The Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez fight took place on November 12, 2016, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. It was the main event of UFC 205 and the first time the UFC held an event in New York City since the state legalized mixed martial arts earlier that year. The fight was for the UFC Lightweight Championship, which Alvarez held at the time.
Conor McGregor, the Irish mixed martial artist, was coming off a loss to Nate Diaz in March 2016 but had previously held the UFC Featherweight Championship. Eddie Alvarez, the American mixed martial artist, was on a three-fight win streak and had won the UFC Lightweight Championship in July 2016.
The first round of the fight was dominated by McGregor, who landed several significant strikes and knocked Alvarez down multiple times. McGregor’s precision and accuracy were on full display as he picked Alvarez apart with his striking. Alvarez was unable to mount any significant offense and was forced to defend throughout the round.
The second round saw more of the same from McGregor, who continued to land heavy strikes and keep Alvarez on the defensive. Midway through the round, McGregor caught Alvarez with a devastating left hand that sent him to the mat. McGregor followed up with several more strikes before the referee stepped in to stop the fight, giving McGregor the victory by TKO.
The win made McGregor the first fighter in UFC history to hold titles in two weight divisions simultaneously, as he already held the UFC Featherweight Championship at the time of the fight. It also cemented McGregor’s status as one of the biggest stars in mixed martial arts and helped him build his legacy as one of the sport’s all-time greats.