The UFC’s first pay-per-view event of 2021 will deliver a huge rematch, as former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier and former two-division champ Conor McGregor will go head to head at UFC 257 in a bout with major title implications in the UFC’s 155-pound division.

The pair first clashed at UFC 178 in September 2014, where McGregor (22-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC) stunned Poirier (26-6 MMA, 18-5 UFC) early in the first round to claim a 106-second knockout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Since then, both men have evolved and developed into two of the best lightweight fighters on the planet.

McGregor captured interim featherweight gold at UFC 189, then upgraded to the undisputed title with a stunning knockout of Jose Aldo at UFC 194. Then, at UFC 205, he became the UFC’s first simultaneous two-division champion – a “champ champ” – by finishing Eddie Alvarez at Madison Square Garden. He was eventually stripped of both titles after failing to defend either belt.

Poirier, meanwhile, went back to the drawing board after his defeat and moved up to 155 pounds, where he found another gear as he moved his way up the division and eventually claimed interim lightweight gold with victory over then-featherweight champion Max Holloway at UFC 236.

Both men have challenged Khabib Nurmagomedov for the undisputed title, but both suffered the same fate as they lost via rear-naked choke submission. Now the pair will face off in a rematch looking to push themselves one step closer to a shot at the lightweight belt once again.

Ahead of their bout, former UFC welterweight title challenger and UFC analyst Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy invites us into “The War Room,” as he takes a deep dive into the matchup and offers his technical pointers ahead of the fight. Check out his pre-fight assessment via the video above.

UFC 257 takes place Saturday, Jan. 23 at Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. The event streams on pay-per-view on ESPN+.

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Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/01/video-dan-hardy-breaks-down-dustin-poirier-vs-conor-mcgregor-rematch-at-ufc-257

ABU DHABI – Following UFC fighter Spencer Fisher’s admission that he’s battling the effects of CTE in a detailed interview with MMA Fighting, UFC president Dana White admits there is still much to learn about the issue of brain injuries, and even hinted at first-hand experience of issues caused by head trauma in combat sport.

The organization announced last week its continued collaboration with the Cleveland Clinic and its Professional Athletes Brain Health Study, and donated $1 million to the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas.

Speaking to MMA Junkie on Wednesday on “UFC Fight Island” ahead of UFC on ABC 1, White explained that the UFC is continuing to work with industry leaders in trying to learn more about the issues of brain health in professional sports.

“Listen, we’re all learning every day about the brain injury stuff,” White said. “We’ve been investing in this (Lou) Ruvo Center to try to figure out more. We’re now interested (about) this thing just came out on ‘Real Sports’ about psychedelics, and we’ve actually reached out to the Johns Hopkins guys, and we’re diving into that.

“But listen, (Fisher)’s not the first, and he’s definitely not going to be the last. This is a contact sport, and everybody who’s ever done this (while) younger, myself included, is dealing with brain issues. It’s just part of the gig.”

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/01/dana-white-reacts-to-spencer-fishers-cte-admission-says-ufc-continues-to-invest-in-brain-injury-research

ABU DHABI –  UFC president Dana White doesn’t expect his upcoming meeting with UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov to be complicated.

According to White, his pitch to get Nurmagomedov (29-0 MMA, 13-0 UFC) to return to fighting will be quick. He’s not anticipating an argument, nor is he going to beg Nurmagomedov to do something he doesn’t want to.

“It’s going to be a five-minute conversation,” White told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “It’s yes or no. It’s yes or no.”

The last time Nurmagomedov spoke with White about fighting was right after his UFC 254 submission win over Justin Gaethje – and his subsequent in-cage retirement speech.

In White’s eyes, Nurmagomedov was caught up in the emotion of the moment. Now that the dust has settled, the UFC boss is confident Nurmagomedov will choose to fight again.

“When I left Abu Dhabi last time, and he and I were texting, we went back and forth on why I think he should keep fighting,” White said. “He was super emotional coming out of that fight. He’s had time now to rest, think about it, (and) all the other things. This is going to be a five-minute conversation. … I think he’ll fight, but we’ll see. It’s not going to be an argument or a lengthy conversation. It’s going to be a ‘yes’ or ‘no.’”

Nurmagomedov, 32, sits one fight away from a perfect 30-0 record. White has indicated he wants Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor to be the milestone 30th attempt, should the Irishman beat Dustin Poirier at UFC 257.

The UFC’s third stint on “Fight Island” kicks off Saturday with UFC on ABC 1, headlined by featherweights Max Holloway and Calvin Kattar. On Wednesday, Jan. 20, UFC on ESPN 20 takes place with a welterweight main event between Michael Chiesa and Neil Magny.

The three-event stretch concludes Saturday, Jan. 23 with UFC 257 and a pay-per-view headliner rematch between McGregor and Poirier.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/01/ufc-news-dana-white-meeting-khabib-nurmagomedov-yes-or-no-retirement

ABU DHABI – UFC president Dana White is a promoter, yes, but he’s a fight fan, too.

With UFC 257 and the rematch between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier right around the corner, White is excited by what he’s seen and heard from both main event competitors.

According to White, McGregor is extremely motivated entering UFC 257. White indicated McGregor hasn’t always had that throughout the span of his career.

“It’s one thing to have Conor back,” White told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “It’s another thing to have Conor back. This is the motivated (Conor). When Conor is like he is right now, you’re guaranteed for (something).”

The motivation comes from inactivity, White presumes. McGregor has competed only once since October 2018. His time away from competition has made him hungrier for a return, according to White.

“I think (the) time off is what’s given him this,” White said. “He’s as famous as famous can be. You said he’s got all the money in the world. There’s a lot of things that drive you crazy about this sport. It gets you to a point where you’re just like, ‘I don’t want anything to do with this right now.’ Once you get away from it for a while, you start to remember all of the things that you love about it.

“I can imagine, for a fighter, I couldn’t speak on that side, (about) the level of training that they do and fight week and all the things that go into it, but I think you start to miss it. I think that’s where he was. I’ve seen it happen with so many other guys, too. I think that’s his motivation right now.”

While the spotlight largely falls on McGregor when he fights, regardless of opponent, White isn’t counting out Poirier. When McGregor and Poirier fought at UFC 187 in September 2013, the Irishman knocked out the American in the first round. Seven years later, Poirier thinks he’s a much different, more evolved – and his boss believes him.

“I just saw a thing with Poirier yesterday where Poirier is like, ‘Let me tell you what. If you think that I’m the same guy that fought Conor last time, you’re out of your mind. You’re going to see a war.’ I believe every word of it,” White said. “This is the right fight at the right time for both of these guys and I think it’s going to be fun.”

UFC 257 takes place Saturday, Jan. 23 at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. The main card streams on pay-per-view after prelims on ESPN/ESPN+.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/01/ufc-257-dana-white-conor-mcgregor-dustin-poirier-motivated-revitalized

It has been more than six years since Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor last fought.

McGregor has gone on to become a two-division UFC champion and have his first professional boxing match against Floyd Mayweather, one of the greatest boxers of all time.

Poirier has also gone on to become a UFC champion. Both have fought an lost to current UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Poirier and McGregor will rematch in the UFC 257 main event on Jan. 24 in Abu Dhabi (Jan. 23 in the United States).

UFC commentator Dan Hardy breaks down the Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor UFC 257 headlining rematch in The War Room.

(Video courtesy of Full Reptile)

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