UFC's first show at Madison Square Garden just got a huge shot in the arm.
UFC Featherweight Champion Conor McGregor (20-3) is set to take on UFC Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez (28-4), according to UFC President Dana White. The fight will be for Alvarez's UFC Lightweight championship.
This will be the third weight class McGregor has competed in since December of last year. White noted that McGregor will hold the UFC Featherweight title through UFC 205, giving him an opportunity to be the UFC's first ever simultaneous two-division champion.
White had publicly stated prior that his hopes were to book Alvarez against lightweight contender Khabib Nurmagomedov, and McGregor in a rematch against long time foe Jose Aldo to unify the Featherweight Championship.
"This is the fight the fans wanted, and I'm excited that our very first event at Madison Square Garden will be headlined by Eddie Alvarez defending the lightweight title against Conor McGregor," White told ESPN. "This card has three world title fights and is the best card in UFC history."
It would appear that after UFC 205, Jose Aldo will be promoted to Undisputed Featherweight Champion.
UFC 205 takes place November 12, 2016 from Madison Square Garden in New York City. The event also features a UFC Welterweight title fight between champion Tyron Woodley and challenger Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson, as well as a UFC Strawweight title bout pitting champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk against Karolina Kowalkiewicz. Donald Cerrone, Miesha Tate, Frankie Edgar, and Rashad Evans are all also set for the show.
