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CONOR MCGREGOR makes his UFC return tonight with a huge Fight Island showdown against Dustin Poirier.
The eagerly-awaited UFC 257 bout is a rematch of their 2014 fight which McGregor won with a first round TKO.
The pair go head-to-head in Abu Dhabi tonightCredit: Getty Images – Getty
What time is McGregor vs Poirier?
- UFC 257 takes place TONIGHT – Saturday, January 23.
- Expect the main event of McGregor vs Poirier at around 5am UK time into the early hours of Sunday morning.
- The early prelims start from 11.30pm UK time, the prelims 1am and then the main card from 3am.
- The brand new Etihad Arena on Fight Island plays host – with 2,000 socially-distanced fans in attendance.
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What TV channel is McGregor vs Poirier on and can I live stream it?
- UFC 257 will be broadcast live on BT Sport Box Office in the UK.
- The event price has been confirmed as £19.95 through BT Sport Box Office.
- In the US, the event will be live on ESPN+.
- BT Sport 1 will be showing the prelims between 1am-3am to watch for subscribers.
McGregor vs Poirier tale of the tape
What is the UFC 257 full card and prelims?
Michael Chandler’s big UFC debut is the co-main on the main card as the ex-Bellator sensation faces Dan Hooker.
Main card (3am UK time/ 10pm ET/ 7am Abu Dhabi)
- Dustin Poirier vs Conor McGregor (main event – lightweight)
- Dan Hooker vs Michael Chandler (co-man – lightweight)
- Jessica Eye vs Joanne Calderwood (women’s flyweight)
- Matt Frevola vs Ottman Azaitar (lightweight)
- Marina Rodriguez vs Amanda Ribas (women’s strawweight)
Prelims (from 1am UK time/ 8pm ET/ 5am Abu Dhabi)
- Nasrat Haqparast vs Arman Tsarukyan (lightweight)
- Khalil Rountree Jr vs Marcin Prachnio (light heavyweight)
- Julianna Pena vs Sara McMann (women’s Bantamweight)
- Brad Tavares vs Antonio Carlos Junior (middleweight)
Early prelims (11.30pm UK time/ 6.30pm ET/ 3.30am Abu Dhabi)
- Andrew Sanchez vs Makhmud Muradov (middleweight)
- Movsar Evloev vs Nik Lentz (catchweight – 150 lb)
- Amir Albazi vs Zhalgas Zhumagulov (flyweight)
McGregor vs Poirier 1 fight replay
Conor McGregor beat Dustin Poirier by first round TKO at UFC 178 in 2014Credit: AP:Associated Press
What have they said?
McGregor: “Back on the horse! Time zone adjusting. Weight scale calculating. Fail to prepare, prepare to fail. No chance! I am preparing a masterpiece!”
Poirier: “I feel like Khabib’s a guy of his word. If he says he’s retired, he’s most likely retired.
“Number two is Gaethje, I got a win over him. I feel like me and Conor could potentially be for the belt.
“I’m a former interim champion looking to get some gold back around my waist.
“Conor is a former undisputed world champion in the lightweight division.
“Both of our last defeats were to the current/’retired’ world champion. So I don’t know.”
Colby Covington, former team-mate of Poirier’s: “All I gotta say guys is make sure you guys got the Kleenex ready at the press conference.
“Cause you know Dustin Sore-ier is going to break down on the mic.
“He’s gonna cry to the world, get everyone to feel sympathy and feel bad for him. He’s going to get sparked again in the first round ’cause he’s completely washed up and has no chin anymore and no heart.
“It’s not going to be competitive. I think Conor’s just going to spark him in the first round.”
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FIGHT FANS
2,000 lucky spectators are being let in tonight to watch the full card, which gets underway shortly in Abu Dhabi.
Excited yet? You should be.
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WEIGH TO GO
Things are never dull when McGregor is involved.
And yesterday was no exception, as the pair weighed in and made the fight official.
McGregor looked huge as he tipped the scales at 155lbs, while Poirier will pack a punch after weighin in a pound heavier.
But in classic fashion, Notorious is expecting fireworks.
He said: “I will knock Dustin out inside 60 seconds.”
“I love Dustin, I think he’s a good fighter. He’s even a great fighter, you know? But great is still levels below me.”
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FULL CARD
Main card (3am UK time/ 10pm ET/ 7am Abu Dhabi)
- Dustin Poirier vs Conor McGregor (main event – lightweight)
- Dan Hooker vs Michael Chandler (co-man – lightweight)
- Jessica Eye vs Joanne Calderwood (women’s flyweight)
- Matt Frevola vs Ottman Azaitar (lightweight)
- Marina Rodriguez vs Amanda Ribas (women’s strawweight)
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FULL CARD
Prelims (from 1am UK time/ 8pm ET/ 5am Abu Dhabi)
- Nasrat Haqparast vs Arman Tsarukyan (lightweight)
- Khalil Rountree Jr vs Marcin Prachnio (light heavyweight)
- Julianna Pena vs Sara McMann (women’s Bantamweight)
- Brad Tavares vs Antonio Carlos Junior (middleweight)
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FULL CARD
So who are we seeing in action on Fight Island tonight?
It’s a biggie – and we’re going late. Hope you’ve prepared for an all-nighter…Early prelims (11.30pm UK time/ 6.30pm ET/ 3.30am Abu Dhabi)
- Andrew Sanchez vs Makhmud Muradov (middleweight)
- Movsar Evloev vs Nik Lentz (catchweight – 150 lb)
- Amir Albazi vs Zhalgas Zhumagulov (flyweight)
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TALE OF THE TAPE
These two know each other well – but Poirier is a very different fighter to the one we saw in 2014.
McGregor has the narrow reach advantage, but on paper there’s really not a lot to split them.
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NOTORIOUS IS BACK
After more than a year in the wilderness, Conor McGregor is back in the big time.
Notorious makes his UFC return tonight on Fight Island against DustinPoirier, a fighter he dispatched in ruthless style seven long years ago.
The Irishman spent most of 2020 keeping us guessing, retiring once again in June just months after his 40-second demolition of Cowboy Cerrone.
UFC just isn’t the same without him and McGregor drops back to lightweight this evening, the first time he’s fought in the packed division since his loss to Khabib in late 2018.
Tonight’s bout takes place on Fight Island in the United Arab Emirates, where 2000 lucky fans will get to enjoy the action – socially distanced, of course.
McGregor looked stunning at the weigh in, tipping the scales at 155lbs and is heavy favourite to make a winning return – and potentially get back into title contention.
We’ve a packed card coming at you throughout the night from Abu Dhabi, which includes a number of stars as well as up-and-coming talent.
The co-main event sees Dan Hooker face Michael Chandler, while Jessica Eye takes on Joanne Calderwood.Things get underway around 11pm, with the prelims themselves from 1am before the main card at 3am.
Hope you’ve got the coffee ready. Or maybe something stronger – McGregor vs Poirier is likely to see the first bell around 5am GMT. Strap in.
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