NEW YORK -- Conor McGregor looked he may have strolled straight off a New York fashion show catwalk in his white Gucci mink coat as he raised a steel chair high over his head and took aim on Eddie Alvarezs skull.UFC President Dana White interjected and snatched the top of the chair before McGregor clocked his UFC 205 main event foe. McGregor could only smirk as he asked a frothing crowd at Madison Square Garden how much a chair shot would cost him in a fine.McGregor was once docked $150,000 for tossing a water bottle at a press conference. He could keep the cash this time -- McGregor had his eyes and hands on Alvarezs lightweight championship belt. McGregor was tardy to Thursdays press conference -- hey, New York only waited more than two decades for a UFC debut, so whats 15 more minutes -- and Alvarez had stormed off waiting for the challenger to show up. McGregor arrived quite fashionably late, skipped across the stage, and promptly swiped the belt Alvarez had left behind at the podium.This is what confidence looks like, McGregor said as thousands of fans erupted in cheers.This is what UFC in NYC looks like at MSG.Banished to off, off, off Broadway for years by the state, Ultimate Fighting Championship is stoked for its legalized return and loaded UFC 205 card with three title fights and some of its biggest stars for Saturday nights pay-per-view show.McGregor, the Irish fighter with the brash public persona that made him one of UFCs top draws, could have sold out the Garden on the strength of his name alone on the marquee. McGregor, also the UFC featherweight champion, and UFC seem poised to smash the arenas gate record set in a 1999 boxing match between Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield. The bout drew $13.5 million and more than 21,000 fans stuffed the Garden.I rarely look around and take it in because were going 100 mph, White said, but you better believe I will on Saturday.UFC offered a sneak preview of the insanity ahead when McGregor, Alvarez, UFC welterweight champ Tyron Woodley, UFC womens strawweight champ Joanna Jedrzejczyk and other fighters joined White on the stage.New York fans lined up outside MSG more than three hours before they were allowed inside for the public press conference. Fox Sports 1 taped an episode of a sports debate show outside the arena to keep fans occupied. The bars and restaurants in the immediate area around MSG plastered with ads to come watch, drink and party on Saturday night were as ubiquitous as the Duane Reades on every corner.This place is going to be a zoo on Saturday, one lunchtime fan at Walters told a bartender.The Guinness might be flowing all night in McGregors honor.The Notorious Irishman remained backstage once White kicked off the press conference. Alvarez, making his first title defense since he smoked Rafael Dos Anjos for the belt in July, grew impatient waiting. Fighting out of Philly, Alvarez taunted the New York crowd that about booed him off the stage. Alvarez barked, Wheres my opponent? Wheres he at?When he comes, you give me a call, Alvarez said.He dropped the mic and walked off the stage.McGregor -- who sank a basket on the MSG court a day earlier -- skipped out in delight in an outfit straight out of central casting of the old HBO show Hookers at the Point. The predominantly young, white and male crowd freaked out for the biggest late entrance at the arena since Willis Reed limped through the tunnel in the 1970 NBA finals.I operate on my own time, and Im running early on my time, McGregor said.The faceoff melded the title-fight gravitas of the 1971 Joe Frazier-Muhammad Ali bout at the Garden with the steel-chair silliness of Hulk Hogan and Mr. T vs. Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff in the first WrestleMania.This is not like any other fight, White said. This is a massive enormous show.The promotion wasted no time in announcing it would return for UFC 209 on Feb. 11 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. No fights were announced.UFC morphed into a global phenomenon, become a staple on network television and ran PPV cards that hit 1 million buys during the ban. New York had been the lone state running against the trend of holding regulated MMA cards and made New Jersey its marquee fight home on the East.State lawmakers and Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo agreed in April to end the two-decade old ban following years of failed efforts by MMA supporters. The law authorizing the sport took effect in September. Cuomo concluded the move would boost the economy by luring bouts to the nations largest city as well as upstate venues, with one estimate that MMA could generate $137 million in annual economic activity.The revenue flow zealously starts on Saturday night.The chairs will be filled with fans and not in the hands of a championship challenger.UFC wants to prove to New York it was worth the wait.Finally were here, White shouted. The biggest, baddest fight card in UFC history! Custom Flyers T-shirts . It was just business as usual for the Thunder at home. Durant scored 32 points and the Thunder beat the Bulls 107-95 on Thursday night for their eighth straight win. Authentic Custom Flyers Jersey . A statement from the worlds top-ranked player says all checks "were satisfactory and showed positive evolution" regarding the injury, which contributed to his loss to Stanislas Wawrinka in the final in Melbourne. http://www.customflyersjersey.com/custom-bernie-parent-jersey-large-71e.html . Ashley Youngs cross was inadvertently headed by Chester into his own net in the 66th minute, allowing United to claim a third straight league win. "We had to dig deep with our fighting spirit and weve done that," United striker Wayne Rooney said. Custom Flyers Jersey China . -- James Young couldnt wait to apply those tweaks to his jump shot, and the first one he made against UT Arlington told him it could be a good night. Custom Flyers Jerseys . The defence is doing its part, too. Drew Brees threw a pair of touchdown passes in the first half and the guys on the other side made sure that was enough, sending the Saints to a 17-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night. MINNEAPOLIS -- While Teddy Bridgewater is weighing options for surgery, the Minnesota Vikings are scrutinizing the possibilities for another quarterback.Bridgewater visited team headquarters Thursday, just two days after the freak non-contact injury to his left knee sent him to a hospital by ambulance and devastated a team that was counting on its beloved leader to help make a legitimate push for the Super Bowl.The initial diagnosis was a dislocation of the knee and a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament, plus other significant damage that the Vikings have not disclosed, and the likelihood of it occurring was pegged at less than 1 percent.Bridgewaters representatives and family members flew to Minnesota and joined him in a meeting with Vikings head athletic trainer Eric Sugarman and general manager Rick Spielman to delve into the details. Spielman said a decision about when and where to have the operation should be made before the weekend.Given the timing and the severity of the injury, Bridgewater could have trouble returning to full strength for the 2017 season. Spielman declined to speculate the timetable for recovery until the surgery has been completed. The Vikings have said Bridgewater was fortunate to avoid damage to his arteries and nerves.The other thing hes got going for him is Teddy is a young 23-year-old guy, Spielman said. Youre not talking about a 34-year-old guy toward the end. So we expect a full recovery from Teddy.Spielman referenced running back Adrian Petersons swift recovery in roughly nine months from an ACL injury to start the 2012 opener.Hopefully were talking about Teddy the same way next year at this time, he said.Bridgewater drafted a statement distributed by the Vikings, thanking the entire organization, highlighting Sugarman and his staff and expressing appreciation for the well wishes from fans.Your thoughts and prayers mean a lot to me and have helped me in this difficult time. There are great players and great leaders in our locker room who are going to fight to the end to reach the goals we set for 20116.dddddddddddd. I will be there mentally, physically and in spirit to support them accomplish those goals, Bridgewater said.In order to have a testimony, you have to have a test. I come from amazing DNA. I watched my mom fight and win against breast cancer. We will, as a team, attack my rehab with the same vigor and energy. My faith is strong, my faith is unwavering and my vision is clear. My purpose will not be denied.The statement was shown on the video boards during the second quarter of Minnesotas preseason game against the Rams. The crowd, with some of the patrons clutching get-well-soon signs, began to clap before hitting a crescendo with a roar.Spielman and his lieutenants in the front office have had a hectic two days, scouring the list of free agents, studying film during marathon sessions and assessing candidates who could be cut on Saturday afternoon or otherwise available in a trade.Essentially speaking to the rest of his peers around the NFL during an interview with reporters on Thursday night, Spielman said hes already rejected several offers he considered to be crazy by other teams assuming desperation with the Vikings.Were not giving up any of these talented young players we have. I can tell you that right now, Spielman said. We worked too hard, our coaches and our scouts, to build this thing and go out and draft guys and develop guys to just give them away for a guy to come in here and may only be here for seven months.No, he hasnt called Peyton Manning. Spielman joked about speaking with Brett Favre, the newly minted member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.I think the gold jacket put the seal on that one, he said.For now, 15-year veteran Shaun Hill will take over for Bridgewater.We have the utmost confidence in Shaun Hill, Spielman said. The way hes played this preseason, how he runs this offense.---Online:AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '