Everyone loves a sequel, and that’s what we’ve got for the main event at UFC 257. Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier will square off in a lightweight bout for the second time ever. We’re looking at a rematch of UFC 178, a fight that McGregor won by TKO in the first period. However, it’s not the only fight on the card for January 23, so let’s get into the nitty-gritty of all things UFC 257.
What is UFC 257?
The January 23 event is the latest edition of UFC’s Pay-Per-View action, and it stands to be one of the best versions yet. The McGregor and Poirier bout is the main event, but the card is packed with debuts and ranked matchups. In Women’s Flyweight, No. 6 Jessica Eye and No. 7 Joanne Calderwood will square off along with No. 8 Marina Rodriguez and No. 9 Amanda Ribas at Women’s Strawweight.
Now, for the action that you really want to see — both Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier have come a long way since their last fight in 2014. No. 2 Poirier’s star has risen since he spent time as the interim lightweight champion after defeating Max Holloway. He also put up quite the effort against now-retired Khabib Nurmagomedov. Mentioning Khabib, who could forget the hurt that he put on Conor McGregor back in 2018?
McGregor has bounced back since that loss, rising to No. 4 and taking out Donald Cerrone in his only 2020 fight. Though the lower-ranked fighter, Conor McGregor figures to be the favorite heading into the match with his 22-4 all-time record. He also carries an extra two inches of reach compared to Poirier. Of course, there’s only so much that statistics can tell you, so you may just have to tune into the Pay-Per-View on ESPN Plus.
Who is on the card?
Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier will rap up the action as the main event on January 23, but who else can we look forward to? Here are the rest of the announced fights for the Saturday night action:
- No. 6 Dan Hooker vs Michael Chandler — Lightweight
- No. 6 Jessica Eye vs No. 7 Joanne Calderwood — Women’s Flyweight
- Khalil Rountree Jr. vs Marcin Prachnio — Light Heavyweight
- No. 8 Marina Rodriguez vs No. 9 Amanda Ribas — Women’s Strawweight
- No. 14 Brad Tavares vs Antonio Carlos Junior — Middleweight
- Matt Frevola vs Ottman Azaitar — Lightweight
- Andrew Sanches vs Andrew Muniz — Middleweight
How can you watch UFC 257?
On any normal year, there’s a chance that you’d be able to score tickets to the January 23 action. However, UFC 257 is no normal event. All of the action is going down on UFC’s Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, and you can soak it all in from the comfort of your home. The only place you’ll find McGregor vs Poirier 2 is on ESPN Plus with the all-important Pay-Per-View signup.
See also: What is ESPN Plus? Is it worth it? Everything you need to know
UFC and ESPN Plus are newly forged partners, and that’s great news for you. It means that you can keep up with all of the drama beforehand and catch the fight live on January 23. There are even a few different ways to get your subscription lined up.
Sure, you can simply sign up for a year of service at $59.99, but that’s not the most cost-effective way to watch the Notorious take on Poirier. Instead, you can combine your year of ESPN Plus with full access to the fight for just $89.98 (over 30% off). Even better, subscribing to ESPN Plus now will make PPV fights in the future a bit more affordable.
If you’re already set up with ESPN Plus, there are a few different ways to grab access to UFC 257. The cost varies based on your ESPN Plus subscription, so here’s what you need to know:
- Existing yearly ESPN Plus subscribers can buy the fight for $69.99.
- Current monthly subscribers can watch the fight live for $69.99 or upgrade to an annual plan plus the fight for $85.
Don’t forget, this new partnership means that ESPN Plus is your home for UFC Pay-Per-View both now and in the future, so a long term subscription is perfect for the next time fight night rolls around. Get yourself set up at the button below: