment, lands a knee. Huge hip toss by Ivanov, who wraps up a 10-finger guillotine but runs out of time. 10-9 Lewis.
Round 3: Ivanov slowly advancing, misses a 2-3. One minute in. Ivanov to the body. Lead right by Lewis. Ivanov steps into the clinch. He lands some short punches, tries a throw, can’t get it. Two minutes in. Lewis avoids another trip attempt. 1-2 from Ivanov, then another left after avoiding an uppercut. Two minutes to go.
Lewis lands a knee inside, tries a takedown and gets sprawled on. Ivanov tries a guillotine, then blasts him with a check hook. Lewis tries a knee. One minute to go. Both look for uppercuts inside. Lewis swings big in the waning seconds, lands a knee. 10-9 Ivanov.
Final result: Lewis def. Ivanov by split decision
155 lbs.: Kevin Lee vs. Gregor Gillespie
Round 1: Gillespie tries an early shot, stuffed, eats a jab. More jabs from Lee. Gillespie lands one of his own, gets popped with a right cross. Right from Gillespie in return a minute in. Hard uppercut form Gillespie, then a left hook as he takes jabs. Trading in the center. Lee tries a head kick. Two minutes in. Lee with a right downstairs, eats a couple jabs. Low kick from Gillespie. Both land hard shots. Cross counter from Lee, then a left high kick that catches Gillespie about as perfect as you can catch a man. Gillespie’s out on impact and he falls against the fence, thoroughly Cro Cop’d.
Final result: Lee def. Gillespie by KO (head kick)
205 lbs.: Corey Anderson vs. Johnny Walker
Round 1: Walker showing lots of feints early. Low kick lands for him. Anderson shoots, Walker limp-legs out and reverses on the fence. They separate a minute in. Big overhand right suddenly hurts Walker! Anderson continues to land punches until the Brazilian flls, pounding away from guard. Walker still driving, moving as he eats shot after shot. Walker manages to stand, eats huge uppercuts. His legs are jelly and he’s falling all over the place. Another huge right hand sends the ref into action.
Final result: Anderson def. Walker by TKO (punches)
145 lbs.: Makwan Amirkhani vs. Shane Burgos
Round 1: Amirkhani shoots right away, takes Burgos down into guard and lands something that opens up a cut around Burgos’ left eye. One minute in. Burgos stands, grabbing the fence to do so, Amirkhani still attached. Amirkhani heaves him down, can’t keep him there. Amirkhani constantly dragging him down, Burgos constantly popping up but unable to dislodge him. Burgos looks to sweep and Amirkhani wraps up a Jack Hermansson-style guillotine. Rolling, still crnaking. Tow minutes to go.
Burgos scrambles to his feet and separates. Amirkhani shoots, stuffed, tries to entice Burgos into guard without success. One minute to go. Another failed shot. Right hook lands for Amirkhani. Burgos stalking forward. Two-piece downstairs. Amirkhani tries a knee, eats a right hand. 10-9 Amirkhani.
Round 2: Burgos back on the front foot. Amirkhani shoots, stuffed. Left hand by Amirkhani. Burgos lands a hard uppercut, eats a two-piece a minute in. Another right hand by Burgos as he marches forward. Low kick lands for him. Double right hand on the fence. Burgos taunting a bit, bangs the body. Amirkhani shoots under a right hand and goes hard for the body lock takedown. Two minutes in. Burgos defending with the whizzer. He gets to his feet, still can’t dislodge Amirkhani. Twp minutes to go.
Burgos manages to separate and starts banging th ebody. Amirkhani shoots, sprawled on, takes punches. One minute to go. Amirkhani stuck on his knees beneath the sprawl, eating shots. He pulls guard, eats a huge right hand. Hard ground-and-pound by Burgos. 10-9 Burgos.
Round 3: Burgos continues to stalk, digs a right downstairs. Hard left hand buckles Amirkhani, who tries a desperate shot. Burgos defends, follows him into guard, and starts pounding. One minute in. Burgos waves him up and Amirkhani is extremely slow to rise. He’s completely gassed. Head kick from Burgos. Big right hand, body shot. Amirkhani shoots, sprawled on, eats shots. Burgos waves him up. Amirkhani now swinging two minutes in. He shoots, sprawled on, eats more hammerfists. Browne elbows piling up. Amirkhani stuck on his knees, forced down into side control. Burgos bashing the body from the top. Two minutes to go.
Amirkhani tries to scramble, Burgos waves him up. Amirkhani is totally spent. Amirkhani shoots, not even close. Right hook by Amirkhani, body shots from Burgos. One minute to go. Amirkhani can barely stay upright. Burgos blasts him with right hands until he goes down.
Final result: Burgos def. Amirkhani by TKO (punches)
185 lbs.: Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Brad Tavares
Round 1: Tentative start. Tavares falls short with a 1-1-2, lands a leg kick. Shahbazyan with a right hand downstairs. One minute in. Tavares 1-2 falls short. Shahbazyan catches a body kick, can’t use it. Tavares answers a 2-3 with a combination. Two minutes in. Shahbazyan double jab and he floors Tavares with a brutal right hand. Tavares somehow gets back to his feet, throwing back as Shahbazyan looks for the finish. Shahbazyan backs him to the fence and crushes him with a left high kick for the finish.
Final result: Shahbazyan def. Tavares by KO (head kick)
265 lbs.: Andrei Arlovski vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
Round 1: Low kick from Rozenstruik to start. Trading jabs, Rozenstruik’s knocks Arlovski back. Heavy exchange. Trading low kicks. Arlovski walks directly into a check hook and falls face-first to the mat. It’s over already.
Final result: Rozenstruik def. Arlovski by KO (punch)
125 lbs.: Katlyn Chookagian vs. Jennifer Maia
Round 1: Chookagian at range early, flicking out her jab. Maia falling short so far. 1-2-1 from Chookagian a minute in. Low kick from Maia in return. 1-2 lands for her. Jab exchange. Chookagian looking for counters. Counter left lands. Two minutes in. Side kick to the midsection. Maia 1-2 falls short. Left hook connects. Right cross. They trade lefts. Maia catches a head kick and takes her to the fence. Two minutes to go.
Knees to the thigh from Maia. Chookagian gets an underhook, takes a 1-2 as she separates. Counter uppercut by Chookagian. 1-2 lands. High-low 1-2. Low kick from Maia, who blocks a head kick and takes a side kick upstairs. One minute to go. Three-piece by Chookagian. Head kick blocked. Maia lands a jab, eats an overhand right. Sharp cross from Chookagian, eats a shot in return. 10-9 Chookagian.
Round 2: Maia still busy, trading with Chookagian. Jabs from the taller woman. Maia lands a body kick as she takes a right hand. Maia landing more in the early going, blocks a 1-2-head kick. Hard uppercut by Chookagian met by a 1-2. 1-2 lands for her. Superman punch. Two minutes in. Low kick met by one from Maia. Maia continues to press forward, still falling short with most of her shots. Leg kick lands. Two minutes to go.
Another Maia low kick. Lead right comes back at her. Maia 1-2 answered by a teep. Another 1-2. Chookagian leg kicks. One minute to go. Left hook by Maia, 3-2. Low kick exchange. Hard 1-2 by Chookagian. Side kick connects. She shoots, stuffed, lands a side kick. 10-9 Chookagian.
Round 3: Chookagian still staying out of danger, lands a pair of low kicks. Maia puts her on the fence. One minute in. They return to the center. Low kick, then a body kick by Chookagian. Maia tries a double right, lands an uppercut after eating a right hand. High-low 1-2 from Chookagian. Maia looks for a combo, falls short again. Two minutes in. There’s a combination by Maia. Chookagian to the body. Maia body kick nearly met by a head kick. Two minutes to go.
Maia tries to land in the clinch. 1-2 from Chookagian. Counter left. 1-1-2. Maia left hook into a double-leg, landing on top in half guard. One minute to go. Maia doesn’t get much done on top, has to fight off a leglock at the end. 10-9 Chookagian.
Final result: Chookagian def. Maia by unanimous decision
170 lbs.: Lyman Good vs. Chance Rencountre
Round 1: Good opens with a right hand. Low kicks land for him. One minute in. Both land their power hands. Jabs from good, leg kick connects. Another. Hard right hand. Two minutes in. Rencountre ties up, eats a knee as they separate. Low kick and jab from Good. Rencountre looks for a single-leg, puts him on the fence. Two minutes to go.
They separate. Head kick and some heavy right hands from Good. Rencountre lands a knee, eats a nasty uppercut. One minute to go. More huge punches by Good, landing over and over. Rencountre ties up, forces him backwards. Stiff jab from Good. Head kick. 10-8 Good.
Round 2: Rencountre still advancing. Hard 1-2 from Good. Rencountre tries a flying knee, eats more brutal punches. One minute in. Combination from Good. Counter right. Two minutes in. Left hook by Good. Rencountre has not shot this round. Counter right by Good. Two minutes to go.
Rencountre now lands a combo on the fence. Body shot lands for him. Another. Counter left after eating a jab. One minute to go. Good left hand and body shot from Rencountre. Low kicks from Good. Good with a pair of lead rights, avoids a knee. 10-9 Good.
Round 3: Rencountre lands an early left hand. Winging right hook. Counter right by Good and a body shot. One minute in. Good landing jabs. Counter right. More jabs from Good. BIG right cross splits Rencountre’s guard and “Black Eagle” finally falls to his knees.
Final result: Good def. Rencountre by TKO (punches)
145 lbs.: Julio Arce vs. Hakeem Dawodu
Round 1: Arce southpaw, Dawodu orthodox. Dawodu looking for kicks early. Leg kick lands for him. Head kick attempt. One minute in. Arce still circling, falls short with a 1-1-2. 2-3-body knee by Dawodu into the clinch. Trading body shots inside. Both landing knees two minutes in. They separate. Both flicking jabs, Arce lands a left downstairs and eats a hard leg kick in return. Arce tries a jumping knee and cracks Dawodu with a left. Two minutes to go.
3-2 by Dawodu lands clean. Front kick downstairs. 1-2 from Arce with a minute to go. Dawodu with a leg kick, avoids a clinch. Low kick from Dawodu, backs away from a head kick. Arce tries to jump in, eats a body and leg shot in return. Knees by Dawodu from the Thai plum. 10-9 Dawodu.
Round 2: Dawodu opens with an inside leg kick and they trade lefts. He once again counters a head kick with a low kick and they slug for a second, after which Dawodu takes him to the fence. One minute in. Arce tries to reverse, manages to separate. Dawodu with a front kick downstairs. LLead right by Dawodu, Arce comes back with a left. Clinch knee from Dawodu two minutes in, eats a body kick. Arce lands a jab. Dawodu body kick blocked, left hook lands. Straight right connects as they exchange. Two minutes to go.
Arce hits an outside trip into half guard. Dawodu gives up his back and Arce locks up the body triangle, only for Dawodu to spin into guard. He stands over Arce and kicks at his legs. One minute to go. Arce tries upkicks, goes for a fancy one to stand and eats another low kick. Combo from Dawodu. He catches a kick, lands a leg kick. 10-9 Dawodu.
Round 3: Dawodu leg kick, exchange, clinch knee and he puts Arce on the fence. Trading knees inside. They separate. One minute in. Dawodu lands a body kick, Arce comes back with a punching combo. Arce knee attempt, shrugs off a low blow. 1-2 from Dawodu and they trade body shots in the clinch. Two minutes in. Arce uppercuts, Dawodu knees. They separate after a quick spin. Dawodu 1-2, Arce jab. Dawodu teep downstairs. Arce whiffs on a punch, hauls Dawodu to the fence. Two minutes to go.
Dawodu reverses, fires knees. Right hand after separating. They trade, Dawodu lands a left hook and knee. Both land straights. Arce combo with a minute to go. Arce shoots, denied. Good trade, Arce lands a hard left. Slugging in the center. Arce looks for a trip, denied. 10-9 Dawodu.
Final result: Dawodu def. Arce by split decision