New Yorkers are "eating up" the first UFC event in the city, as fans are talking about Saturday's UFC 205 at MSG "on street corners and in bars, restaurants and hotels," according to Kevin Iole of YAHOO SPORTS. UFC President Dana White for years heard questions as to when MMA would "be legalized in New York." UFC 7 was held in Buffalo in '95, but then-Gov. George Pataki banned MMA in '97. It took nearly 20 years until current New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in April legalized the sport. White said legalizing MMA in New York "took longer than it should have," but he thinks that is making Saturday's event "bigger." He said that he "rarely soaks in the atmosphere, but said that will change on Saturday." White: "I’m going to look around and soak it all in.” Iole noted the paid gate is expected to be in the $18M range PPV sales "could exceed 2 million" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 11/10). White said he knew the UFC would make it to New York "eventually," as it was "just a matter of when." White: "There’s going to be so much more awareness in New York about the UFC than there ever was. And I think it’s going to help our numbers as far as television ratings, obviously pay-per-view, and now we’re not just going to New York City, we’re going to Albany, Syracuse, we’re going to travel all around New York state" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 11/11).
HIGH ROLLER: In L.A., Lance Pugmire notes Conor McGregor-Eddie Alvarez will headline Saturday's card, and McGregor on Thursday arrived at MSG for a pre-fight press conference "fashionably late in white mink coat, red turtleneck and floral black and red pants." McGregor this week is "staying in a penthouse at an exclusive seven-star hotel, enjoying a wide view of the city skyline and says he’s taken daily shopping trips to high-end stores such as Tom Ford and Cartier" (L.A. TIMES, 11/11). USA TODAY's Martin Rogers wrote McGregor has "transcended the sport," to the point where he was the "natural, obvious and instant choice to front" UFC’s MSG debut. However, despite McGregor "being a one-man juggernaut," there is "some contention over whether he is indeed the biggest star among the UFC ranks." The "only contender for that distinction would be Ronda Rousey." McGregor is a "master of gate money," as his last two fights have earned nearly $16M. But in "terms of mainstream reach, you can make a far larger case for Rousey." She has a "huge following among both men and women, and has enough crossover appeal for Hollywood to have cast her in several major action movies, boosting her bank balance in the process." McGregor has "received some interest from the film world himself, but Vin Diesel he is not, or at least not yet" (USA TODAY, 11/10).
