UFC returning to MSG in November

ANAHEIM, Calif. — The UFC returns to Madison Square Garden on Nov. 4 for UFC 217, it was announced Saturday night during the payper-view broadcast of UFC 214 from the Honda Center.

Who will headline the card and other matchups will be determined at a later date as well as information on ticket availability.

UFC president Dana White confirmed when the Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor World Tour stopped at Barclays Center earlier this month that the UFC would be returning to the Garden “before the end of the year.”

White and the UFC will have to work hard to top its UFC 205 offering last November at the Garden. White described it as the “biggest fight card in the company’s history.”

Jon Jones, who regained the light heavyweight title Saturday night with a TKO victory over Daniel Cormier at UFC 214 at the Honda Center, would be a natural fit for New York. He has roots in Ithaca and Rochester. He now trains in Albuquerque, N.M.

Jones should vault back to the top of the UFC popularity chart by defeating Cormier, who previously lost to then-champion Jones in January 2015.

Their rematch took longer than expected. Jones was stripped of his belt in 2015 after being involved in a hitand-run incident in Albuquerque. He previously was charged with DUI and tested positive for cocaine. He is now coming off a oneyear suspension after testing positive for a substance banned by USADA.

Combat fans are forgiving. Despite his troubles, Jones will do big business if he stays clean and continues to be a dominant in the Octagon as he once was.

He and White are on frosty terms after Jones took a sexenhancement pill that triggered an anti-doping violation and caused the cancellation of his rematch with Cormier at UFC 200 last July.

Jones has to stay busy. The UFC needs a pay-perview attraction besides McGregor.

Plus, a busy schedule will keep Jones focused and allow him to make up the money he lost while sitting out most of the past two years.