Mixed martial arts is returning to New York in a big way with UFC 205—and if Tuesday night's press conference was any indication, the event is going to be entertaining as hell.
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UFC president Dana White was on hand to announce the fight card and details on the event, but White gamely handed over the microphone and let the press conference become Conor McGregor’s show. The Irish fighter, who will headline UFC 205 against Eddie Alvarez, was the center of attention on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden.
Here are five moments that stood out:
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1. McGregor and Alvarez had an intense staredown
The Irish fighter and his opponent got up close and personal at the press conference, looking coldly at one another before White came in to separate the two. While things did not get as physical or heated as McGregor’s pre-fight press conference with Nate Diaz ahead of UFC 202, it looks like these two fighters are eager to get into the ring against each other.
Eddie Alvarez and Conor McGregor is your UFC 205 main event and it can't come soon enough.pic.twitter.com/eICWizeXD0
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) September 27, 2016
2. McGregor predicted a win—by knockout
White gamely set the spotlight on McGregor, essentially letting his superstar take over the press conference and sparking numerous cheers from the crowd. "I run New York," said McGregor. "I run this whole ship. Mystic Mac predicts, 'I'm gonna KO you inside one round.’” (Yes, McGregor spoke in the third person.)
The fact that the fight marks the return of the UFC to New York and that it will be at Madison Square Garden was not lost on McGregor: “Listen, the Irish, we built this damn town. I’m serious,” McGregor said. “We built this city. Now I’m back. Now I’m coming to claim what’s ours, so it’s an honor to be here. Coming in here, listening to all these fans, it truly is a dream come true. I cannot wait to perform for you…The Irish love New York and I’m honored to be here.”
Well it didn't take long for a Mystic Mac prediction.... #UFC205#UFCNYChttps://t.co/IihQc3C55L
— UFC (@ufc) September 27, 2016
McGregor may end up with two title belts at the same time—a UFC first. "I'm gonna wrap one [belt] on one shoulder and the other on the other shoulder," McGregor said. "And you're gonna need a f---ing army to come take them belts off me."
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3. Fighter Jeremy Stephens called out McGregor—McGregor gave a “knockout” response
Fellow UFC 205 competitor Jeremy Stephens, who is fighting Frankie Edgar at MSG, jumped in when McGregor was asked the other fighters on the stage and who would be the best to compete against: "Right here—the hardest-hitting 145-pounder, the real hardest-hitting 145'er right here," Stephens said. "This guy TKOs people. When I knock people out, they don't (expletive) move."
In his patented McGregor style, the fighter responded with a few choice words that are not-quite-repeatable around your grandmother.
Looks like @LiLHeathenMMA wants a shot at @TheNotoriousMMA too. #UFC205#UFCNYChttps://t.co/4n8RM7lZoQ
— UFC (@ufc) September 27, 2016
4. Khabib Nurmagomedov will face off against Michael Johnson at UFC 205
Nurmagomedov was conspicuously absent from UFC's initial fight announcement on Monday. That changed, though, at the press conference, where White announced that the Russian fighter will match up against Michael Johnson despite Nurmagomedov's hopes to challenge Alvarez. Johnson comes into the match after knocking out Dustin Poirier in the first round earlier in September.
Ohhhh so... @TeamKhabib and @FollowTheMenace added to #UFC205! YESSSSSSSSSSSS!
https://t.co/wakWurFpLR— UFC (@ufc) September 27, 2016
5. Ronda Rousey may return soon—to fight Cris "Cyborg" Justino
Rousey has not been in the Octagon since losing the bantamweight championship to Holly Holm way back at UFC 193, but all that may change soon. White said Rousey is looking to make a comeback and that she “wants” to get in the ring with Justino. "Listen, Ronda wants to fight her," White told ESPN. "We'd have to figure out what weight, [but] Ronda wants that fight."
Check out the full presser here: