UFC 257 is on the way.
The first pay-per-view event of the year for the promotion is booked for Fight Island (Yas Island, Abu Dhabi) on Saturday 23 January when Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier meet for the second time in their UFC careers.
First time out, it was all McGregor. This time, it’s anyone’s guess.
What we do know is that whoever comes out on top will likely get next crack at the UFC’s lightweight title, whether that’s against Khabib Nurmagomedov or not.
Ahead of UFC 257, there’s some tasty free fights dropping online, least of all this one with Dan Hooker and Dustin Poirier.
Watch: Dan Hooker v Dustin Poirier
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXoi8PN8CVM
There’s no doubting Poirier’s creditials (26-6, 1NC) at lightweight, himself a former interim champion while New Zealand’s Dan Hooker (20-9) was just relentless in the main event for UFC Fight Night Austin last June.
Hooker, sixth in the UFC’s lightweight rankings, has been added to the UFC 257 undercard with news confirmed on Monday he will face promotion newcomer and former Bellator lightweight champion, Michael Chandler.
With the hype around Chandler’s arrival and Hooker’s prospect, when the fight is formalised we’ll expect it to serve as the co-main event on the night.
Ahead of UFC 257, there’s some seriously tasty matchups to kick off a busy week for the UFC.
Former featherweight champion Max Holloway is on a two-fight skid and will be aiming to get back to winning ways against a rising Calvin Kattar in the main event for UFC Fight Island 7 on 16 January.
Four days later, it’s UFC Fight Island 8 with a five-round welterweight main event between Neil Magny and Michael Chiesa. Both have taken some good names in the past year, Magny seeing off former champ Robbie Lawler in August with Chiesa’s last outing twelve months ago with a win over Rafael dos Anjos.
UFC 257 Fight Card
- Dustin Poirier v Conor McGregor
- Jessica Eye v Joanne Calderwood
- Khalil Rountree Jr. v Marcin Prachnio
- Marina Rodriguez v Amanda Ribas
- Brad Tavares v Antonio Carlos Junior
- Matt Frevola v Ottman Azaitar
- Shane Burgos v Hakeem Dawodu
- Andrew Sanchez v Andre Muniz
All Things MMA is Scoreline.ie’s mixed martial arts podcast and it returns for a new season on 20 January with Ken McGuire and pro fight Myles Price. Look for All Things MMA in your favourite podcast app to subscribe in advance.
