by UFC 257 will be live tomorrow night from Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Limited fans will be in attendance which only seems right considering one of the UFC’s biggest draw will be headlining the show as Conor McGregor returns. He will be hooking it up with Dustin Poirier who has risen to be one of the very best not only the division, but the entire sport.
Since these two-last hooked it up way back in 2014, a fight that McGregor won by first round KO, Dustin Poirier has been on a tear. He is 10-2-1 since, with one of the losses to the best pound for pound fighter in the word against Khabib Nurmagomedov. He has knocked off former champions Eddie Alvarez, Anthony Pettis, Justin Gaethje and Max Holloway along the way. Despite the loss to Khabib, he appears to be at his absolute best.
For Conor, no one can ever deny he was on the fast track to becoming one of the greatest MMA fighters ever. For my money, he was the biggest draw the fight game has seen since the heyday of Mike Tyson. As great as Johnny Bones Jones is, McGregor drew more money and notoriety for the sport.
The man was untouchable until a shocking loss to Nate Diaz at UFC 196 in March 2016 when he tried fighting two weight classes above his normal class. He would go on to defeat Diaz in the rematch that summer, then knock off Eddie Alvarez shortly after that.
It was after that win by McGregor in November of 2016, that everything got a little hazy. He then took almost two years away from MMA. In the meantime, mixing in a special attraction boxing match against Floyd Mayweather in which he looked pretty good before running out of gas. That fight was in August of 2017. He would eventually return the cage however in October of 2018.
In regards to MMA it had been a two-year layoff and waiting for him was a bonified killer in Khabib Nurmagomedov. The night didn’t go well for Conor as he was caught and floored early. This changed his whole game plan and he never got back on track before getting submitted in the fourth round. Afterwards a near riot broke out and it just capped an ugly night for McGregor.
Once again, McGregor would take a long layoff before returning a year ago to take out journeyman but UFC favorite Donald Cerrone in just 40 seconds. It was vintage McGregor and showed the world he hadn’t lost a step. Again, that was a year ago as another long layoff and faux retirement ensued.
I’ve been watching the UFC since day one back in 1993, and Conor is easily one of my all-time favorites and someone who has been amazing for the sport. When he is focused and at his best, few can touch him. If he comes into UFC 257 in shape, focused and hungry, he will put Poirier away. Maybe not as easy as last time, but he has the tools to do so.
UFC 257 will be available via PPV and ESPN Plus PPV
Also, on the card to watch out for will be
Julianna Pena vs Sara McMahon
Brad Tavares vs Antonio Carlos Jr
Jessica Eye vs Joanne Calderwood
Dan Hooker vs Michael Chandler
Amanda Ribas vs Marina Rodriguez
