Conor McGregor: UFC 205 Will Set PPV Records, Expect Over Two Million Buys
To say that UFC 205 is stacked would be an understatement. Spearheading this event will be a classic in the making as current UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor attempts to make history and hold two titles at once when he challenges Eddie Alvarez for the UFC lightweight title in the main event of UFC 205.
During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, McGregor claimed that the event would not only do massive business for the largest MMA promotion in the world, but it would set a PPV record.
“I’m almost certain we’re talking the 2-million mark,” McGregor said. “I feel it will break the 2-million mark. That’s what I’d like, and then go from there.”
Three titles will be on the line at this event as Tyron Woodley vs. Stephen Thompson for the welterweight title and Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz for the women’s strawweight title are featured on the main card of this event.
You also have Yoel Romero vs. Chris Weidman, Donald Cerrone vs. Kelvin Gastelum, and Raquel Pennington vs. Miesha Tate rounding out the main card. The prelims are great as well.
The biggest UFC PPV buyrate is UFC 202, which did 1.65 million buys and was headlined by McGregor vs. Nate Diaz 2. The second biggest UFC PPV buyrate is UFC 196, which did 1.6 million in March and headlined by McGregor vs. Diaz 1, and third best PPV buyrate was UFC 100 in July of 2009 that was headlined by Brock Lesnar vs. Frank Mir 2.
“(It will break the record) 100 percent – I think the money is there,” McGregor said. “For UFC 202, they backed it with no money. UFC 200 is where the advertising dollars went. UFC 202 was worth double what they spent in advertising dollars. UFC 202 broke the pay-per-view record with very little push. A very, very weak undercard. Now you have me, you have New York, you have history and you have many factors. They’re pushing the advertising dollars on it.”
UFC 205 will take place at Madison Square Garden on November 12th with the main card airing on PPV and the prelims airing on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.
