The already burgeoning anticipation about UFC 205 at Madison Square Garden on November 12 just got kicked up a few notches with the news that UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor will move up a weight division to challenge Eddie Alvarez for his UFC lightweight title. The UFC confirmed the news late Monday night.
If McGregor (20-3) wins, he will become the first UFC fighter to ever hold two belts at the same time. However, Alvarez (28-4) is no slouch. After he moved from Bellator (where he was lightweight champion) to UFC, Alvarez dropped a decision loss to Donald Cerrone, but since that setback he has gone on an incredible run, defeating Gilbert Melendez, Anthony Pettis and then becoming champion by dethroning Rafael Dos Anjos in spectacular style with a first round TKO win.
McGregor was slated to fight for the lightweight title earlier this year on March 5 at UFC 196, but then-champion Rafael Dos Anjos had to pull out with a foot injury. Nate Diaz stepped in as a late replacement and defeated McGregor in a welterweight fight via second round rear naked choke. McGregor got his revenge on Diaz when he won a majority decision in the rematch on August 20 at UFC 202.
The stage is now set for a huge champion vs champion fight at MSG. With two other title fights on the card (Woodley vs Thompson for the UFC welterweight title and Jedrzejczyk vs Kowalkiewicz for the women’s strawweight tile), UFC 205 is shaping up to be one hell of a fight night!
