White says UFC 205 gate has broken MSG record

UFC 205 is yielding record-breaking returns a full two weeks before the promotion graces Madison Square Garden.

While appearing on a FOX Sports 1 pre-game show on Friday, president Dana White revealed the November event has already broken the arena's gate record.

"We've been in all the biggest, best arenas all over the world," White said, according to Bloody Elbow's Mookie Alexander. "Madison Square Garden is a big deal. All the legendary fights that have been held there, all of the legendary events. We actually broke the gate record for Madison Square Garden, so ... so far so good. I'm excited!"

The UFC boss didn't put a number on his claim, which presumably puts the gate north of the venue's $13.5 million record for a combat sports event. A 1999 heavyweight boxing match between Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield still officially holds the honor.

If White's words ring true, the event will have also broken the promotion's gate record of $12,075,000 for UFC 129. The 2011 card saw then-champion Georges St-Pierre successfully defend his welterweight title against Jake Shields by unanimous decision in the main event.

UFC 205, the promotion's first trip to New York City, will be headlined by a lightweight title fight between reigning champion Eddie Alvarez and Conor McGregor on Nov. 12. The bout is just one of three championship fights on the star-studded bill, with welterweight king Tyron Woodley welcoming challenger Stephen Thompson in the co-main event, and Joanna Jedrzejczyk defending her women's strawweight belt against fellow Pole Karolina Kowalkiewicz.