New York City has long been one of the most prestigious locations for combat sports. Since the legalization of MMA in the state in 2016, Madison Square Garden has become a premier venue for some of the UFC’s most unforgettable events. The world’s most famous arena has hosted legendary fights, title clashes, and historic moments that have shaped the legacy of the sport in the Empire State.
Madison Square Garden in New York City has become a premier venue for UFC events.
Historic UFC Events at Madison Square Garden
Let’s take a look at some of the biggest UFC events that have solidified New York City as a must-visit destination for MMA fans.
- UFC 205: Alvarez vs. McGregor (November 12, 2016): The UFC made its long-awaited debut at Madison Square Garden. The event featured one of the most iconic moments in MMA history, as Conor McGregor defeated Eddie Alvarez to become the UFC’s first simultaneous two-division champion. The event was a massive success, drawing a sold-out crowd of 20,427 fans and marking the beginning of a new era for the UFC in New York.
- UFC 217: Bisping vs. St-Pierre (November 4, 2017): Canadian legend Georges St-Pierre made his long-awaited return to the Octagon, defeating Michael Bisping to win the UFC middleweight title. With an attendance of 18,201 fans, this event further cemented New York’s status as a premier fight destination.
- UFC 230: Cormier vs. Lewis (November 3, 2018): UFC heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier defended his title against the dangerous knockout artist Derrick Lewis. Cormier secured a submission victory, becoming the first fighter in UFC history to defend a title in two different weight classes while holding belts simultaneously. The event drew 17,011 fans, proving once again that the UFC at MSG was a guaranteed spectacle.
- UFC 244: Masvidal vs. Diaz (November 2, 2019): One of the most unique and exciting events in UFC history introduced the now-famous « BMF » (Baddest Mother F***er) title. The fight between Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz was a battle of two of the UFC’s biggest fan favorites. Masvidal secured the win via doctor’s stoppage, and the event saw a packed crowd of 20,143 fans in attendance.
- UFC 268: Usman vs. Covington (November 6, 2021): After a brief hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the UFC returned to Madison Square Garden with UFC 268. The main event saw Kamaru Usman defend his welterweight title in a thrilling rematch against Colby Covington. The event was another massive success, drawing 20,715 fans and solidifying MSG’s reputation as the ultimate fight venue.
- UFC 281: Adesanya vs. Pereira (November 12, 2022): UFC 281 saw one of the most shocking upsets in recent memory. Long-reigning middleweight champion Israel Adesanya was defeated by his longtime kickboxing rival Alex Pereira via TKO in the fifth round, handing Adesanya his first loss in the middleweight division. With an attendance of 20,845, this event was one of the most talked-about in UFC history.
- UFC 295: Procházka vs. Pereira (November 11, 2023): Madison Square Garden continued to be the home of legendary moments. The main event featured a battle for the vacant light heavyweight title, as Jiří Procházka faced off against Alex Pereira. Pereira’s stunning knockout victory solidified his status as one of the most dangerous strikers in UFC history. With 19,039 fans in attendance, the atmosphere was electric.
- UFC 309: Jones vs. Miocic (November 16, 2024): This event saw two of the greatest heavyweights in MMA history battle for supremacy, drawing a massive crowd of 20,200. With Jones making his return to defend his title, the fight was one of the most significant heavyweight bouts of all time.
UFC New York 2026: What to Expect
UFC New York 2026, officially UFC New York 2026, will feature one of the strongest lineups of the year at Madison Square Garden. UFC New York 2026 will bring an unforgettable night of MMA action to the legendary Madison Square Garden. The event will showcase elite fighters in one of the most iconic arenas in combat sports history.
UFC New York 2026 is scheduled for November 2026, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The main event will see Jack Della Maddalena defend his welterweight title against former lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. In the co-main event, Valentina Shevchenko will face Zhang Weili for the women’s flyweight championship.
Read also: Aspinall-Jones Dream Matchup
Other confirmed fights include a women’s flyweight bout between Erin Blanchfield and Tracy Cortez, as well as a welterweight contest featuring Leon Edwards against Carlos Prates. In the co-main event, Valentina Shevchenko defends her flyweight title against current strawweight champion Zhang Weili, who steps up to challenge for a second division belt. Additional bouts include Erin Blanchfield vs. Tracy Cortez and Leon Edwards vs.
With championship gold on the line and some of the biggest names in the sport competing, UFC New York 2026 is set to be a landmark event in the UFC calendar. With UFC New York 2026 set to continue the tradition of legendary fight nights at Madison Square Garden, fans can expect another unforgettable event filled with world-class action, intense rivalries, and historic moments.
UFC 2026 Forecast: Full Division Breakdown, Fight Predictions & Future Matchups | UFC Analysis
Ticket Information and Availability
The ticket sales for UFC New York 2026 are not yet open. With New York being one of the biggest fight capitals in the world, tickets are expected to sell out quickly. Madison Square Garden has a seating capacity of nearly 19,500 for major sporting events, ensuring that fans will have a wide range of seating options to fit different budgets.
While official ticket prices have yet to be confirmed, we can estimate the cost based on past UFC events at Madison Square Garden, including UFC 309. With UFC events at MSG historically selling out quickly, UFC New York 2026 is expected to be in extremely high demand. If you plan to attend, it’s highly recommended to keep an eye on ticket sales and secure your seats as soon as they become available.
UFC Ticket Prices Explained.
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Ticket Prices for UFC 309: A Recent Benchmark
Here’s a look at the ticket prices for UFC 309, which can give you an idea of what to expect for future events:
- Starting price via StubHub: $469
- Price range: $500 to $11,419
Ticket prices for UFC 309 started at $469 via StubHub. Prices then ranged from $500, $600, $700, $800, $900, $1,000, $2,000, $3,000, $4,000, $5,000, $6,000, $7,000, $8,000, $9,000, and $11,419.
As of Sept. 23, the cheapest seats I found to attend this fight are from Vivid Seats for $821 for upper deck seating. Looking to get closer to the action? The cheapest floor seats available are also from Vivid Seats for $12,271.
Cheapest tickets:
- Vivid Seats: $821
- StubHub: $878
- Viagogo: $878
- Ticket City: $825
The Allure of Jon Jones and PPV Prices
The anticipation surrounding a Jon Jones fight is palpable, igniting conversations in gyms, living rooms, and sports bars alike. Fans are eager to know not just the outcome of his bouts but also the financial stakes involved. Pay-per-view (PPV) prices for UFC fights can vary significantly based on several factors-location, opponent, and even the platform through which you choose to view it.
Read also: "Jon Bones" Jones Career Overview
But let’s dig deeper into what this price tag represents beyond mere dollars and cents. Moreover, if you’re planning on watching at home with friends or family-a common ritual among MMA enthusiasts-the costs might add up quickly when factoring in snacks and drinks! It’s worth noting that sometimes special promotions arise where early purchases or subscriptions offer discounts on viewing fees-or perhaps even bundled deals if you subscribe to certain streaming services like ESPN+.
UFC 309: Jones vs. Miocic - A Detailed Look
The main event is the long-awaited UFC heavyweight title fight between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic. A national wrestling champion, Jones (27-1, 1 NC) held the UFC light heavyweight title at various points between 2011 and 2020, with his reign being disrupted due to legal issues and failed drug tests.
“Bones" attempted to fight then-UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou but negotiations with UFC CEO Dana White surrounding the purses for a potential fight went sour. Jones didn’t compete for three years, returning in 2023 after Ngannou left the organization, and beat Ciryl Gane to become UFC heavyweight champion.
A firefighter, Miocic (20-4) is a former Golden Gloves boxing champion. He won the UFC heavyweight title in 2016 and defended it four times, holding the record for the most successful title defenses in the division. Miocic traded wins and losses with Daniel Cormier for the belt from 2018 to 2020. The 42-year-old last fought in March 2021, losing the belt to Ngannou.
The two attempted to fight at UFC 295 in MSG, but a Jones injury halted that from happening. UFC CEO Dana White believes the fight will happen as planned, despite Tom Aspinall winning and defending the interim belt.