Madison Square Garden, the iconic “Mecca of Sports,” has long been synonymous with hosting the NBA and NHL, but few could have imagined it would become a cornerstone for the UFC. Yet, here we are, just hours away from UFC 309, where UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones returns after a year-long hiatus to defend his title against former two-time champion Stipe Miocic in a five-round showdown.

The stakes for this fight have never been higher, especially at MSG, a venue that’s been part of UFC history since 2016. Now, in its 8th installment, UFC’s latest outing at the iconic venue is set to deliver one of the most stacked cards yet. Could this event surpass the milestones set by its predecessors? Fighter-turned-analyst Chael Sonnen may have some insight into the same.

Chael Sonnen’s insights on Jones vs. Miocic at UFC 309

Madison Square Garden holds a significant place in UFC history, beginning with its debut event in 2016 featuring the electrifying lightweight title showdown between Eddie Alvarez and Conor McGregor. In that fight, McGregor made history by becoming a two-division champion and helped set the record for the highest UFC event gate at $17,700,000—a record that stood until it was broken earlier this year at UFC 306: Noche. At that event, Sean O’Malley failed to defend his 135lbs crown against Georgian sensation Merab Dvalishvili.

However, according to Chael Sonnen, the record for the highest UFC gate with the exception of ‘UFC Sphere’ may be broken again this week at UFC 309. ‘The Bad Guy’ commented, “It’s got all the ingredients, doesn’t it, guys? Really think about that—venue is an important thing. I can’t personally relate, but I’m the one on third base wearing a catcher’s mitt. Other people can. Madison Square Garden—the most historic building, the biggest fights in the world, great live gate—it’s going to be through the roof.”

Sonnen further added that this upcoming Madison Square Garden event likely won’t surpass the near $22 million live gate record set by UFC 306, given that the PPV was held at the unique $2.3 billion Sphere venue, originally built for movie screenings and concerts, and featuring an impressive 160,000-square-foot screen. However, not everyone is impressed with the atmosphere of the UFC Sphere event—Brendan Schaub, for instance, had expressed his reservations, distancing himself from Dana White‘s ambitious $20 million project.

Brendan Schaub’s thoughts on Dana White’s $20+ million ambition

The historic UFC 306 event gained more attention for its mega-venue, the Sphere, than for its fight card, which was headlined by Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili. This focus on the venue led many critics and fight analysts to voice dissatisfaction with the overall fight card, feeling it lacked the excitement expected from a high-profile event.

Comedian and former fighter Brendan Schaub was among those critical, suggesting that it was the allure of the Sphere, rather than the fights, that pulled in fans and helped UFC and Dana White earn a $22 million live gate. Schaub raised a point about the appeal for those who couldn’t attend in person, especially international fans, who missed out on the unique venue experience.

In a critical Instagram video, Schaub slammed Dana White and the UFC, saying, “My issue is that the product I paid to watch was not great because it wasn’t a pay-per-view-worthy card. The highlight was the Sphere. Therefore, what you’re paying for, unless you’re in person, isn’t that impressive.” Schaub criticized the entire lineup, including the main and co-main events featuring Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko, as “lackluster,” further expressing concerns about the fan experience.

What are your thoughts on the upcoming UFC event at Madison Square Garden? Could the Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic showdown break the $17,700,000 live gate record set at UFC 205’s Conor McGregor vs. Eddie Alvarez bout? Drop your opinion below!