Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier: Updates, Highlights

Conor McGregor returns to the octagon for the first time in a year to face Dustin Poirier at U.F.C. 257 in Abu Dhabi early Sunday on the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s first pay-per-view card of 2021.

The lightweight fighters, both 32 years old, are each trying to make a case that they deserve a shot at a title bout at 155 pounds.

The pay-per-view portion of the event, which costs $69.99, started at 10 p.m. Eastern on Saturday night — 7 a.m. Sunday in Abu Dhabi, with about 1,800 spectators watching at the newly built Etihad Arena on Yas Island. The card was being sold in the United States by ESPN+, the streaming service of ESPN.

The main event between McGregor and Poirier is coming up, with Michael Chandler having knocked out Dan Hooker in the co-main event.

UFC 257 card and results:

• Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier, lightweights
• Michael Chandler def. Dan Hooker via first-round TKO (punches)
• Joanne Calderwood def. Jessica Eye via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
• Makhmud Muradov def. Andrew Sanchez via third-round TKO (punches)
• Marina Rodriguez def. Amanda Ribas via second-round knockout (punches)
• Arman Tsarukyan vs. Matt Frevola via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
• Brad Tavares def. Antonio Carlos Junior via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
• Julianna Pena def. Sara McMann via third-round submission (rear-naked choke)
• Marcin Prachnio def. Khalil Rountree Jr. via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Movsar Evolev def. Nik Lentz via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
• Amir Albazi def. Zhalgas Zhumagulov via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)