Conor McGregor has finally made it to New York (along with the UFC)

This was why the UFC owners – and former owners – fought for more than a decade to legalize mixed martial arts in New York.

An overflow crowd jammed into the Theater in Madison Square Garden on Tuesday for the kickoff news conference for UFC 205, which will be held in The Garden on Nov. 12.

It will be the first UFC event in New York since the state lifted the nearly 20-year-old ban on MMA in the state and the first since UFC 7 was held in Buffalo on Sept. 8, 1995.

The star attraction, as usual, was Conor McGregor, the featherweight champion who will challenge Eddie Alvarez for the lightweight title in the main event of UFC 205 at The Garden on Nov. 12.

McGregor cracked a series of one-liners, at one point zinging fellow featherweight Jeremy Stephens by asking, “Who the [expletive] is that guy?” after Stephens had spoken.

It was so zany that a reporter, or someone pretending to be a reporter, cursed out Alvarez and gave him the middle finger in what was supposed to be the news conference’s final question.

The UFC has held 17 cards in neighboring New Jersey, including seven in Newark, which is a short train ride from New York City. But having a fight in Jersey was nowhere near the same as in the media capital of the world.

McGregor, as he often does, stole the show. He rose to the occasion and showed he’s every bit as big as the city he held at least for a moment in the palm of his hand.

“Listen, the Irish, we built this damn town,” McGregor said. “I’m serious. We built this thing. Now I’m back. Now I’m coming to claim what’s ours. It’s an honor to be here. Coming in here listening to all these fans, it truly is a dream come true. I cannot wait to perform for you. I’m going to take out one of your own.

“I’m going to cash your own money, but make no mistake, it’s all love. The Irish love New York and I’m honored to be here.”

That’s the kind of populism that plays well in New York, and the fans, including a hefty group of Irish, roared their approval.

They roared at every opportunity, including when UFC president Dana White made the obligatory, “This is the best card we’ve ever done,” comment that he seems to trot out at every other event these days.

The show is deep, with three title fights on top of the card, and a lightweight bout between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Michael Johnson was added on Tuesday. In addition to McGregor-Alvarez, Tyron Woodley will defend the welterweight belt against Stephen Thompson, and strawweight champ Joanna Jedrzejczyk of Poland will face countrywoman Karolina Kowalkiewicz.

McGregor mocked Alvarez and spoke over him throughout the show. When Alvarez tried to battle back, McGregor just shouted louder as the crowd egged him on.

Alvarez told McGregor to get rid of what he called, “the little boy belt,” but McGregor appeared physically larger when they squared off afterward for photos.

McGregor needled Alvarez for his pay, and said of his income this year, “By the time 2016 closes out, I’ll be closing in on $40 million. It’s been a 40 million [dollar] year for me.”

He’s fought twice already this year, splitting a pair of non-title bouts at welterweight with Nate Diaz.

He’s getting his shot at Alvarez’s belt in order to facilitate his desire to become the first person in UFC history to hold championships in two weight classes simultaneously.

White, who didn’t have to absorb so much as a single punch to become the $360 million man after the UFC’s $4.2 billion sale in July, had little to say about what will happen to McGregor’s featherweight belt should he defeat Alvarez.

McGregor won the featherweight title in December when he knocked out Jose Aldo in 13 seconds at UFC 194, but he hasn’t defended it and won’t in 2016.

White said “we’ll figure it out when it happens,” in regards to the belt, but McGregor had a ready answer.

“They’re going to have to gather an army to try and take one of them off me,” McGregor said. “That’s damn straight. One’s going to be there [gesturing to his left shoulder]. One’s going to be there [gesturing to his right shoulder] and I’m going to be picking and choosing who I want to destroy next.”

It was that kind of night. Alvarez simply couldn’t keep up with McGregor on the microphone, but neither could anyone else.

In addition to taking a shot at Stephens, McGregor said the former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar “wasn’t up to scratch,” when Edgar lost to Aldo at UFC 200 in June.

When welterweight Donald Cerrone, who faces Kelvin Gastelum, said he enjoyed sitting back and “listening to this joker talk,” McGregor went at him, too.

“Another broke, jealous, bitter fighter,” McGregor said. “The game seems to be full of them. I’ve got nothing but love for everyone up here, you know what I’m saying. It’s just bitterness and hate and negativity towards me because of what I’m doing, because of what I’m making. That’s all that is.”

He’s going to make much more. The pay-per-view figures to be phenomenal again, and there is little doubt the Garden will be filled to the rafters with Irish fans, singing and cheering on their hero.

Get used to it, though, because win or lose, McGregor isn’t going anywhere any time soon.

Neither is New York. After an absence of more than 20 years, fans are desperate to see MMA in their state. And the UFC will milk that for all it’s worth in the next few years.

With so many Irish fans in the area, it’s a natural fit for McGregor. It might become his home away from home before much longer.

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