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Conor McGregor

On November 12th New York City will play host to three UFC title fights in its first event after the 20 year ban on mixed martial arts was lifted in the state this past April.  Who is headlining this event? None other than the undisputed featherweight champion Conor McGregor (20-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) and Lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez (28-4 MMA, 3-1 UFC) whose 155 lbs belt is up for grabs.

McGregor who is looking to make history as he attempts to become the first fighter in UFC history to simultaneously hold two title belts at once. Before his time at the UFC ‘The Notorious’ held both the featherweight and lightweight Cage Warrior titles and is looking to replicate the dominance from his prior promotion. At UFC 205 McGregor will make his long awaited Lightweight debut in the promotion after having fought the majority of his fights during his time with the worlds premier mixed martial arts promotion at 145 pounds barring two epic battles with Nate Diaz at 170.

It’s been a long road for McGregor who became undisputed featherweight champion after finishing Jose Aldo in 13 historic seconds at UFC 194. The Irishman was set to fight for the Lightweight title at UFC 196 against former champion Rafael dos Anjos but after a foot injury forced the Brazilian out it was up to Nate Diaz to step in and hand McGregor his first defeat in the UFC.  The two met again at UFC 202 in an epic fight which saw McGregor avenge his loss and once again set his eyes on making history.

Eddie Alvarez’s path was a lot more direct but by no means was it simple as the former Bellator champion would defeat the likes of former champ Anthony Pettis before getting his shot at RDA and the lightweight belt.  When the time came for Alvarez to step into that Octagon and fight for the title he took the opportunity by the scruff of the neck swarming the champ with a combination of punches leaving ref Herb Dean no choice but to intervene inside four minutes and give the UFC a new 155 lbs champion.

After defeating Dos Anjos and claiming his prize Alvarez immediately made his intentions clear and his intentions were to fight the winner of McGregor vs Diaz II. Thus bringing us to this Saturday main event as the American will make the first defence of his title in this super fight, champion vs champion at the world famous Madison Square Garden in what is only his fifth UFC fight.

Tension has already begun to boil over as we enter fight week, McGregor and Alvarez engaged one another during the conference call last Thursday with the Irishman doing most of the talking making comments such as he was going to “retire” Alvarez and when he was done with him his wife and kids would be unable to recognise him.

Despite all the trash talk from McGregor, Alvarez didn’t let the war of words get under his skin and in fact began laughing as he spoke about the upcoming fight dishing out some trash of his own. “Conor McGregor , this guy is so offensive minded and never on the defence that whenever you put him on the defence, he gets so flustered and so upset, he may have the worst defence in the division.”

Mystic Mac was back making predictions again stating he does not believe Alvarez will make it out of the first round, McGregor has finished five of his 8 fights in the UFC via TKO and has the chance to become only the second person to finish Alvarez via TKO in his 33 career pro fights.

This fight is headlining the most stacked card in UFC history and Dana White has already admitted that UFC 205 has already broken the gate record for Madison Square Garden previously set when Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield met for their first bout in 1999. If White’s statement is accurate the event will attract gate receipts of $13.5 million.

It is nearly time for the microphones to be put down and let their fighting do the talking, the two will meet face to face for the second time at the UFC 205 pre-fight press conference and then all that’s left is for the two to weigh in.

Saturday night has the potential to be one of the greatest nights in mma history and it’s no surprise that win or lose Conor McGregor will be at the centre of it all.