- UFC 257 will take place on Yas Island aka ‘Fight Island’ Abu Dhabi, as part of three events in January to kick off the New Year.
- Headlined by Conor McGregor vs Dustin Poirier, a rematch from their first encounter back in 2014.
- We preview the latest UFC 257 odds with McGregor vs Poirer 2 predictions.
The UFC is kicking off 2021 in a big way with the return of UFC ‘Fight Island’. The star attraction is set to take place on January 23rd with Dustin Poirier challenging Conor McGregor in a highly anticipated rematch.
McGregor vs Poirier 2 Predictions
Much has changed since McGregor vs Poirier 1 at UFC 187. Poirier has been the more active fighter, compiling a 10-2 1-(NC) record with 8 performance bonuses at lightweight. McGregor has also had his career highlights since then, but in terms of activity has only fought twice in four years.
Dustin Poirier is coming into this fight extremely hungry. He is one of the most resilient UFC fighters and has improved immensely over the course of his UFC career.
A major bonus if you want to bet on Poirier as an underdog – is that he won’t be near as emotional going into this bout, compared to their first encounter.
I expect to see a more focused Dustin, but he will still need to start the fight strong to match McGregor’s fast pace. At least have the correct defence strategy to deal with McGregor’s first onslaught. Below I have outlined what Dustin needs to do if we wants to avenge his loss to McGregor successfully.
Poirier’s Keys to Victory
- Watch the left hand.
- Clinch when possible and dirty box.
- Utilize the low and high kicks.
The speed and power McGregor possesses that’s been key to his big UFC wins. I expect to see McGregor come out strong just like the Cowboy fight, and try to damage Poirier early in the early rounds – which will give him the lead if this fight makes it into the later rounds.
If Poirier goes out there to punch and kick against Conor he will not win. His success will have to be beyond the 3rd round, where McGregor is known to fade and lose his signature KO power.
Conor McGregor is the more dynamic fighter and who knows what tricks he has up his sleeve. He is in fantastic shape and is “crazy motivated” over the course of 2020, between training at SBG, Crumlin Boxing Club, and fight camps in Portugal. Below are the main points McGregor will want to keep at the forefront of his mind entering this fight.
McGregor’s Keys to Victory
- Pressure Poirier from the start.
- Keep his distance and find his range early.
- Energy management – if the fight goes into Championship rounds.
Overall style-wise it’s a good match-up for Conor McGregor, his striking remains unmatched at lightweight and this will be his recipe for success at UFC 257. Before betting on UFC 257 check out our guide on betting on MMA for all the props and betting strategy techniques.
Prediction: Conor McGregor by TKO/KO
UFC 257 Odds for Main Card
| Weight Class | Favorite | Odds | Underdog | Odds |
| Lightweight | Conor McGregor | -270 | Dustin Poirier | +220 |
| Lightweight | Dan Hooker | -138 | Michael Chandler | +110 |
| Flyweight | Joanne Calderwood | -125 | Jessica Eye | +105 |
| Light heavyweight | Khalil Rountree Jr. | -330 | Marcin Prachnio | +260 |
| Strawweight | Amanda Ribas | -300 | Marina Rodriguez | +240 |
| Middleweight | Brad Tavares | -160 | Antonio Carlos Junior | +135 |
According to the average odds from this list of top betting sites, Conor McGregor is a -270, you can bet $270 to win $100 on the Notorious one. For Dustin Poirier as an underdog, there is real betting value, bet $100 to profit $220 on the Diamond. Be sure to check out our full list of the latest UFC 257 prop bets.
McGregor or Poirier, who are you picking? Leave a comment below!
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