The biggest UFC gate in Madison Square Garden history occurred during UFC 205, which took place on November 12, 2016. The event, headlined by Conor McGregor’s historic victory over Eddie Alvarez, drew a massive crowd and earned an impressive $17.7 million. It was the first UFC event in New York after the legalization of MMA in the state, making the night even more significant. Since debuting at MSG, Dana White has broken several records as promoter of the UFC, with New Yorks shaping up to be the top fight destination for UFC fighters.

The upcoming UFC 309 event is also shaping up to be a monumental event, and Dana White is already calling it one for the history books. With legends like Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic headlining, the surge in ticket sales is no surprise. But what expectations does White have from the event? Let us take a look at it below.

Dana White makes some bold predictions about the upcoming UFC 309 event

Madison Square Garden, one of the most iconic venues in the world, has hosted some of the most memorable UFC events in history. After the legalization of mixed martial arts in New York in 2016, the UFC made its long-awaited debut at the Garden with UFC 205 on November 12, 2016. Following UFC 205, the Garden continued to host major events, including UFC 217 in November 2017, which saw blockbuster fights such as Michael Bisping vs. Georges St-Pierre, TJ Dillashaw vs. Cody Garbrandt and Rose Namajunas vs.Joanna Jędrzejczyk in a series of thrilling fights.

These events, among others, showcase Madison Square Garden’s status as a key venue in the evolution of UFC, providing an unmatched atmosphere for fighters and fans alike. As of November 16, 2024, UFC 309, featuring Jon Jones defending his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic at Madison Square Garden, has achieved a gate revenue of $12.4 million. UFC CEO Dana White is all excited about the event and sat down for a chat with TMZ Sports.

During the conversation, he said, “Very satisfying. This is the number two biggest gate of all time at Madison Square Garden. Now the UFC holds the number one, number two, number three, number four, number six, number eight, and number nine [biggest gates of] all time – seven of the top 10 biggest gates ever at MSG.” The 55-year-old then gave an important update to the fans about whether the newly elected U.S. president would be present at the event. The long-time admirer and friend of Donald Trump replied with, “Well I think that anything is possible, he’s a big fan. Who knows? He could pop in.”

White for a long period of time was under a lot of pressure for announcing the UFC 309 main event. Fans expected Jones to return to action against Tom Aspinall. Instead, the two-eight champion snubbed the interim champion for a fight against Stipe Miocic. The 37-year-old has now shown his interest in fighting the light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira after UFC 309. However, the UFC CEO has other plans for the UFC heavyweight champion.

Dana White wants Jon Jones to take on Tom Aspinall next if he fights next

Jon Jones recently sparked interest in a potential fight with former middleweight champion Alex Pereira. ‘Bones’ has always mentioned Pereira as a possible opponent, citing his respect for Pereira’s striking and his desire to test his skills against a former champion. Pereira, known for his knockout power and his history would bring a unique challenge for Jones, who has dominated MMA with his versatility. The potential clash between the two fighters promises to be a thrilling showdown, blending Jones’ technical mastery with Pereira’s striking ferocity.

However, the UFC CEO doesn’t quite like the idea and has made it clear who the 37-year-old would face next.  While speaking on The Jim Rome Show, Dana White ended the confusion regarding Jones and his next fight. White made it clear, saying, “If Jon Jones wants to fight again after Saturday night, he will fight Tom Aspinall.” Well, for this particular fight to happen ‘Bones’ will first have to get past the challenge of Stipe Miocic. Both fighters are potentially entering into their last fights of their career and would love to end it on a winning run.

So who do you think will win the clash at UFC 309? Will Jones be forced to fight Tom Aspinall, or will be retire if he doesn’t get the fight with Alex Pereira? Do let us know in the comments below.