Conor McGregor to headline historic night in New York
Conor McGregor will return to the UFC octagon in less than two months time and will have the opportunity to win a second world title while still retaining his featherweight belt.
It's been confirmed McGregor will fight Eddie Alvarez for the Lightweight Championship at UFC 205.
IT'S GOING DOWN!! 🇮🇪 @TheNotoriousMMA challenges 🇺🇸 @EAlvarezFight for the lightweight title @TheGarden!! #UFC205 is OFFICIALLY 🔥 🔥 🔥 pic.twitter.com/vRtyi34QEd
— UFC (@ufc) September 27, 2016
The bout will take place at Madison Square Garden in New York on November 12.
Fans who had hoped for a fight in Ireland will be disappointed for now, but the venue is a significant improvement for Irish viewers. New York is three hours closer to us than Las Vegas so the fight will still be late at night, but hopefully not as extreme as recent 5am start times.
32-year-old Alvarez knocked out Rafael dos Anjos in July to claim the lightweight crown; the fight against McGregor will be his first defence of the title.
The November 12 event will be the UFC’s first appearance in New York, after the state legalised MMA earlier this year.
It will feature three title fights, in addition to McGregor v Alvarez Tyron Woodley will fight Stephen Thompson for the welterweight title; and Joanna Jedrzejcyzk and Karolina Kowalkiewicz will do battle for the strawweight belt.
"This is the fight the fans wanted, and I'm excited that our very first event at Madison Square Garden will be headlined by Eddie Alvarez defending the lightweight title against Conor McGregor," White told ESPN. "This card has three world title fights and is the best card in UFC history."
