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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 05: Conor McGregor poses during a ceremonial weigh-in for UFC 229 at T-Mobile Arena on October 05, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. McGregor will challenge UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov for his title at UFC 229 on October 6 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 05: Conor McGregor poses during a ceremonial weigh-in for UFC 229 at T-Mobile Arena on October 05, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. McGregor will challenge UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov for his title at UFC 229 on October 6 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The UFC is starting the new year with a stellar PPV card. UFC 257 will take place on January 23 and will be headlined by Conor McGregor, who takes on former rival Dustin Poirier. The fight comes a year after the last time ‘The Notorious’ stepped in the octagon against ‘Cowboy’ at UFC 246.
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After his win against ‘Cowboy’, Conor vowed to be more active and to fight multiple times in 2020. However, the pandemic meant that ‘The Notorious’ and the UFC could not come together to make a fight happen for multiple reasons. Fortunately for MMA fans, McGregor is back and will be taking on a dangerous adversary.
Read: “I choked them both”- Khabib Nurmagomedov compares Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier to donkeys
Will we see a dialed-in Conor McGregor?
Conor McGregor has been training relentlessly for his upcoming rematch. The former champ-champ has been posting pictures of himself in excellent shape leading up to his fight. Recently, the Irish superstar shared an image with the caption, “2020 – The Fastest Main Event K.O. #40seconds #StillTheBread #PPVMonster #KOMerchant”
2020 – The Fastest Main Event K.O. #40seconds #StillTheBread #PPVMonster #KOMerchant pic.twitter.com/VvbpNOhcBe
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) December 9, 2020
A lot has changed since the first time the two men fought. One thing that has remained the same is they are still two of the best fighters in their division. When ‘The Notorious’ first took on ‘The Diamond’ he was an up-and-coming fighter. Dustin on the other hand was a bona fide talent at featherweight, with multiple wins under his belt.
A win over Poirier changed McGregor’s perception in the eyes of the UFC fans. Also, it helped raise his stock outside the UFC as well. ‘The Notorious’ has achieved a lot outside the sport. He has multiple businesses and other commitments that take his time away from training. Per certain sections of fans, this cost him at UFC 229.
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LAS VEGAS, NV – AUGUST 4: (L-R) Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor face off during the UFC 178 Ultimate Media Day at the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino on August 4, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
However, we saw a different version of ‘The Notorious’ at UFC 246. It was a more focused and dialed-in version; similar to what we saw on his rise to the top. Fans will be hoping that the same Conor McGregor shows up at UFC 257.
There is a lot on the line for both men; the winner will most likely fight for either a vacant belt or against the champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, depending on what ‘The Eagle’ and the UFC have planned.
