Breaking: Conor McGregor Won’t Fight At UFC 205

Finally, several bouts have been made official for November 12’s UFC 205 pay-per-view event from Madison Square Garden in New York, New York.

Featherweight champion Conor McGregor just won’t be among them unfortunately.

Speculation has recently predicted a Conor McGregor vs. Eddie Alvarez main event for the lightweight title, but UFC President Dana White seemingly put the kibosh on those plans by saying top contender Khabib Nurmagomedov would get the next 155-pound title shot at the event. 

White expanded upon that notion earlier tonight when Megan Olivi announced on ‘UFC Tonight’ that the president revealed McGregor was still rehabbing a foot injury from his five-round war with Nate Diaz at August 20’s UFC 202. That meant ‘The Notorious’ was unlikely to fight at the UFC’s first event from New York City. Alvarez vs. Nurmagomedov, meanwhile, was clarified by White as potentially headlining December 10’s UFC 206 from Toronto. Both fighters have been sent new bout agreements for the title tilt.

The five bouts that were officially announced were Frankie Edgar vs. Jeremy Stephens, Kelvin Gastelum vs. Donald Cerrone, Tim Kennedy vs. Rashad Evans, Tim Boestch vs. Rafael Natal, and Liz Carmouche vs. Katlyn Chookagian. Hailing from nearby Toms River, New Jersey, Edgar will look to rebound from a loss to longtime former champion Aldo for the interim featherweight belt in at July’s UFC 200 from Las Vegas.

UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley also guaranteed as ‘UFC Tonight’ co-host that he would be facing Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson at the card, a fight that he announced last Friday but is only being held up by a technicality in the contract according to ‘The Chosen One.”

The full card will be announced at a press conference from Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, September 27, 2016, three days before tickets for the historic card go on sale.