2025 is almost out the door, but before the year wraps, the UFC is giving fans one last blockbuster—UFC 322. The action unfolds Saturday night at New York’s iconic Madison Square Garden, headlined by Jack Della Maddalena vs. Islam Makhachev. Hype for the card was already sky-high, and Dana White’s latest announcement simply confirmed what everyone suspected.

“We are sold out on Saturday night again. It’s gonna be a $13 million gate. The UFC wasn’t allowed here a few years ago. [Now] we are the top eight all-time at Madison Square Garden,” White told Fox Sports Australia. The real question now: how does UFC 322’s gate stack up against the largest in UFC history?

Which spot does Islam Makhachev vs. Jack Della Maddalena take?

As reported by Championship Rounds, Jack Della Maddalena vs. Islam Makhachev at UFC 322 has officially entered the record books with the 9th-highest gate in UFC history. The event edges past UFC 295, where Alex Pereira vs. Jiri Procházka brought in $12.4 million. Still, it sits just shy of UFC 299’s Sean O’Malley vs. Marlon Vera rematch, which pulled $14.1 million.

Leading the all-time list is Sean O’Malley’s UFC Noche showdown with Merab Dvalishvili, generating a staggering $21.8 million at the Las Vegas Sphere. Right behind it is UFC 205’s blockbuster between Eddie Alvarez and Conor McGregor at $17.7 million, also at MSG, followed by the mega-fight between McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov at $17.1 million, rounding out the top 3.

UFC 309’s Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic brought in $16.6 million, keeping it firmly inside the top five. Alex Pereira also features heavily on the list, with his UFC 300 bout against Jamahal Hill ($16.5 million) and his UFC 303 rematch with Procházka ($15.9 million) securing the 5th and 6th spots, respectively. Rounding out the top tier is Dustin Poirier’s UFC 264 trilogy fight with McGregor, which earned $15.7 million.

Even so, UFC 322’s $13 million haul secures it a special distinction. It ranks No. 3 all-time among UFC events held at Madison Square Garden—a major achievement for the promotion’s ninth trip to the iconic arena. Coming back to White’s statement, though, why was UFC not allowed in New York some years ago?

How did UFC hold its first event in New York?

The UFC’s path to holding its first event in New York was a two-decade battle built on regulation, lobbying, and political change. The promotion was banned in 1997 when New York outlawed unsanctioned combative sports, driven by concerns over early UFC events marketed as “no rules” fighting. 

Over the next decade, the UFC rebranded itself, adopting the Unified Rules of MMA in 2001, which introduced weight classes, rounds, mandatory protective gear, and a clear list of fouls. These reforms helped athletic commissions across the U.S. embrace the sport—except New York. 

From 2010 to 2016, the UFC invested heavily in lobbying state lawmakers, filed a federal lawsuit to challenge the ban, and built alliances with unions and business groups pushing for MMA legalization. The breakthrough came in 2016 when Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie shifted support. 

Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the bill soon after, clearing the way for UFC 205 at Madison Square Garden. 

The UFC has clearly come a long way from the 90s. While JDM vs. Makhachev didn’t make the top of the list, more such fights can only do better numbers. Were you expecting UFC 322 to attract such numbers?