UFC 244: Jorge Masvidal beats Nate Diaz for ‘BMF’ title as doctor stops fight

The “BMF” title fight between Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz was living up to all the hype. Then the doctor stepped in.

There was an anticlimactic feeling in the air at Madison Square Garden, as loud chants of “b******” rang out among the capacity crowd. After three thrilling rounds of violence, they were expecting some championship rounds, but it wasn’t to be.

Before the fourth round could start, the cageside doctor examined a huge cut above Diaz’s eye, which Masvidal had opened up early in the fight with a huge kick. Diaz repeatedly said he was good to go, but it was out of his hands.

“For a fact, I told Nate right now, I swear I’m gonna run it back, man,” Masvidal told Joe Rogan in the Octagon. “He gave me love, I’m gonna give it right back.”

There was a subdued feeling as Hollywood icon Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson wrapped the BMF belt around Masvidal’s waist. Nobody had wanted this fight – which Masvidal and Diaz willed into existence – to end like this.

“I don’t like to leave the ring like this with my opponent conscious, there’s only one way to do it and that’s baptise them,” Masvidal said.

“We gave you three good rounds, don’t be booing me. We’re gonna run it back, so don’t worry about it. It’s gonna happen again.”

There was plenty of pomp, with Johnson getting his own ring walk before the fight with his old WWE entrance music, carrying the custom belt over his shoulder.

Even US President Donald Trump was in the house for the most anticipated card of the year.

“I didn’t think they were gonna stop it, I was getting ready to get started,” Diaz said. “Especially today, I had a little bit of an issue so I couldn’t run as much as I usually do.

“So I wasn’t gonna really push until round four. My game plan was gonna kick in. But he got the job done, so congratulations to Jorge. But I’m coming back for your a** [expletive].”

A fight of the year contender had been brewing. Masvidal teased the flying knee out of the gate that did for Ben Askren in five seconds in July, and both men laughed.

Masvidal then dropped Diaz early with that nasty leg kick to the head that opened him up badly above and under his right eye. Diaz tried to bait him in on the ground but Masvidal eventually let him stand back up.

“Gamebred” was grinning maniacally after being rocked by Diaz in turn. He staggered the Stockton native with a huge, precise right hand to the face in the second round, and wisely allowed him back up again, showing respect for Diaz’s deadly ground game.

Masvidal then hurt Diaz with some big shots to the body, though Diaz had Masvidal in trouble with a heel hook attempt late in the round before the buzzer came.

The two traded big shots in the third round, with Masvidal landing brutal shots that would fell most other fighters. But Diaz is as durable as they come. Sadly he wasn’t able to prove it in the championship rounds.

“The only strategy was to take him out,” Masvidal said. “Nate’s a f****** dog. I was hyped and ready to go in the fourth round, I could see it in his eyes too. I’m not the doctor so don’t be booing me. I came here to fight.”