UFC 257 time and date
The UFC 257 main card begins at 10 p.m. ET today, Saturday, Jan. 23. We expect Poirier vs McGregor 2 to start around midnight ET.
The preliminary card starts at 6:30 p.m. ET, and the second prelim card begins at 8 p.m..
The event is will broadcast from the UFC Fight Island facilities in Abu Dhabi.
The UFC 257 live stream is here, and it's headlined by Conor McGregor's return to the ring for Poirier vs McGregor 2. The last time they fought, at UFC 178 back in September 2014, McGregor ended things early with a round 1 TKO.
Despite that result, McGregor isn't seen to repeat that quick dusting this time. Poirier's loss at UFC 178 wound up being his last featherweight division matchup, and he would advance up the weight classifications to the 155-pound Lightweight division — where he's thrived since.
Here's everything you need to know about UFC 257 live streams, including the recent changes to the main card and prelims.
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This is only McGregor's third time competing at lightweight in his UFC career. He won the division title in 2016 by knocking out Eddie Alvarez, and lost it in his next defense against Khabib Nurmagomedov.
At the UFC 257 press conference on Thursday morning, McGregor and Poirier answered questions from the media and then had an intense — yet also pleasant and professional — staredown. If there's any animosity between the two, it's not as big a priority for them as making money.
Most experts online are picking McGregor, and bookies have him winning as well. DraftKings, last we checked, has McGregor at the moneyline favorite at -305 to Poirier's +250.
This is McGregor's first fight in over a year, as his last trip inside the octagon was a welterweight clash that saw him defeat Donald Cerrone on Jan. 18 in a first round TKO. His previous fight saw him lose to the since-retired Nurmagomedov in October 2018, who took him 4 rounds and won via neck crank submission.
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While Nurmagomedov declared he would retire, he is still the champion. And because UFC president Dana White is a consummate promoter, he's teased the possibility of Khabib returning if any of the top four lightweights on the card (McGregor, Poirier, Michael Chandler and Dan Hooker) has a strong enough showing to tempt him to come back.
Either way, this match is expected to give us a clear sign for who will be challenging for the Lightweight Championship, since Justin Gaethje is merely the top-ranked interim title holder.
The UFC 257 live stream undercard has just been changed. UFC removed Ottman Azaitar from the card, after violating the promotion's health and safety protocols by bringing an unauthorized guest to Fight Island.
Matt Frevola, who Azaitar was scheduled to face, is now moved to the main prelims, which he will headline against Arman Tsarukyan. Tsarukyan's opponent, Nasrat Haqparast, was removed due to illness.
Here's everything you need to know to watch UFC 257 live streams online:
How to live stream UFC 257 in the US
You're gonna need ESPN Plus to watch UFC 257 live streams, because you're not gonna go without the main card, which starts at 10 p.m. ET, are you? And the main prelim fights are on both ESPN and ESPN Plus, so those who haven't subscribed to the latter yet can get a taste of it all for themselves, before forking the cash over.
The former is available on most cable packages, as well as two of the best streaming services: including Sling TV and FuboTV.
UFC 257 Early Prelim fights start at 6:15 p.m. ET on UFC FightPass, which is $9.99 per month. Then, the higher-up set of prelim fights that start at 8 p.m. ET, on ESPN2 and ESPN+.
You're gonna need ESPN+ for UFC 257. While UFC 257 live streams cost $64.99 (on top of ESPN Plus), new subscribers and those on current monthly plans can get UFC 257 at a discounted rate — with over 30% savings — via the $84.98 annual plan + UFC 257 offer.
How to watch UFC 257 in the UK
UFC 257 is another late night affair for fight night fans in the UK — you'll likely watch McGregor vs Poirier begin at around 5 a.m. BST if you're tuning in live, as the means the main card starts at 3 a.m. BST. It's live on BT Sport Box Office, where it costs £19.95.Prelims are on UFC Fight Pass.
Just a heads up, though, it's not available via a web browser, but through apps on Now TV devices, PlayStations, Xbox, Apple TV and some Smart TVs.
How to watch UFC 257 live streams in Canada
Our neighbors in the great white north will watch the early prelims on UFC Fight Pass, while the prelims are on TSN and RDS. UFC 257's main card is available on various providers, including BELL and Rogers.
UFC 257 fight card
On fight night, we will update this with results.
Early prelims (6:15 p.m. ET) on UFC Fight Pass
- Andrew Sanchez vs. Makhmud Muradov — Middleweight
- Movsar Evloev vs. Nik Lentz — Catchweight
- Amir Albazi vs. Zhalgas Zhumagulov — Flyweight
Prelims (8 p.m. ET) on ESPN and ESPN Plus
- Matt Frevola vs. Arman Tsarukyan — Lightweight
- Brad Tavares (#14) vs. Antônio Carlos Júnior (NR) — Middleweight
- Julianna Peña (#7) vs. Sara McMann (9) — Bantamweight
- Khalil Rountree Jr. vs. Marcin Prachnio — Light Heavyweight
Main Card (10 p.m. ET on ESPN Plus):
- Dustin Poirier (#2) vs. Conor McGregor (#15) — Lightweight
- Dan Hooker (#6) vs. Michael Chandler (NR) — Lightweight
- Jessica Eye (#6) vs. Joanne Calderwood (#7) — Flyweight
- Marina Rodriguez (#8) vs. Amanda Ribas (#9) — Strawweight
Henry T. Casey
Managing Editor (Entertainment, Streaming)
Henry is a managing editor at Tom’s Guide covering streaming media, laptops and all things Apple, reviewing devices and services for the past seven years. Prior to joining Tom's Guide, he reviewed software and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe International Magazine. He's also covered the wild world of professional wrestling for Cageside Seats, interviewing athletes and other industry veterans.
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