The Bottom Line: UFC Hits Right Notes with MSG Debut Lineup

Editor’s note: The views and opinions expressed below are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Sherdog.com, its affiliates and sponsors or its parent company, Evolve Media.* * * There was a lot of pressure on the Ultimate Fighting Championship to deliver with its UFC 205 lineup on Nov. 12. New York has long been the White Whale for the UFC and especially for executive Marc Ratner, leaving high standards for the first card at Madison Square Garden. The deep cards for UFC 194 and UFC 200 have further elevated fan expectations for the UFC’s top events. What would be a strong card for an average UFC pay-per-view could have been taken as a disappointment for UFC 205. Making matters trickier for the UFC was that there was only one realistic path to a fully satisfying card, and that road went through Conor McGregor. There were only three “A” options for the UFC 205 main event: McGregor, Ronda Rousey and Georges St. Pierre. Rousey wanted more time before her return, while St. Pierre was targeting Toronto and seeking the lofty contract that he deserves in his own right. That left McGregor, who had all the leverage in the world and knew it. McGregor unquestionably drove a hard bargain. At the UFC 205 press conference, he was actively ridiculing fighters for fulfilling previously negotiated contracts rather than renegotiating better deals. His continued emphasis on money is raising salaries for other fighters — something about which they should be appreciative but a trend about which the UFC is surely not ecstatic. Fighters are learning to fully capitalize on their leverage when they have it. McGregor is also being allowed to retain his UFC featherweight title, this after being told he wouldn’t be able to do so if he took a third consecutive fight in another division without having defended the 145-pound crown. It’s not remotely fair to the rest of the featherweight division and represents a glaring double standard, but it was another sacrifice made to put together the best possible card for UFC 205. Putting together a glittering UFC 205 card wasn’t easy, but …

continue reading in source www.sherdog.com