McGregor seeks historic win over Alvarez on monumental UFC 205 card in New York City
Published:
Conor McGregor v Eddie Alvarez
- UFC lightweight title fight
- Sunday, November 13th
- Scheduled for: 05:30 GMT
- Madison Square Garden, New York City
- Live on BT Sport 2
UFC 205 tips as McGregor meets Alvarez
Featherweight champion Conor McGregor will attempt to make history by becoming the first fighter to claim two world titles simultaneously as he contests lightweight belt holder Eddie Alvarez on a monumental UFC 205 card in New York City.
The illustrious Madison Square Garden is the venue for the UFC’s first-ever event held in New York City, after tireless efforts from the organisation to have the ban on MMA revoked there were successful earlier this year.
It’s the lightweight battle between Ireland’s McGregor (20-3) and reigning 155lbs champion Alvarez (28-4) that headlines the state of New York’s first UFC card since 1995. The pair will be colliding on a fight night which has surpassed the MSG gate record previously held by the boxing match-up between Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield in 1999.
In what is also the first time two different division champions have met since UFC 94 between then-welterweight titlist Georges St-Pierre then-lightweight kingpin B.J Penn in 2009, McGregor enters as the huge odds-on 8/13 favourite with Coral.
‘The Notorious’ will take to the octagon at 15/8 to come true on his word and knock out Alvarez in the opening round, while the latter American is instilled as the 5/4 outsider, despite being the defending lightweight champion.
McGregor targeting historic feat
McGregor clinched the UFC featherweight strap last year when dethroning former 145lbs dominator Jose Aldo in just 13 seconds, and he is typically confident of securing his latest historic feat on a massive night for the sport in New York.
“I’m going to toy with this man. I’m going to really, truly rearrange his facial structure. His wife and kids won’t recognise him again,” stated the Irishman, who is 5/1 to halt Alvarez in round two.
“He will not fight after this. He will not look the same. He will not think the same. He says this is the easiest contest. I will punish him for those words. I will retire him this fight.
“He’s been through a hell of a lot or wars. But this will be it for you. You’re going to be badly, badly hurt Eddie.”
Philadelphian Alvarez impressively took Brazilian Rafael dos Anjos apart to claim the lightweight strap in July and is 9/2 to KO McGregor, while he can be backed at 7/2 to hand the Dubliner a fourth submission defeat of his career.
After avenging his loss to Nate Diaz in August with a tactical points win, which he is 8/1 to emulate, McGregor will enter Madison Square Garden with the intentions of creating history on a colossal UFC 205 card in the Big Apple.
Woodley faces ‘Wonderboy’, Jedrzejczyk meets Kowalkiewicz
In the early hours of Sunday morning this monumental fight night also features two other world title fights before the main event, as Tyron Woodley (16-3) defends his welterweight belt against Stephen Thompson (13-1) and Joanna Jedrzejczyk (12-0) aims to retain her strawweight crown over Karolina Kowalkiewicz (10-0).
Reigning 170lbs titlist Woodley has been regarded as the underdog in many of his past meetings, but has come through each test, including toppling Robbie Lawler in the first round last July to clinch his current belt.
The Missouri-born fighter will again be aiming to defy his 6/4 outsider odds in spite of him being champion, with ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson entering proceedings at 11/8 for a KO victory or 5/2 to earn a second successive decision win. He outpointed Rory MacDonald last June in clash on Canadian soil.
Meanwhile, undefeated women’s 115lbs champion Jedrzejczyk is aiming to make the fourth consecutive defence of her title against fellow Polish fighter Kowalkiewicz, and she is 5/2 to prevail by KO.
The 29-year-old champion has been a dominant force since winning her belt back in March last year and is 10/11 to record a decision success this weekend, while compatriot Kowalkiewicz enters proceedings at 11/4 to cause an upset.
Former middleweight champion Chris Weidman (13-1) will also get the chance to fight in his home city for the first time. The New Yorker is 11/4 to KO Yoel Romero (12-1), with the latter Cuban being 11/8 for a surprise success.
Meanwhile, former women’s bantamweight titlist Miesha Tate (18-6) also takes to the ocatgon at 11/4 for a submission win over Raquel Pennington (8-5) on the main card as part of our UFC 205 tips.
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After reading our McGregor v Alvarez bets as part of UFC 205 tips, how do you see this fight and others going this weekend? Have your say below in our comments section!
