UFC 257: McGregor vs Poirier. The promotion’s first pay-per-view card of 2021 marks the return of former two-division champion Conor McGregor, who locks horns with Dustin Poirier in a lightweight match-up.

• McGregor, 32, returns to the Octagon for the first time since beating Donald Cerrone at UFC 246 last January.
• The chief support fight of the evening will see former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler make his UFC debut against Dan Hooker.
• Women’s flyweight champion Joanne Calderwood will look to earn her way back up the standings when she takes on Jessica Eye.
• Follow all the live action as McGregor could set up a rematch with Khabib Nurmagomedov if he puts on a memorable display againt Poirier.
• Express Sport is reporting live from Fight Island – for the latest UFC 257 fight and odds from Bet365 click here.

Prelims Result – Pena beats McMann

Julianna Pena with a huge third round to submit Sara McMann.

The Venezuelan Vixen calls out Amanda Nunes following her victory as she looks to climb the bantamweight rankings.

Prelims Result – Prachnio beats Rountree

The prelims are now underway and Polish star Marcin Prachnio just got the better of Khalil Rountree Jr in a light-heavyweight war.

Prachnio finished strongly to secure the win after being wobbled by a huge right hand from the American.

The story this week… – 01.30am

While there is plenty of intrigue surrounding McGregor’s rematch with Poirier, the fight wasn’t the main talking point on Fight Island earlier this week.

That’s because Khabib Nurmagomedov was in town and sat down with Dana White to discuss his UFC future.

White later revealed that Khabib said that his work in the UFC was done… unless he saw something from the main card that enticed him into a return.

Khabib decided not to stick around for tonight’s card after cornering for his cousin Umar on Wednesday night and instead headed to Las Vegas.

The Dagestani lightweight champion is set to meet with White again in Nevada in the coming weeks.

McGregor remains keen on a rematch with the Russian and said “we’ll get him” when White was quizzed on Khabib’s future earlier this week.

McGregor’s fight plan – 01:15am

The Notorious was left frustrated with his lack of activity last year and now he is looking to make up for lost time.

McGregor was inside the Octagon for just 40 seconds following his first-round demolition of Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone.

Now he has made the decision to return to lightweight and wants to fight seven times in the next 18 months…

He told ESPN: “The truth is the fight game will never get rid of me. Conor McGregor will be here until the day I go out. So that’s it.

“If they line me up, I’ll get about seven fights in the next year and a half. That’s what I want.”

Dana White hits out at streamers – 00.45am

Dana White has issued a stern warning to the culprits behind illegal UFC streams.

The 51-year-old is determined to clamp down on those failing to pay for subscriptions and pay-per-view events.

And earlier this week, White claimed he was ready to strike and take action against one particular individual should they decide to stream UFC 257.

“We got one. We got him,” White said. “We’re watching this guy right now. All you have to do is turn it on Saturday, and we got you, f*****. I can’t wait. Turn it on Saturday, streamers, and see what happens.”

McGregor vs Poirier Live – 00:30am

Good morning and welcome to Express Sport’s live coverage as Conor McGregor returns to action for the first time in 12 months.

The Notorious needed just 40 seconds to knock out Donald Cerrone at the T-Mobile Arena last year.

And there could be a big prize on offer if he manages to put on a similar performance against Dustin Poirier – a rematch with UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.

UFC chief Dana White has confirmed that Khabib, who announced his retirement last year, may return to fight the winner of McGregor vs Poirier.

White said: “His words to me were,’I’m going to watch this fight. I would never tie up the division. These guys do something spectacular, show me something spectacular and make me want to come back and fight’.”

Stay tuned to right here for all the build-up to this highly-anticipated bout.

McGregor vs Poirier fight card

Main card

Dan Hooker (20-9) vs Michael Chandler (21-5), lightweight

Jessica Eye (15-8) vs Joanne Calderwood (14-5), flyweight

Matt Frevola (8-1-1) vs Ottman Azaitar (13-), lightweight

Marina Rodriguez (12-1-2) vs Amanda Ribas (10-1), strawweight

Prelims

Brad Tavares (17-6) vs Antonio Carlos Junior (10-4), middleweight

Julianna Pena (9-4) vs Sara McMann (12-5), bantamweight

Movsar Evloev (13-0) vs Nik Lentz (30-11-2), catchweight

Nasrat Haqparast (12-3) vs Arman Tsarukyan (15-2), lightweight

Early prelims

Andrew Sanchez vs Makhmud Muradov (middleweight)

Nik Lentz Movsar Evloev (catchweight)

Amir Albazi vs Zhalgas Zhumagulov (flyweight)

BIG FIGHT ODDS

Conor McGregor 1/3

Dustin Poirier 12/5

Click here to bet with Bet365

*odds subject to change

What TV channel is McGregor vs Poirier?

The fight will be broadcast exclusively on BT Sport Box Office.

The pay-per-view event, which includes the entire undercard, will cost £19.95.

How to live stream McGregor vs Poirier

The fight will be available to live stream on the BT Sport website or the BT Sport Box Office app.

Simply visit bt.com/sportboxoffice and pay for the event online.