McGregor vs Poirier live

Conor McGregor vs Dustin Poirier 2 lightweight bout set to headline UFC 257 fight card in January

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After returning from retirement, fighting and then retiring again, Conor McGregor has his next UFC fight scheduled. McGregor will face Dustin Poirier in January 2021, the UFC announced on Monday. The rematch will serve as the main event of UFC 257, which will take place on Saturday, Jan. 23. No location has been announced for the UFC 257 card, though UFC president Dana White recently indicated he’s eyeing it to take place on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi.

As is usually the case for McGregor, the journey to this fight was unusual. McGregor had been on vacation in mid-September when he was detained in Corsica after allegations of attempted sexual assault. Around the same time, McGregor tweeted about being drug tested by USADA on his yacht despite claiming to be retired.

He followed that up by releasing a string of direct messages with UFC president Dana White from February. In the messages, McGregor pushed White for a fight against veteran Diego Sanchez in Los Angeles. He ended the string of tweets by announcing that his next fight would be in the Middle East against Manny Pacquiao in a boxing match. Confusion followed as it became clear the fight was not yet a done deal.

On Sept. 28, Poirier quote-tweeted a McGregor rant directed at Daniel Cormier, sparking McGregor to offer a charity bout. “Zero to do with the UFC,” McGregor tweeted. “I will donate half a mill towards your charity for it. Sell it on PPV or work a TV deal and we work out other charities that are close to my heart also. I am engaged in many. Strictly a charity exhibition.”

The UFC, not wanting to let a potential big-money fight between the former featherweight and lightweight champion and former interim lightweight champion slip away, offered up the fight to take place in the Octagon with White stating on Oct. 2 that Poirier signed on and they were just waiting for McGregor’s response. It would take more than a month before all parties would sign on the dotted line to make the bout official, but everything now looks set for McGregor and Poirier to step into the Octagon in January.

McGregor and Poirier previously faced off in September 2014, with McGregor scoring a TKO in just 1:46. The bout was McGregor’s fourth in the UFC and is looked back at as a key moment in his march to becoming UFC champion.

Dustin Poirier vs Dan Hooker targeted for UFC’s June 27 headliner

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Dustin Poirier and Dan Hooker are still expected to meet in an upcoming main event.

Poirier (25-6 MMA, 17-5 UFC), the former UFC interim lightweight champion, is slated to return against of one of the division’s surging contenders in Hooker (20-8 MMA, 10-4 UFC).

The matchup is in the works to headline the UFC’s June 27 event,

Dustin Poirier vs Dan Hooker

According to sources, the UFC’s preference is to hold the fight at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. However, it is contingent on the lifting of ongoing travel restrictions and Hooker’s ability to fly overseas from New Zealand. If Hooker is unable to enter the country due to limitations brought on the by COVID-19 crisis, the bout is likely to be shifted to a card on UFC’s “Fight Island” in July

Poirier, No. 3 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie MMA lightweight rankings, came up short of becoming undisputed champion in September when he suffered a submission loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 242 in September. “The Diamond” put together a nice run prior to the defeat, topping the likes of Max Holloway, Justin Gaethje and Eddie Alvarez.

Since the loss to Nurmagomedov, Poirier underwent hip surgery and had been pushing for a fight that “really excites” him, even if it meant a move up to the welterweight division. He will stay at his lightweight home, though, for his sixth consecutive main event.

No. 10 Hooker (20-8 MMA, 10-4 UFC), meanwhile, will get his second headliner in a row, but he’ll hope this one is less controversial than the last. Hooker got a hometown spot in New Zealand at UFC on ESPN+ 26 earlier this year and came out with a split decision win over Paul Felder.

The latest lineup for the UFC’s June 27 card includes:

  • Dustin Poirier vs. Dan Hooker
  • Viviane Araujo vs. Jennifer Maia
  • Alexa Grasso vs. Ji Yeon Kim