Honestly, it’s hard to overstate how much was riding on that one night in November. If you were around in 2016, you remember the buzz. It wasn't just about a belt; it was about the culmination of a decade-long political war to get MMA legalized in New York. The fight card for UFC 205 wasn't just a list of names; it was a statement of intent. Madison Square Garden had seen Ali, Frazier, and the Knicks’ glory days, but it had never seen anything like the "Notorious" one trying to make history.
People talk about the main event like it was the only thing that happened. Sure, Conor McGregor became the "champ-champ," but that’s only half the story. If you look closely at the undercard, you’ll see the seeds of the next five years of the sport being planted right there in the Garden.
The Night the Ban Finally Broke
For years, New York was the final holdout. While the rest of the world embraced the Octagon, the Empire State kept the door shut tight due to some pretty intense political maneuvering. When the ban finally lifted in early 2016, Dana White didn't just want to throw a show; he wanted to break the internet before that was even a common phrase.
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The fight card for UFC 205 was arguably the deepest in the history of the promotion. You had three title fights. That almost never happens. Usually, a card is top-heavy, but this one felt like a gauntlet. From the early prelims to the final walk, there was no filler.
McGregor vs. Alvarez: The Masterclass
Most people remember the "two belts" photo, but they forget how dominant the actual fight was. Eddie Alvarez was a dog. He had just demolished Rafael dos Anjos and looked like he was built to grind McGregor down.
Instead?
Total eclipse.
McGregor’s left hand was a sniper rifle that night. He dropped Alvarez multiple times in the first round. By the time the second round hit, the atmosphere in MSG was vibrating. At 3:04 of the second, it was over. McGregor stood on the cage, arms out, demanding his second belt. It was the peak of his powers, a version of Conor we haven't quite seen since.
The Draw That No One Expected
The co-main event between Tyron Woodley and Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson was a weird one. If you like technical chess matches that suddenly explode into violence, this was your peak. Woodley nearly finished it in the fourth with a massive right hand and a guillotine that looked tight enough to pop a tire.
Somehow, Wonderboy survived.
The scorecards were a mess. 47-47, 47-47, and 48-47. A majority draw. Bruce Buffer even messed up the announcement initially, calling it a win for Woodley before correcting himself. Woodley kept the belt, but the rivalry was far from over.
Why the UFC 205 Fight Card Was Deeper Than You Think
You can't talk about this event without mentioning the Polish civil war. Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Karolina Kowalkiewicz went at it for five rounds of high-level kickboxing. Joanna was at her "Joanna Champion" peak, but Karolina rocked her in the fourth so hard the crowd actually gasped. Joanna took the unanimous decision, but it proved the strawweight division was no joke.
Then there was Yoel Romero.
Poor Chris Weidman.
Weidman was the hometown hero, the guy who helped get the sport legalized. He was winning that fight on the cards, too. Then, 24 seconds into the third round, Romero launched a flying knee that looked like something out of a video game. The visual of Weidman’s head opening up—it was gruesome. Romero then did a soldier march around the Octagon while Michael Bisping flipped him off from the Fox Sports desk.
Pure chaos.
The Hidden Gems on the Prelims
Think about the names on the "under" part of the fight card for UFC 205.
- Khabib Nurmagomedov: He mauled Michael Johnson and literally told Dana White "I want to fight your chicken" between rounds.
- Frankie Edgar: He survived a massive head kick from Jeremy Stephens to grind out a win.
- Miesha Tate: She lost to Raquel Pennington and then retired right there in the cage.
It was a night of endings and beginnings. Khabib’s performance that night was the first time the casual audience realized he was an inevitable force of nature.
The Economic Reality
The numbers were staggering for the time. A $17.7 million gate. Over 20,000 people in attendance. It shattered the MSG record, which had been held by a boxing match since 1999. It wasn't just a sports event; it was a massive injection of cash into the NYC economy. Reports later showed it generated about $37.4 million in economic output for the city.
We often get caught up in the "who won" of it all, but UFC 205 changed the business model. It showed that "super-cards" were viable and that New York was the new Mecca of the sport.
Moving Beyond the Hype
If you're looking to understand the modern UFC, you have to start here. The fight card for UFC 205 set the template for what a massive "legacy" event should look like.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Rewatch the Khabib vs. Michael Johnson fight: Pay attention to the ground-and-pound. It’s a masterclass in the "Sambo" style that dominates the sport today.
- Check the Scorecards: Look up the Woodley/Wonderboy 1 scorecards. It's a great lesson in how the 10-8 round rule (which was newer then) can completely change a fight's outcome.
- Follow the Legacy: Look at where these fighters are now. Many have retired, but their influence on the current rankings is everywhere.
The night wasn't just about Conor McGregor's two belts. It was the night the UFC finally took its place on the world's biggest stage, and honestly, the sport hasn't looked back since.