UFC 205: Conor McGregor and Eddie Alvarez go eyeball to eyeball while Ronda Rousey returns at Madison Square Garden

AN electric atmosphere greeted the stars of UFC 205 as they stepped onto the scales and faced off for the final time ahead of their bouts at Madison Square Garden.

The iconic New York venue was packed to the rafters for the event, as Conor McGregor and Eddie Alvarez faced off and exchanged words, as UFC president Dana White ensured nothing got out of hand.

Per Haljestam

"It's just another day for me, I do this every week," McGregor told Joe Rogan after his staredown with Alvarez.

"Tomorrow night I'm ready to go in and do my thing, for my fans, for everyone that supports me.

"Ireland stand up! We're gonna do it again!"

Per Haljestam

Per Haljestam

And Alvarez responded simply by saying: "I'm here to represent the Beast Coast, the East Coast," before stopping himself from saying something, then walking off.

Tyron Woodley and Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson's face off was rather more reserved, as they both kept it classy when they went face to face.

Per Haljestam

Per Haljestam

Per Haljestam

Thompson told the crowd: "Man, you know what? This is why I do what I do. To put on a show for you guys.

"This is the biggest fight of my life. You're gonna see the best Wonderboy tomorrow night, right here at MSG. New York, baby! Let's go!"

Per Haljestam

Meanwhile, champion Woodley said he simply refuses to lose at the Mecca of combat sports.

"I've worked my entire life to be champion - 10 years in the making," he said.

"I'm not gonna lose at Madison Square Garden. No time, ever.

"Stephen Wonderboy's a tough opponent. A hard fighter to figure out.

"We got it done in training camp. Expect fireworks."

Per Haljestam

If it was relatively respectful between Woodley and Wonderboy, it wast anything but cordial when Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Karolina Kowalkiewicz faced off ahead of their strawweight title fight.

UFC president Dana White had to be on his guard as the two fellow Poles threatened to start their fight a day early.

Per Haljestam

Per Haljestam

Per Haljestam

Kowalkiewicz said she's all set to spring a shock and become champ.

"I am ready," she said.

"This is New York, anything is possible.

"New York, new champ!"

Per Haljestam

And a fired-up Jedrzejczyk told the crowd: "And still, forever and ever!"

"She has a dream, big dream. She dreams about my belt.

"That's all over. That's all over.

"It's only a dream."

Per Haljestam

And the event concluded with a surprise bonus face-off as former UFC champ Ronda Rousey made her return to stare down UFC women's bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes and make their UFC 207 main event title fight official.

Interestingly, after the pair had completed their staredown for the cameras, Joe Rogan interviewed Nunes, but NOT Rousey, who had instead chosen to simply walk off the stage.

The duo will do battle at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Friday December 30.

Per Haljestam

Per Haljestam