The UFC returns to Madison Square Garden on November 2nd for what’s shaping up to be a night of scintillating MMA action. Fans could not be more ready for the UFC to return after the last event took place down under in Australia.
The highlight of that event was the spectacular victory for Israel Adesanya. The critics who said he hasn’t got knockout power fell silent when he turned out the lights for crowd favorite Robert Whittaker in a destructive style. Adesanya claimed his fourth ‘Performance of the Night’ award and was crowned as the undisputed middleweight champion.
Now we turn our attention to the next pay-per-view (PPV) UFC event. Top fights are all over the bill for UFC 244, so much so that it was a struggle to pick the top three. We have a full breakdown of our selection for all you MMA fans out there. It’s looking like a night to remember, so don’t miss out on this one.
Main Event: Jorge Masvidal -175 vs. Nate Diaz +150
34-year-old Masvidal is no stranger to the UFC, and he started his professional MMA career back in 2003. The welterweight holds the accolade of the fastest UFC knockout of all time. The victim on that occasion was Ben Askren, taking a flying knee to the skull resulting in a humiliating knockout after just five seconds.
This battle will not be so straightforward, and Masvidal knows it. The American took a break from the UFC after a crushing defeat to Stephen Thompson in 2017. Masvidal claims this respite, where he joined a reality show with other athletes, made him stronger than ever before.
Masvidal gleaned training tips from other athletes on the show and came back to the UFC with a point to prove. Ben Askren and Darren Till both wish he never had as he knocked out both in devastating fashion. He has 34 career victories to his name.
Fellow American Nate Diaz will face Masvidal in this main event for the BMF belt. They match each other in both age and weight, but Diaz is slightly taller and has a reach advantage of 5 centimeters. He will need to use that to his benefit to take anything out of this spectacle.
Diaz’s last significant UFC fight ended with a victory by unanimous decision. Anthony Pettis could not cope with his intensity, and although he avoided being knocked out, it was never much of a contest. Diaz has won 20 bouts in his career to date.
Masvidal will be a whole new test for Diaz, which is why this main event holds so much intrigue for MMA fans. It could go either way and if both men bring their a-game, we will be in for a treat. Diaz will be hoping he can put in the kind of performance that saw him force Conor McGregor into submission back in 2016 at UFC 196.
Prediction: Masvidal to Win by KO in Round 2
Co-Main: Kelvin Gastelum -164 vs. Darren Till +135
Gastelum returns to the UFC after the sickening experience of missing out on the title fight at UFC 243. It was a case of what might have been after the American lost to Adesanya after a spirited performance in a battle that could have gone either way. The rest is history, and Adesanya went on to fight in Australia as we already know.
Gastelum has made no secret of his admiration for Adesanya, and he will have one eye on a rematch with the champion in the future. Right now, he may be the favorite for this one, but Till is no pushover.
Gastelum has made no secret that he expects to knock Darren Till out in the first round and has fully recovered from the illness that resulted in his last defeat. If he can get inside the superior reach of his opponent, it could be over fast.
Till comes into this one with everything to prove and his future in the UFC on the line. This will be the Englishmen’s debut at middleweight. He needs to put in a performance or risk falling further down the ladder. Last time Till fought, he was smashed out cold by Masvidal in what was an unconvincing performance. The change of weight class may be precisely what Till needs to bounce back.
He has the superior reach, and his record in the UFC speaks for itself. Known as the Gorilla, Till has one less concern in the build-up to this fight. He has often struggled to hit the lower weight targets, and there is no doubt that middleweight suits him better. One thing that is for sure; he has not picked the most straightforward route back to the top.
Prediction: Gastelum to Take the Win by Decision
Corey Anderson +154 vs. Johnny Walker -188
Anderson steps back into the octagon for the first time in 2019, and fans will be hoping he has returned to his best. 2018 was a year of promise for the 30-year-old Brazilian Ju-jitsu expert as he recorded three wins, all by unanimous decision. The jury is out on what we will see from him in this fight.
There is a lot at stake for Anderson and his opponent. The winner of this match expected to get a shot at the title. It won’t be easy for him, and he is at a disadvantage when it comes to reach. Anderson is also a whole five centimeters shorter than his opponent.
Walker comes into this fight with an impressive record. The Brazilian has won all nine of his matches since 2016. As a result, the odds are in his favor for this matchup. He has already knocked out two impressive fighters in 2019, with a victory over Justin Ledet in February, followed up by another knockout win over Misha Cirkunov.
Walker has almost a full eight centimeters in reach over Anderson and will be looking to use it to his advantage. He has so many powerful advantages that this one could be over before it starts. Let’s see if he can make it a ten win streak.
Prediction: Walker Will Win This Match by KO in Round 2
The Verdict
UFC 244 has the potential to be a night of legendary MMA action for all those lucky enough to witness it. The other clashes on the bill make it even more unmissable, so be sure to check those out too.
As always, the odds will change as the event approaches, so keep your eyes peeled. We cannot wait for UFC 244 on November 2nd at Madison Square Garden. Sit back, relax, and tune in.