Jerry Lawler Welcoming Bellator To Memphis, Conor McGregor Predicts UFC 205 Buys, PPV Extended
- UFC officials have extended the upcoming UFC 205 pay-per-view main card to four hours, as six fights – including three title bouts – comprise the lineup. Typically, UFC PPVs run from 10 p.m.-1 a.m. ET, but this one will be cleared until 2 a.m. ET from Madison Square Garden.
In the main event, Conor McGregor challenges Eddie Alvarez for the UFC lightweight title. The UFC welterweight and strawweight belts will also be on the line, while three non-title fights are also to be featured.
Below is the current fight card:
* Eddie Alvarez vs. Conor McGregor for UFC lightweight title
* Tyron Woodley vs. Stephen Thompson for UFC welterweight title
* Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz for UFC strawweight title
* Yoel Romero vs. Chris Weidman
* Donald Cerrone vs. Kelvin Gastelum
* Raquel Pennington vs. Miesha Tate
* Frankie Edgar vs. Jeremy Stephens
* Michael Johnson vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov
* Rashad Evans vs. Tim Kennedy
* Tim Boetsch vs. Rafael Natal
* Thiago Alves vs. Jim Miller
* Lyman Good vs. Belal Muhammad
* Liz Carmouche vs. Katlyn Chookagian
- Speaking of UFC 205, Conor McGregor is expecting a big-time check for his part, as the reigning featherweight champion recently told MMAjunkie that he is expecting a huge number in terms of pay-per-view buys for the event.
"I'm almost certain we're talking the two-million mark," McGregor said. "I feel it will break the two-million mark. That's what I'd like, and then go from there.
"(It will break the record) 100 percent ? I think the money is there. 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."
McGregor bested Nate Diaz at UFC 202 earlier this year. The two were originally scheduled for UFC 200, but the fight was delayed after "Notorious" declined to take part in several promotional events.
- WWE legend Jerry Lawler will host open workouts for Friday's Bellator 162 card in Memphis, the hometown of "The King." Joining Lawler will be Kimbo Slice's son, Kevin Ferguson Jr., along with pro wrestler-MMA fighter Bobby Lashley.
The event will take place Wednesday evening at King Jerry Lawler's Hall of Fame Bar & Grille in Memphis. It begins at 5 p.m. CT.
Ferguson, nicknamed "Baby Slice," takes on Rick Ring in the prelim featured bout, while Lashley battles Josh Appelt in the Spike co-main event. The card is headlined by Alexander Shlemenko vs. Kendall Grove.