How much will stars earn for UFC 257 fight?

ScoopSkyJanuary 21, 2021

44 3 minutes read

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Conor McGregor is set to fight Dustin Poirier in UFC 257’s main event this month as the lightweights go head-to-head in a rematch almost seven years after their first meeting at featherweight, a contest the Irishman won definitively via first-round knockout.

It’s been a strange year for McGregor, who has not competed in 12 months since running through Donald Cerrone in just 40 seconds.

RECAP: McGregor vs Poirier press conference

McGregor irked Dana White during negotiations thereafter, with the Covid-19 pandemic impacting the star’s compensation, leading to another apparent retirement.

Khabib Nurmagomedov is seemingly off the radar for now, having retired following his victory over Justin Gaethje in October and the passing of his father.

And without the unbeaten Russian, the lightweight division is now wide open: Gaethje remains the No. 1 contender, with Poirier second, Charles Oliveira third and McGregor fourth.

Former Bellator champion and UFC newcomer Michael Chandler has also added intrigue to the division and will take on Dan Hooker in the co-main event at UFC 257.

But the fight with the biggest impact at 155lbs is set to be McGregor vs Poirier, which is taking place six years after the Irishman knocked out ‘The Diamond’ in the first round of their clash at featherweight.

Here is everything you need to know about the seismic bout.

When and where is the fight?

The fight is on 23 January on top of the bill at UFC 257. It will take place on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. White has confirmed that approximately 2,000 fans will be able to attend the card at the Etihad Arena.The main card is expected to begin at 3am GMT (Sunday morning), with the prelims before that starting at 1am GMT. The early prelims will get under way at 11.15pm GMT on Saturday night.

What TV channel is it on and how can I watch?

UK fans can watch the main card on BT Sport Box Office HD, as well as the broadcaster’s site and app, for a fee of £19.95.

The prelims will air to BT Sport subscribers for free.

In the US, the main card will air on ESPN+, which – along with ESPN – will show the prelims. Both channels will also air the early prelims, as will UFC’s Fight Pass.

How much will each fighter make?

Poirier has a disclosed purse of $1million – already the biggest payday of his career – plus a share of the pay-per-view revenue. ‘The Diamond’s PPV share is not expected to be substantial, however.

McGregor, meanwhile, has a disclosed purse of $5m plus a share of the PPV. The Irishman’s share will no doubt be much greater than his opponent’s and it is thought that it could bolster his overall earnings for the fight to around $20m.

What is McGregor’s net worth?

McGregor’s net worth is in the region of $48m according to Forbes, who ranked the 32-year-old at No. 53 on their Celebrity 100 list for 2020 and No. 16 on their list of highest-paid athletes in the world last year.

Forbes break the overall figure down to $32m in winnings and $16m in endorsements.

As such, ‘Notorious’ is by far the most financially successful mixed martial artist in the history of the sport.