UFC, McGregor enjoy record-setting night at MGM Grand
Saturday night’s Ultimate Fighting Championship card at the MGM Grand was the organization’s most successful Las Vegas event ever at the box office.
UFC 194 drew an announced crowd of 16,516, which accounted for a $10.1 million live gate, UFC officials announced at a post-fight news conference.
The previous high for 2015 was 16,019 fans and a $7.2 million gate at UFC 189 on July 11.
Both cards were scheduled to be headlined by featherweight title fights between Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor. Aldo had to pull out of the July 11 fight with an injury and McGregor beat Chad Mendes for the interim featherweight belt.
McGregor finally got his chance at Aldo on Saturday night and took full advantage, knocking him out in just 13 seconds to set the record for fastest finish in a UFC title fight.
McGregor said after the fight he’s proud of all of the records he was part of this week.
“I do enjoy the numbers,” he said. “I make no secret of that. I do enjoy breaking records.”
UFC 194 was responsible for the second-largest gate in UFC history, surpassed only by the $12.075 million brought in for UFC 129 in Toronto, which was attended by 55,724 people in 2011.
The numbers announced by the UFC will be verified by the Nevada Athletic Commission.
Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj
