The rematch between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier is closed. It will take place on January 23, 2021, in the main fight of UFC 257, in the Fight Island of Abu Dhabi, and will be disputed in the lightweight division (up to 70.3 kg).
The news of the closed date was initially given by the website “MMA Fighting”; to “Espn.com”, Dana White confirmed that Poirier had already signed the contract and that the place would be Fight Island.
McGregor and Poirier met for the first time in 2014, at featherweight (up to 65.8 kg), and the Irishman won with a knockout in the first round. He would become a featherweight champion the following year, but the two fighters would eventually move up to lightweight. McGregor was a lightweight champion between 2016 and 2018, and Poirier won the interim belt in 2019, but would be defeated by Khabib Nurmagomedov in the title unification a few months later.
Both athletes come from victories. McGregor defeated Donald Cerrone earlier this year, but has not fought since and has even announced his retirement, frustrated by negotiations with the UFC to return to the octagon. Poirier defeated Dan Hooker in June and soon started challenging McGregor on social media. The Irishman then proposed an exhibition fight, independent of Ultimate, with the income turned to charity, which the American accepted. President of the organization, Dana White entered the circuit and closed the fight between them for UFC Fight.