The Ultimate Fighting Championship came to Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York tonight for UFC 205: “Alvarez vs McGregor.” The event was headlined by a UFC Lightweight Championship bout between Eddie Alvarez and 145-pound titleholder “The Notorious” Conor McGregor.

In the co-main event, Tyron “The Chosen One” Woodley defended his UFC Welterweight Championship against Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson. UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk battled Karolina Kowalkiewicz in a rematch. MMARising.com has play-by-play for the card.

 

UFC Lightweight Championship

“The Notorious” Conor McGregor vs “The Underground King” Eddie Alvarez

Round 1:
Alvarez kicked at McGregor’s lead leg early on, but McGregor dropped him with a big one-two. Alvarez popped back up almost immediately and appeared to be okay. McGregor fought off a clinch attempt and he knocked an off-balance Alvarez down with a short right hand. Alvarez stood and McGregor dropped him backwards with a straight left. He postured up with hard shorts from the top, but Alvarez scrambled up to his feet again. Both men landed hooks and Alvarez kicked to the body. McGregor blocked a head kick and landed a body kick at the bell. 10-8 McGregor. Could be a 10-7.

Round 2:
McGregor stunned Alvarez with a left hand in round two and stuffed a takedown seconds later. Alvarez lunged in and landed a right hand, but McGregor dropped him to a knee with a left hook to the temple. Alvarez drove in for a takedown against the cage, but McGregor backed him up with a knee and followed with a one-two. He dropped Alvarez with a four-punch combination and referee John McCarthy stopped the fight.

Winner: Conor McGregor by KO (Punches) at 3:04 of round two. He improves to 21-3-0 and becomes the new UFC Lightweight Champion.

 

UFC Welterweight Championship

Tyron “The Chosen One” Woodley vs Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson

Round 1:
The fighters cautiously circled in the opening 90 seconds until Thompson threw a head kick that was blocked. Woodley caught a body kick and took Thompson down into half-guard. He struck from the top with left hands and looked to set up an arm-triangle choke. Thompson eventually got back to full guard, but Woodley cut him on the bridge of the nose with elbows and finished the round with punches and hammerfists. 10-9 Woodley.

Round 2:
Thompson lunged in with a one-two in the second round and Woodley pinned him against the fence. Thompson broke free and pawed out with jabs. He landed a spinning back kick to the body and followed with a right cross. Thompson scored with a combination and he backed Woodley up with a lead left hand. The fighters traded right hooks late in the round. 10-9 Thompson.

Round 3:
Woodley tagged Thompson with two right hands in the third round, but Thompson appeared to be unfazed and he backed Woodley up with a one-two. Thompson countered a leg kick with a combination and he followed with another quick one-two that snapped Woodley’s head back. A lead left hook landed for Thompson and he missed with a spinning wheel kick. Woodley landed a vicious leg kick that knocked Thompson off-balance and he connected with two right hands before the end of the close round. 10-9 Woodley, barely.

Round 4:
Thompson picked his shots with side kicks and right hands in round four. Woodley dropped him with a right hook and looked for a knockout as Thompson returned to his feet. He was floored by another massive right hand from Woodley, who unloaded with punches as a badly rocked Thompson rose to his feet. Woodley landed knees and locked on a guillotine choke, but Thompson refused to submit. Woodley pulled guard and tightened the choke, but Thompson would not tap out. He punched to the sides of Woodley’s body and postured up with punches to the face before the bell. 10-9 Woodley.

Round 5:
The final round began with Thompson throwing kicks to the body and he followed with a head kick that was blocked. Woodley also blocked a spinning wheel kick, but Thompson landed a one-two and he remained the aggressor. Woodley tried to press forward and was stopped in his tracks by a right cross. Thompson backed him up with jabs and another one-two, and avoided Woodley’s right hands. The fighters exchanged punches late in the round and Thompson connected with two hard right hooks. 10-9 Thompson.

Result: Majority Draw (48-47 [Woodley], 47-47, 47-47) after five rounds. Woodley moves to 16-3-1 and remains the UFC Welterweight Champion, while Thompson is now 13-1-1.

 

UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship

Joanna Jędrzejczyk vs Karolina Kowalkiewicz

Round 1:
Jędrzejczyk kicked at Kowalkiewicz’s lead leg early in the fight as Kowalkiewicz pressed forward. A combination and another leg kick landed for Jędrzejczyk, and Kowalkiewicz responded with a nice right cross. Jędrzejczyk landed more leg kicks and both women flurried with punches. Jędrzejczyk backed Kowalkiewicz up with a left hook, but Kowalkiewicz caught a kick and clinched after landing a right hand. Jędrzejczyk countered by landing knees to the body and she broke free. The fighters clinched again after Jędrzejczyk landed a combination and both landed knees to the body. 10-9 Jędrzejczyk.

Round 2:
Jędrzejczyk opened round two with a flurry of punches and a body kick. She fought off a clinch attempt and landed an elbow that caused Kowalkiewicz’s temple to swell up. Two more elbows landed for Jędrzejczyk and she remained a step ahead in the striking exchanges. Jędrzejczyk ducked her head and landed four quick punches before Kowalkiewicz clinched briefly. Jędrzejczyk landed more leg kicks until Kowalkiewicz caught one and tried for a takedown. Jędrzejczyk fought her off and landed more punches. Kowalkiewicz caught a head kick, but Jędrzejczyk fought free with elbows and followed with a spinning backfist. 10-9 Jędrzejczyk.

Round 3:
The third round began with a clinch against the fence and Jędrzejczyk threw knees to the body. Kowalkiewicz threw a head kick after circling away and Jędrzejczyk replied with punches. Kowalkiewicz tried to catch a body kick, but Jędrzejczyk punished her with a barrage of punches in close. Kowalkiewicz countered a kick by landing punches of her own, which led to a clinch against the fence. Both women landed knees to the body and Jędrzejczyk finished with punches and an elbow. 10-9 Jędrzejczyk.

Round 4:
Kowalkiewicz landed her best combination of the fight early in round four and both women scored with elbows in a clinch. Kowalkiewicz rocked Jędrzejczyk with a right hand and swarmed on her with more punches as Jędrzejczyk retreated to the cage. She recovered and threw two head kicks that caused Kowalkiewicz to back up. She pressed forward again and looked for a takedown after catching a kick. A nice right hand landed for Kowalkiewicz, but she ate a knee to the face in return. Jędrzejczyk landed a hard leg kick and both women scored with punches before the bell. 10-9 Kowalkiewicz.

Round 5:
The fighters traded leg kicks and combinations in the final round, and Jędrzejczyk mixed in front kicks to the body. She flurried with punches and both women attempted spinning back elbows. Kowalkiewicz cracked Jędrzejczyk with a right hand and Jędrzejczyk’s face swelled up. A clinch followed and Jędrzejczyk landed short elbows. She broke free from the clinch by landing a head kick and the fight ended with Jędrzejczyk landing two right hands. 10-9 Jędrzejczyk.

Winner: Joanna Jędrzejczyk by Unanimous Decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46) after five rounds. She improves to 13-0-0 and remains the UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion.

 

Yoel “Soldier of God” Romero vs “All-American” Chris Weidman

Round 1:
Weidman landed single kicks to the body and right hands in the opening minute. Romero responded with a hard body kick, but Weidman took him down on two occasions. Romero stood and Weidman threw a series of kicks to the body. He briefly looked for a takedown and landed more kicks after standing up. Romero pressed forward with uppercuts and Weidman countered with left hooks. He got Romero down and took his back, but Romero returned to his feet before the end of the round. 10-9 Weidman.

Round 2:
The fighters traded leg kicks and overhand punches in the second round, and Romero landed a hard left hand. Weidman kicked to the body and backed Romero up with a knee to the body. Time was called when Romero indicated that he had been poked in the eye. The fight continued and Weidman landed a right cross, but Romero fired back with a liver kick. He tripped Weidman and took his back as Weidman stood up. Romero swept out his leg and took him down two more times. The round ended with Romero punching from the top. 10-9 Romero.

Round 3:
Hard leg kicks landed for both men early in round three and Romero landed a crushing flying knee. Weidman, bleeding profusely from a massive gash on his temple, collapsed to the mat. Romero landed more punches on the ground and the fight was finally stopped.

Winner: Yoel Romero by KO (Flying Knee & Punches) at 0:24 of round three. He improves to 12-1-0.

 

Raquel “Rocky” Pennington vs Miesha “Cupcake” Tate

Round 1:
Tate picked her shots with single punches and inside-leg kicks in the opening minute. Pennington responded with a series of stiff jabs that backed Tate up. A three-punch flurry scored for Pennington and Tate covered up. She closed the distance and landed short uppercuts before shooting in for a takedown. Pennington countered with a tight front choke and Tate had to climb the cage to relieve pressure. She got Pennington down and took her back as the fight returned to the feet. Pennington threw elbows to the thigh and wound up on top as Tate fell to the ground. Close round. 10-9 Pennington.

Round 2:
Pennington opened round two with jabs and straight right hands that kept Tate guessing. Hard jabs and a series of hooks scored for Pennington, who followed with uppercuts in a clinch. Both women landed knees to the body and Tate worked for a takedown. Pennington took her back and Tate threw back-elbow strikes. She turned into the clinch and Pennington peppered her with punches. Tate landed knees as Pennington punched to the ribs. In the final ten seconds, Pennington landed a five-punch combo and Tate replied with a nice one-two. 10-9 Pennington.

Round 3:
Tate jumped guard in round three and looked to set up an armbar and a triangle choke from the bottom. Pennington countered with punches and elbows, but Tate maintained her grip and chained together submission attempts. Pennington passed to North-South position and landed more elbows as Tate battled back to her feet. Pennington used a front choke attempt to put Tate on her back again. Tate tried for a heel hook and Pennington avoided danger. She trapped Tate in another front choke and threw her down to the mat with 30 seconds to go. Pennington finished the round with ground and pound. 10-9 Pennington.

Winner: Raquel Pennington by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) after three rounds. She improves to 9-5-0.

 

(Undercard results and play-by-play on Page Two.)