UFC 205: Dana White announces Alvarez v McGregor has already broken Madison Square Garden’s gate record
UFC president Dana White joins pre-game show at the Major League Baseball World Series to announce record-breaking ticket sales ahead of the UFC's blockbuster debut event at Madison Square Garden on November 12
THE is the hottest ticket in town in New York City. In fact it's the hottest ticket in the history of Madison Square Garden.
The iconic venue has played host to a plethora of memorable sporting events down the years, including the classic 'Fight of the Century' between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.
But despite that rich sporting history, the UFC's maiden event has already outstripped at the box office everything that's ever been staged at the famous old venue.
UFC president appeared on FOX Sports' pre-game coverage of the Major League Baseball World Series, and announced had already smashed the Madison Square Garden gate record.
"Obviously our first time going into MSG and it's been such a big deal getting in there, I wanted to make sure that when we went to New York, we delivered," he said.
"Three incredible title fights, plus the rest of the card is packed with ridiculous fights.
"It's the biggest, baddest card we've ever done in the history of the company.
"We've been in all the biggest (and) best arenas all over the world. Madison Square Garden is a big deal.
"All the legendary fights that have been held there - legendary events - we actually broke the gate record for Madison Square Garden. So, so far, so good. I'm excited."
If White's assessment is accurate, the event will attract gate receipts in excess of $13.5million.
That mark was set when Lennox Lewis faced Evander Holyfield at MSG in their controversial first meeting in 1999, when 21.284 fans packed the stands to watch Lewis robbed of the mantle of undisputed heavyweight champion of the world when the fight was adjudged a draw.
The event is headlined by a bout between UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez and the sport's biggest star, UFC featherweight champion .
The ebullient Irishman has been in tough negotiations with the UFC over recent months, but despite admitting the Dubliner drives a hard bargain, White said his relationship with - and respect for - McGregor remains as strong as ever.
"He's a little tough to deal with, but he's worth it," White explained.
"All the other antics and everything aside, Conor McGregor will step up and fight anybody, anywhere, any time.
"I've never been in a situation where somebody pulls out the week before a fight and he literally does not care who he fights. I've never been in that situation."
UFC 205: Fight Card
Eddie Alvarez v Conor McGregor
Tyron Woodley v Stephen Thompson
Joanna Jedrzejczyk v Karolina Kowalkiewicz
Chris Weidman v Yoel Romero
Kelvin Gastelum v Donald Cerrone
Miesha Tate v Raquel Pennington
Frankie Edgar v Jeremy Stephens
Khabib Nurmagomedov v Michael Johnson
Rashad Evans v Tim Kennedy
Vicente Luque v Belal Muhammad
Jim Miller v Thiago Alves
Rafael Natal v Tim Boetsch
Liz Carmouche v Katlyn Chookagian
