UFC 257: Poirier vs. McGregor 2 is an upcoming mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that will take place on January 23, 2021, at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Fight card
Main card
Lightweight Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor Lightweight Dan Hooker vs. Michael Chandler Women's Flyweight Jessica Eye vs. Joanne Calderwood Lightweight Matt Frevola vs. Ottman Azaitar Women's Strawweight Marina Rodriguez vs. Amanda Ribas
Preliminary card (ESPN2 / ESPN+)
Lightweight Nasrat Haqparast vs. Arman Tsarukyan Middleweight Brad Tavares vs. Antônio Carlos Júnior Women's Bantamweight Julianna Peña vs. Sara McMann Light Heavyweight Khalil Rountree Jr. vs. Marcin Prachnio
Early preliminary card (ESPN+ / UFC Fight Pass)
Middleweight Andrew Sanchez vs. Makhmud Muradov Catchweight (150 lb) Movsar Evloev vs. Nik Lentz Flyweight Amir Albazi vs. Zhalgas Zhumagulov
Background
Starting with UFC on ABC: Holloway vs. Kattar, a limited number of fans will be allowed inside the newly built Etihad Arena, marking the first time since UFC 248 on March 2020 that non-essential event personnel will be in attendance. The venue has maximum capacity of over 18,000, but the UFC is expecting to have closer to 2,000 fans for each of the Fight Island's events during the week.
For the event to be broadcast live during Prime time hours on the east coast of North America, the main card is scheduled to begin at 7:00 am (January 24) local time in Abu Dhabi, with a full preliminary card beginning at approximately 4:00 am Gulf Standard Time.
A lightweight rematch between former UFC Featherweight and Lightweight Champion Conor McGregor and former interim champion Dustin Poirier is set to headline this event. They met previously in a featherweight bout at UFC 178 in September 27, 2014, where McGregor won by first round TKO.
A bantamweight bout between promotional newcomers Umar Nurmagomedov and Sergey Morozov was initially scheduled to take place at UFC 254, but Nurmagomedov pulled out due to an illness. The pairing was then rescheduled for this event. Finally, the bout was set to take place 3 days prior at UFC on ESPN: Chiesa vs. Magny.
A flyweight bout between Amir Albazi and Zhalgas Zhumagulov was expected to take place at UFC on ESPN: Smith vs. Clark, but Zhumagulov pulled out due to visa issues and the bout was rescheduled for this event.
Former Invicta FC Atomweight Champion Michelle Waterson was expected to face Amanda Ribas in a women's strawweight bout at this event. However, Waterson pulled out of the bout in early December due to undisclosed reasons. She was replaced by Marina Rodriguez.
Tagir Ulanbekov was briefly scheduled to face returning veteran Matheus Nicolau in a flyweight bout. However, Ulanbekov withdrew in late December due to undisclosed reasons. The pairing was eventually rescheduled for UFC Fight Night 187 on March 13.
A middleweight bout between The Ultimate Fighter: Team Joanna vs. Team Cláudia light heavyweight winner Andrew Sanchez and André Muniz was expected to take place at this event. In late December, Muniz withdrew due to an injury and was replaced by Makhmud Muradov.
A women's bantamweight bout between The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate bantamweight winner Julianna Peña and former UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship challenger Sara McMann (also 2004 Olympic silver medalist in wrestling) was originally scheduled to take place a week earlier at UFC on ABC: Holloway vs. Kattar, but it was eventually pushed back to this event.
A featherweight bout between Shane Burgos and Hakeem Dawodu was scheduled for the event. However on January 9, Dawodu was forced to withdraw from the bout citing a shoulder injury. The UFC confirmed three days later that Burgos was also injured and the bout was canceled.
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UFC on ESPN 20 - Chiesa vs. Magny
