NEW YORK — There is a confluence of reasons that explain why UFC 205 is the biggest and best card in MMA history.
First, after a long and bruising legal battle, pro MMA earlier this year became legal in New York. New York was the 50th state to take this action. That made this event historic.
Second, as fans know, Madison Square Garden is a true cathedral of combat sports. This is isn't just another belt notch. MSG has hosted Ali-Frazier, Joe Louis, Jake LaMotta and a million others in between.
Third, the most famous fighter on Planet Earth attached his name to the project. That's a man by the name of Conor McGregor. Maybe you know him? He's the UFC featherweight champ, and in the main event of UFC 205 he made a bid to become the first fighter to ever hold two belts simultaneously.
In his way was Eddie Alvarez, the lightweight champ and fan favorite from Philly. Alvarez also happened to be a compelling stylistic matchup for McGregor. This contest was no gimme.
Fourth, the entire card was stacked eight ways to Sunday. Three title fights on one card for only the second time in UFC history. In the co-main event, Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson brought his kickboxing to Manhattan to challenge Tyron Woodley for his welterweight strap. In what you might call the co-co-main event, brilliant strawweight champ Joanna Jedrzejczyk defended her title against fellow Pole Karolina Kowalkiewicz.
Hopefully this confluence demonstrates the magnitude of this UFC 205 card. It was big. Maybe the biggest. When it's all said and done, records are very likely to be broken. Legends are likely to have been made, or further cemented.
What did we just witness? Let's put it all in perspective. Cageside and on the ground at the Garden, we took it all in from the ground level.
So what went down at MSG, in the main event and beyond? As always, the final stat lines only reveal so much. Here are the real winners and losers from UFC 205.
For the literal-minded among us, full card results appear on the final slide.
