Conor McGregor once again made history in the UFC. He’s already set records for attendance and pay-per-views buys all across the globe with the company but on Saturday night at UFC 205, he made a new record.
The pay-per-view was already historic being the first UFC event held in New York at the legendary Madison Square Garden and the card was stacked. Three title fights and seven current or former UFC champions littered the largest fight card in UFC history.
But the main event was the one everyone had their eyes on. Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez. The lightweight champion in Alvarez versus the featherweight champion in McGregor with Alvarez’s lightweight title on the line. Conor exuded confidence as always in the buildup towards the fight but he took it a step further earlier in the week. He entered the UFC 205 pre-fight press conference in an all-white mink and grabbed Eddie Alvarez’s belt, something Eddie didn’t take too lightly.
But on Saturday night it was time to fight and early on, things were against Alvarez. McGregor entered the octagon to a sea of cheers as 50 Cent’s hit ‘I Get Money’ played over the Garden’s sound system. Conor couldn’t have picked a better song to walk out to as 50 rapped ‘I Get Money’ and ‘I Run New York’ and his words echoed throughout the arena.
Looking to make history, @TheNotoriousMMA makes the walk to Octagon! #UFC205 https://t.co/0UfUNOeTXg
— #UFC205 (@ufc) November 13, 2016
In a stark contrast, Alvarez came out to ‘Victory’, a song performed by another New York hip-hop legend the Notorious B.I.G. and featured his longtime partner P. Diddy but the Philadelphia native was welcomed with a sea of boos. As Alvarez walked out, it was hard not to note that he was coming to fight ‘The Notorious’ Conor McGregor as he rapped the classic ‘Notorious’ B.I.G.’ song.
Enter the UFC lightweight champion of the world! @EAlvarezfight #UFC205 https://t.co/ThB0pBVm7Q
— #UFC205 (@ufc) November 13, 2016
As quickly as the entrances happened, the fight was turned in the favor of McGregor. Conor came out striking, knocking down the champ three times in the first round, the first time that happened without a knockout in nearly a decade. The only man to ever survive being knocked down three times in one round is Frankie Edgar who did it almost five years ago against Gray Maynard.
OHHHHHHHHH the #CelticCross lands and drops Alvarez!!! #UFC205 #UFCNYC https://t.co/L43rTtgAOd
— #UFC205 (@ufc) November 13, 2016
It was all downhill from there for the lightweight champ. McGregor came into the second round with a similar strategy and just took advantage of the champion. A devastating four-punch combo featuring a mix of lefts and rights ended things and the bout was waved off. McGregor was declared the winner via knockout at 3:04 point in the second round and was crowned the first ever dual reign champion in UFC history. He had a special apology afterward.
OHHHHHHHHH the #CelticCross lands and drops Alvarez!!! #UFC205 #UFCNYC https://t.co/L43rTtgAOd
— #UFC205 (@ufc) November 13, 2016
While Hall of Fame UFC fighters B.J. Penn and Randy Couture each won titles in two different weight classes, neither fighter held two belts simultaneously. McGregor is the first to do so. McGregor (21-3) now has 18 career knockouts and has won 17 of his past 18 fights with that lone loss coming at the hands of Nate Diaz. Alvarez dropped to 28-5 and had a three-fight win streak snapped.
A night that was historic given the magnitude of MSG lived up to the bill for Conor. Rocky Marciano vs. Joe Louis, Joe Frazier vs. Muhammad Ali, and now McGregor defeating Alvarez to be the first UFC champion in two weight classes joins that list of memorable MSG big fight moments.
