Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream UFC 257 live on
your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the
ESPN app. Dustin
Poirier was the better man the second time around. The American Top Team mainstay avenged his 2014 defeat to Conor
McGregor and did so in style, as he punched out the former
two-division
Ultimate Fighting Championship titleholder in the second round
of their
UFC 257 headliner on Saturday at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi,
United Arab Emirates. Poirier (27-6, 19-5 UFC) closed the deal 2:32
into Round 2, becoming the first man to stop the Irishman with
strikes.
From beginning to end, all class this
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time
#UFC257 |
#InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi
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January 24, 2021
McGregor (22-5, 10-3 UFC) was forced to play defense from the
start. Poirier executed an early takedown, trapped the SBG Ireland
star in the clinch and chipped away at his base with repeated kicks
to his lower leg. McGregor connected well on the counter and backed
up the Louisiana native with a few power punches but never managed
to get his feet under him. Poirier continued to assault his leg in
the second round, pinned him to the fence once it became clear he
was compromised and let his lethal hands go. A right hook sent
McGregor crashing to the canvas, where he was met with a volley of
follow-up punches that finished him off.
Debuting Chandler Obliterates Hooker
Three-time Bellator
MMA champion Michael
Chandler made a sensational Octagon debut, as he cut down
Dan
Hooker with punches in the first round of their lightweight
co-main event. Hooker (20-10, 10-6 UFC) bowed out 2:30 into Round
1, suffering his second straight defeat.
Chandler (22-5, 1-0 UFC) ate a few hard leg kicks, closed the
distance, cut loose with a right hand to the body and leveled the
City Kickboxing star with a left hook upstairs. He pounced on the
fallen Hooker in a kneeling position and fired away with right
hands until the job was done.
The 34-year-old Chandler will carry a three-fight winning streak
into his next assignment.
Calderwood Clinch Sinks Eye
Syndicate MMA standout Joanne
Calderwood unleashed punches, elbows and knees from the clinch,
as she took a unanimous decision from Jessica Eye
in a featured flyweight affair. All three cageside judges scored it
for Calderwood (15-5, 7-5 UFC): 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28.
Eye (15-9, 5-8 UFC) engaged “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 20
quarterfinalist at close range, only to be met by a ferocious
offensive onslaught from the soft-spoken Scotswoman. Calderwood
also did plenty of damage from a distance, connecting with
penetrating jabs and sneaky right hooks, along with occasional
front kicks to the face, body and legs. She provided Eye with a
permanent reminder of her work in the waning moments of Round 3,
where she opened a cut on her left brow with a well-placed knee
strike.
Calderwood, 34, has won four of her last six bouts.
Surging Muradov Stops Sanchez
Monster Gym representative Makhmud
Muradov put away “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 23 winner
Andrew
Sanchez with punches in the third round of their middleweight
feature. Sanchez (12-6, 5-4 UFC) succumbed to blows 2:59 into Round
3.
Muradov (25-6, 3-0 UFC) was menacing and methodical. He tore into
Sanchez’s lower lead leg with kicks throughout the first round,
wobbled him with a pair of right hands at the end of the second and
hit the accelerator in the third. There, Muradov cracked the former
Resurrection Fighting Alliance champion with an overhand right
behind the ear that had him stumbling in the center of the cage. He
followed with a flying knee, pushed him to the fence and let both
hands fly until referee Jason Herzog had seen enough to call for a
standing TKO.
The 30-year-old Muradov has now rattled off 14 straight
victories.
Rodriguez Stuns Favored Ribas
Dana White’s Contender Series graduate Marina
Rodriguez put away former Jungle Fight champion Amanda
Ribas with punches in the second round of their strawweight
showcase. Rodriguez (13-1-2, 3-1-2 UFC) drew the curtain 54 seconds
into Round 2, as she rebounded from her split decision defeat to
Carla
Esparza in July.
Ribas (10-2, 4-1 UFC) secured a takedown and controlled much of the
first round from top position. Her luck changed in an instant in
the second. There, she walked into a counter right hook from
Rodriguez, faceplanted and continued to eat punches while referee
Herb
Dean hovered above. Dean appeared to make contact with
Rodriguez but did not call for the stoppage, leading to a momentary
pause. She then resumed her assault on the still wobbly Ribas,
connected with another thudding right and forced Dean to act.
The setback snapped Ribas’ five-fight winning streak.
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