.@ufc President @danawhite joined the Game 3 pregame show to discuss #UFC205, #CLEvsCHC & of course @PeteRose_14. https://t.co/otCsHJWIqx
— FS1 (@FS1) October 29, 2016
According to UFC President Dana White, who appeared on Fox during Friday night’s World Series broadcast, the promotion’s New York debut has already set the gate record for Madison Square Garden. White did not mention a specific figure.
"It's the biggest, baddest card we've ever done in the history of the company," White said. "We've been in all the biggest, best arenas all over the world — Madison Square Garden's a big deal.
"All the legendary fights that have been held there, all the legendary events and we actually broke the gate record for Madison Square Garden so, so far so good. I'm excited.”
If White’s claim is true, UFC 205 would surpass arena’s previous record, a 1999 boxing match between Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis, which drew more than 21,000 spectators for a $13.5 million gate.
It would also top the promotions previous best, which occurred at UFC 129 in 2011. Then, a card headlined by Georges St. Pierre and Jake Shields drew more than 55,000 fans in Toronto for a $12.075 million gate.
UFC 205, which takes place on Nov. 12, is one of the most loaded cards in the promotion’s history. The event will feature a trio of title bouts: Eddie Alvarez vs. Conor McGregor at lightweight; Tyron Woodley vs. Stephen Thompson at welterweight and Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz at strawweight.
"Obviously, our first time going into MSG and it's been such a big deal getting in there, I wanted to make sure when we went to New York, we delivered," White said. "Three incredible title fights plus the rest of the card is packed with ridiculous fights including the main and co-main event on FOX Sports 1 that night for the prelims.”