UFC 244
| Company type | Pay-per-view event |
|---|---|
| Industry | Mixed martial arts |
| Founded | November 2, 2019 |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | Global |
| Products | Mixed martial arts event |
UFC 244: Masvidal vs. Diaz was a mixed martial arts pay-per-view spectacle organized by the Ultimate Fighting Championship, taking place on November 2, 2019, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, United States. This event represented the UFC's milestone 500th live show.
Alterations to the card and uncertainty surrounding the main event
The headline fight featured a welterweight clash between Jorge Masvidal and former UFC Lightweight Championship contender Nate Diaz, well-known from The Ultimate Fighter 5. After defeating ex-lightweight champion Anthony Pettis at UFC 241, Diaz proclaimed himself as the "baddest motherfucker in the game" and issued a challenge to Masvidal. Capitalizing on this narrative, the UFC introduced a unique "BMF" (Baddest Motherfucker) title to be awarded to the victor.
Towards the end of October, Diaz revealed he would withdraw due to a failed drug test, casting doubt over the main event. Nevertheless, two days later, the UFC announced Diaz had been exonerated after it was found that the positive result stemmed from contaminated multivitamins containing traces of LGD-4033 (Ligandrol), a prohibited selective androgen receptor modulator.
In addition, middleweight competitor Krzysztof Jotko was originally set to fight Edmen Shahbazyan, but was substituted by Brad Tavares in early October for undisclosed reasons.
Weigh-in details
During the official weigh-ins, former Invicta FC Flyweight Champion Jennifer Maia registered at 127.2 pounds, exceeding the flyweight non-title limit of 126 pounds by 1.2 pounds. The bout continued as a catchweight contest, with Maia penalized 25% of her fight purse, which was granted to her opponent Katlyn Chookagian.
Prior to the ceremonial weigh-ins, the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) announced disciplinary measures against Kelvin Gastelum for making physical contact with another individual on the scale, breaching weigh-in regulations. Despite this infraction, his official weight remained valid and he was allowed to compete at UFC 244.
Monetary penalties
On November 8, NYSAC imposed a $10,000 fine on Corey Anderson due to unsportsmanlike behavior after provoking and pushing the referee during his post-fight celebration. Additionally, Kelvin Gastelum was fined $1,000 for physical contact with his coach Rafael Cordeiro on the scale.
Bonus awards
The following competitors were awarded $50,000 bonuses:
- Fight of the Night: Stephen Thompson vs. Vicente Luque
- Performance of the Night: Kevin Lee and Corey Anderson