Why TUF 24 Finale's Jorge Masvidal didn't care that Jake Ellenberger's toe was stuck in cage

LAS VEGAS – When it comes to an opportunity that could open the door for a victory, Jorge Masvidal’s philosophy is simple: “Shoot first. Ask questions later.”

That willingness to pull the trigger left Masvidal (31-11 MMA, 8-4 UFC) with a victory despite a bizarre ending to his bout with Jake Ellenberger (31-12 MMA, 10-8 UFC).

The veteran welterweights were part of Saturday’s FS1-televised main card of The Ultimate Fighter 24 Finale, which took place at The Pearl at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. They were two of the bigger and better-known names on the card, but their bout ended with an odd sequence of events.

Masvidal was clearly ahead in the fight, and he had Ellenberger in trouble on multiple occasions with his effective and relentless and striking game. However, in the final minute of the first round, Ellenberger charged after Masvidal with a sort of leaping knee. However, as he hit the cage, his big toe got stuck in the fence near the canvas. Masvidal teed off as Ellenberger tried to pry his foot free.

Here are the highlights (via YouTube):

Referee Herb Dean initially called for a timeout, but after learning the turn of events wouldn’t qualify as a cage malfunction, he was forced to declare it a TKO stoppage.

Despite the dubious nature of the ending, Masvidal said it doesn’t take away from the win. For all he knew, he said, Ellenberger injured himself while trying to connect on the knee.

“It is what it is,” he said. “You were going for a technique, and had I not (avoided it), your technique could have put me out of commission.”

Did he think it was simply a timeout, though?

“How could you – if that would’ve been a timeout, that would have been the weirdest thing ever,” he said. “I’m about to kill you. How are you going to just call timeout? That’s weird, you know?”

Although the commission may consider overturning the victory, Masvidal said it was still a dominant performance and that he was on his way to finishing Ellenberger anyway. Still, he walked back some pre-fight trash-talk in which he questioned Ellenberger’s heart.

“He’s always had my respect,” Masvidal said. “I’ve got to talk a little (expletive) to get in his head, but he’s a tough dude. It’s not that he doesn’t have heart. It’s just I know when it comes to me, I’m going to eat him alive. I’ve got three times the heart he’s got – or anybody in this division.”

For more on The Ultimate Fighter 24 Finale, check out the UFC Events section of the site.