A historic day is to come for the UFC, and the MMA community as a whole, as on November 12th 2016, as the first-ever UFC event will take place in New York at Madison Square Garden. UFC President Dana White has stated that the event has already broken the gate record for Madison Square Garden, set by Lennox Lewis vs Evander Holyfield in 1999 which made a gate number of $13.5 million from a sell-out crowd of 21,284.
There was until recently a ban on Professional Mixed Martial Arts events in New York (UFC 7 being the only event that has taken place in the state, in September 1993 in Buffalo).
However, heading into this event, it's clear that one man has overshadowed the majority of the intinal build-up: Conor McGregor. In his quest to make UFC history by coming the first man to hold two titles in two different weight divisions simultaneously, 'The Notorious' has been as vocal and charismatic as he's ever been but in this article, my focus is to look at UFC 205 fight-by-fight and give my thoughts on how this historic night will go down.
DISCLAIMER: This article is for the Main Card ONLY. (C) indicates current Champion.
Miesha Tate vs Raquel Pennington (Women's Bantamweight)
Coming off the back of her first-round UFC 200 loss to Amanda Nunes, in which she lost the UFC Bantamweight Championship, Miesha Tate (18-6) will be looking to bounce back against Raquel Pennington in the first fight of the PPV.
Tate will need to win this fight in order to re-establish herself among the top Women in the UFC as the return of Ronda Rousey at UFC 207 against Amanda Nunes will take the spotlight off Tate's potential return as the standout contender for the belt she lost.
As for Pennington (8-5), she will similarly be looking to boost her chances of a tile shot after a three fight win streak, including a decision win at UFC 202 over Elizabeth Phillips.
With a convincing win over Tate, Pennington could shock the division and put the pressure on Dana White to make sure the challenger for the aftermath of Rousey vs Nunes.
PREDICTION: Tate wins via Majority Decision.
Kelvin Gastelum vs Donald Cerrone (Welterweight)
Gastelum (12-2) comes into this fight against Donald Cerrone (31-7) as a replacement for Robbie Lawler. Lawler was originally announced for the welterweight bout against Cerrone but pulled out due to wanting to take more time off after losing the Welterweight belt to Tyron Woodley at UFC 201.
This could been as a battle to become number one contender to the Welterweight belt but with Lawler surely waiting in the wings after UFC 205 is done, Both fighters will have to treat it like just another step up the rankings.
PREDICTION: Cerrone wins by TKO in the Third Round.
Chris Weidman vs Yoel Romero (Middleweight)
Going into this fight, this could very well be seen as the battle for the #1 Contendership to Michael Bisping's Middleweight title. Weidman (13-1) will have the crowd firmly behind him, being a New York native from Baldwin, and will look to defeat Romero (12-1), with the Cuban holding a solid 12-1 MMA record but last fought at UFC 194 (where McGregor KO'd Jose Aldo in 13 seconds).
At that same event, Weidman lost the Middleweight title to recent champ Luke Rockhold and was supposed to get his rematch against Rockhold at UFC 199 but pulled out on May 17 with a cervical disc herniation. Both need to win this fight in order to gain the opportunity to not only call out Bisping, but to show the UFC brass that they deserve to be the second challenger to the Briton's title.
PREDICTION: Weidman wins by unanimous Decision.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk (C) vs Karolina Kowalkiewicz (For the Women's Straw-weight Championship)
The first of the trio of title fights at UFC 205 and it looks to be a blockbuster. Two Polish ladies, both undefeated (Joanna, 12-0) (Karolina 10-0) and both wanting to top the Women's Straw-weight division.
They have fought at amateur level in 2012, at Amatorska Liga MMA Tournament Final, where Joanna submitted Karolina.
Joanna seems to have captured the headlines heading into the fight with her impressive kickboxing record and collective nature as champion.
Karolina has quite admittedly been in the shadow of Joanna and will certainly be looking to establish herself in the division after requesting this fight on many post-fight Joe Rogan interviews.
PREDICTION: Joanna wins by TKO in the Fourth Round.
Tyron Woodley (C) vs Stephen Thompson (For the Welterweight Championship)
The co main event of the evening will see newly crowned Welterweight champion Tyron Woodley (16-3) make his first title defence against five-time kickboxing champion Stephen Thompson (13-1).
Woodley won the title at UFC 201 where he surprised many by knocking out who he called 'the fighter of the year', Robbie Lawler. 'Wonder Boy' Thompson earned the title shot after an impressive seven fight win streak, since he loss at UFC 145 to Matt Brown, including a first-round TKO of Jack Ellenberger due to a stunning spinning hook kick.
It's very much a clash of styles as Woodley has a wrestling background and Thompson has a unique Karate style that he has credited to his success so far in MMA. The biggest factor in this fight for me is how Woodley will set up against Thompson's slow but effective karate style.
Woodley commented on the different areas that the pair will fight in, saying "He's not going to beat me in a Muay Thai fight, he's not going to beat me in a Boxing fight and he's defenitely not going to beat me in a Wrestling match in his life ever." Thompson said on the Media Conference call that he was going to 'Muhammad Ali' Woodley when they meet at the Garden.
Regardless of which area of MMA they chose to display in the Octagon, this is sure to be a belter of a Welterweight title fight.
PREDICTION: Woodley wins by TKO in the Second Round.
Eddie Alvarez (C) vs Conor McGregor (For the Lightweight Championship)
The main event and of course it features the biggest money draw in UFC history, Conor McGregor (20-3). The UFC Featherweight champion is seeking the Lightweight championship for the second time in his UFC career, after being originally scheduled to face ex-champion Rafael Dos Anjos at UFC 196 before the Brazilian pulled out with a broken foot.
Fast forward past two Nate Diaz fights and the Notorious is on the brink of history were if he wins in the most famous Sports arena in the World, he will become the first man to hold two belts in different weight divisions simultaneously.
Then there's Eddie Alvarez (28-4). Fresh off winning the Lightweight title against Dos Anjos at UFC Fight Night on July 7th 2016, Alvarez has verbally matched his opponent in the build-up to UFC 205 and here are some of my favourite quotes from Alvarez and McGregor:
"Belt-less, you'll be belt-less November 12th. You're gonna have to give up the little boy belt and you ain't getting the big boy belt." - Alvarez.
"$4.2 Billion. $4.2 Billion that's how much I'm worth to this company." - McGregor.
"This guy's easy. Easy money." - Alvarez.
"I run New York I run this whole s*** and Mystic Mac predicts I'm going to KO you inside one round." - McGregor.
"You ain't got a shot. Your coach knows you ain't got a shot and anyone who knows anything knows you got a f****** shot!" - Alvarez.
It's healthy to see someone match McGregor in the build-up to a fight and whilst the former Bellator Lightweight champion has admitted himself that he's not the greatest promoter, it's clear that Alvarez has provoked McGregor in holding his own.
In terms of the two being in the Octagon, it's strange how many haven't broken down the clash between the two division champions. Although this is the biggest MMA event of all-time it seems a shame to a degree that the build has drawn away from the action to come.
Ultimately, it comes down to Alvarez's strong Wrestling style vs McGregor's rapid striking game that has seen him earn many Performance of the Night bonuses. The majority will say that McGregor will win, in order to see history fulfilled in the Garden, but Alavarez didn't get to this point by 'getting lucky.'
Whatever happens, the UFC's first-ever event in New York City is sure to be nothing short of entertaining.
PREDICTION: McGregor wins by Majority Decision.
UFC 205, headlined by Alavrez vs McGregor.
