McGregor vs Poirier purse: How much will stars earn for UFC 257 fight?

The Independent

McGregor vs Poirier purse: How much will stars earn for UFC 257 fight?

The Independent 23/01/2021 12:01:53 Jack Rathborn

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.

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Flood-prone town in West Yorkshire braces itself as Storm Christoph's incessant rain causes river levels to rise

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Flood-prone town in West Yorkshire braces itself as Storm Christoph's incessant rain causes river levels to rise Storm Christoph's incessant rain has caused concern among flood-prone towns in West Yorkshire's Calder Valley as water levels continue to rise with more rain on the way. Footage from January 20 shows water levels on the River Calder in Hebden Bridge worryingly high. Additional shots show local efforts to prevent water damage with flood defence barriers on shops and numerous sandbags. The Calder Valley is no stranger to flooding after a historic 2015 flood that devastated communities in Hebden Bridge, Mytholmroyd and Todmorden. Filmer James Baker told Newsflare: "As Storm Christoph hits the UK, towns in West Yorkshire prepare for flooding as water levels on the River Calder rise. "This video shows a collection of shots of the River Calder and Hebble Water in force in the Pennine town of Hebden Bridge. "It also [shows] shots of sandbags and flood barriers erected outside shops and businesses, as residents hope for the best and prepare for the worst. "Hebden Bridge was hit by devastating floods on Boxing Day in 2015. "The frequency of these floods is increasing as we are faced with more frequent extreme weather events. "Shops already hit by the pandemic are now having to face the double whammy of the threat of floods to business and livelihoods." Newsflare

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

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

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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.

a man standing on a stage: McGregor will be back in JanuaryGetty

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.