UFC 257 live results: Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier 2

Welcome to F4WOnline.com’s live coverage of UFC 257: Poirier vs. McGregor 2, emanating from the Etihad Arena in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

The first UFC pay-per-view event of the year ends the UFC’s third stint on Fight Island, wrapping up three events over eight days, and saving the best for last- the return of the biggest star in UFC history.

Conor McGregor returns to action in the main event when he takes on Dustin Poirier in a pivotal lightweight headliner. This will be the second meeting between the two, as McGregor knocked out Poirier in the first round of their first fight at UFC 178 in September 2014. McGregor hasn’t fought since a 40-second finish of Donald Cerrone at UFC 246 last January, while Poirier is coming off a win over Dan Hooker in one of 2020’s best fights.

In the co-main event, former Bellator Lightweight Champion Michael Chandler makes his much-anticipated UFC debut when he takes on the aforementioned Dan Hooker in another pivotal lightweight fight. Also on the main card is a women’s flyweight fight between Jessica Eye and Joanne Calderwood, a middleweight bout between former TUF winner Andrew Sanchez and Makhmud Muradov, and Marina Rodriguez takes on surging prospect Amanda Ribas in a women’s strawweight bout.

Among the fights on the prelim card, a lightweight fight between Arman Tsarukyan and Matt Frevola, long-time veterans Brad Tavares and Antonio Carlos Junior meet in a middleweight fight, Julianna Pena takes on Sara McMann in a women’s bantamweight fight, and light heavyweight bangers Khalil Rountree and Marcin Prachnio square off.

Follow along with our live coverage of the event beginning at 7 p.m.  eastern time with preliminary action all the way thru the main card.

We are looking for your thoughts on tonight’s event, so send a thumbs up, a thumbs down or a thumbs in the middle along with a best fight and a worst fight to Dave at dave@wrestlingobserver.com.

ESPN+ PRELIMS | 7 PM ET/4 PM PT

> Amir Albazi (#15, 13-1, 1-0 UFC) vs. Zhalgas Zhumagulov (13-4, 0-1 UFC)
Flyweights

They are trading early and Zhumagulov lands a couple of left hands. Both throwing in close range early on. Albazi with a leg kick. Zhumagulov lands a left hand and then an overhand right. Albazi with a right hand and then pressures Zhumagulov against the fence but doesn’t land much. Albazi lands a couple of jabs. Albazi tries for a knee but eats a counter left from Zhumagulov. Zhumagulov with a calf kick. Albazi gets a takedown against the fence and Zhumagulov is able to work his way to the feet. They are clinched and Albazi lands a knee then they break. Albazi lands a left hook and then Zhumagulov lands a calf kick. Zhumagulov lands a right hand. Zhumagulov gets a takedown and is working in the guard but Albazi throwing elbows from the bottom. Zhumagulov with an elbow from the top at the end. Close round. 10-9 Zhumagulov.

Albazi with a leg kick. They are both looking for an opening. Zhumagulov with a left hand and Albazi lands a leg kick. Albazi with another leg kick. Albazi still applying pressure and lands a leg kick. Zhumagulov misses some strike attempts. Zhumagulov with some body punches. Albazi lands a right hand. Albazi with a leg kick. Albazi with a right hand. Albazi trying to urge Zhumagulov to attack first. Albazi lands a couple of jabs. They trade in close range and Albazi cracks Zhumagulov with a punch. Zhumagulov tries a takedown but Albazi sprawls and lands some punches and a knee to the body. 10-9 Albazi, 19-19.

Albazi pressuring to start the third and lands some punches. Zhumagulov with a right hand. Albazi tries for a takedown but Zhumagulov defends and almost slips on a spinning back fist attempt. Albazi tries a flying knee but they clinch against the fence and Albazi gets a takedown. Albazi working in the guard of Zhumagulov and lands an elbow. Albazi moves to the half-guard. Albazi gets the back of Zhumagulov and is working from there landing some punches. Zhumagulov tries to turn but Albazi keeps back control. Zhumagulov is able to explode to his feet. Zhumagulov lands a combo and then a body kick. Albazi with a leg kick. Albazi with a left hand. 10-9 Albazi, 29-28 Albazi.

Official Result- Amir Albazi def. Zhalgas Zhumagulov by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Nik Lentz (30-11-2 1 NC, 14-8-1 1 NC UFC) vs. Movsar Evloev (13-0, 3-0 UFC)
150-pound Catchweights

Lentz lands a short uppercut. Lentz coming forward and looking for a takedown against the fence as he has a body lock. Lentz gets a takedown but Evloev reverses to the top. Evloev with some body punches. Lentz looking for a guillotine choke from the bottom and it is in tight. Lentz reverses to the mount as he still has it locked in. Evloev remaining calm and gets out. Evloev gets to his feet but Lentz still has the neck. Lentz drops down as he still has the neck but Evloev passes as he escapes and is on the top. Lentz again attacking with the guillotine but Evloev escapes again and lands an elbow from the top. Evloev gets in the half-guard and then starts landing some ground-and-pound and lands a big right hand. Evloev ends the round but a flurry. 10-9 Lentz.

Evloev coming forward and they both land right hands. Evloev with a leg kick. Evloev with a jab. Evloev cracks Lentz with a right hand. Lentz with a leg kick. Evloev lands a jab and Lentz gets Evloev to the mat and jumps on the neck. They battle for position on the ground and they scramble up and Lentz jumps up for the guillotine again as they go down but Evloev escapes again and has the back before making his way back to the center. They trade punches and Evloev landing more. Lentz tries a late takedown but the round ends. 10-9 Evloev, 19-19.

Evloev coming out throwing to start the third and Lentz lands a knee. Evloev really landing the jab. Lentz lands a punch that backs Evloev up. They trade in close range. Evloev lands a combo. We have a timeout as Lentz claims he was poked in the eye but we get back to action. Lentz goes for a takedown but Evloev grabs the arm and they go to the mat and Evloev lands some short punches and more as they get to the feet. Evloev lands a left hook and then a right hand and Lentz is backing up. Lentz’ face is a mess right now. Evloev throws a head kick but Lentz blocks it. They trade kicks. They trade late and Evloev lands some nice counter right hands. Evloev landing a flurry at the end. 10-9 Evloev, 29-28 Evloev.

Official Result- Movsar Evloev def. Nik Lentz by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

ESPN PRELIMS | 8 PM ET/5 PM PT

> Khalil Rountree (8-4 1 NC, 4-4 1 NC UFC) vs. Marcin Prachnio (13-5, 0-3 UFC)
Light Heavyweights

Prachnio with a high kick. Prachnio lands a combo. Rountree with an inside leg kick. Prachnio with a side kick. Prachnio goes high with a kick but Rountree blocks it. Rountree with an inside leg kick. Prachnio with his own leg kick. Prachnio with a body kick. Rountree with a hard body kick. Both looking for openings and Rountree lands a left hand and then another. They trade in close range. Prachnio with a high kick but Rountree blocks. Rountree with a body kick but eats a right hand from Prachnio. Prachnio with a right hand to the body. Rountree with a calf kick. 10-9 Prachnio.

Prachnio coming out sloppy to start the second and Rountree lands a left hand. Prachnio with a body kick. Rountree with a body kick. Rountree with a right hook. Rountree lands a left hand. Rountree lands another left hand. They trade in close range. They trade again and Rountree hurts Prachnio with the left hand. Rountree lands a left hand and then a body kick. Rountree lands some short right hooks in close range. Rountree lands a check right hook that sends Prachnio almost to his knees. Rountree then lands a head kick and Prachnio is still hurt. Rountree with a body kick. 10-9 Rountree, 19-19.

Rountree lands the left hand. He lands it again. He lands it yet again. Prachnio with a body kick. Prachnio shoots for a takedown but Rountree defends. Rountree lands a jab. Rountree landing and Prachnio landing some shots as well. Rountree stuns Prachnio with a left hand. They trade punches and kicks. They trade jabs. Rountree lands a left hand. Rountree doing more damage but Prachnio landing with more volume. Prachnio lands a right hand. Prachnio lands a right hand. 10-9 Prachnio, 29-28 Prachnio.

Official Result- Marcin Prachnio def. Khalil Rountree by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Julianna Pena (#7, 9-4, 5-2 UFC) vs. Sara McMann (#9, 12-5, 6-5 UFC)
Women’s Bantamweights

McMann with a leg kick. They trade punches and McMann lands some good right hands. McMann ducks down for a takedown and then lands a right hand as she gets up. McMann with a combo. Pena with a combo. McMann gets a takedown. McMann gets the back of Pena. Pena gets to her feet, not without grabbing the fence. McMann lands some knees to the body. McMann gets it down again and ends the round on top as they both land on the ground. 10-9 McMann.

McMann with a leg kick. Pena lands a combo. McMann drops and gets a takedown but Pena has the neck and is trying for a guillotine choke. It was locked in but McMann uses the cage to pass and escapes and is in the guard of Pena. Pena staying active on the bottom and is looking for a triangle choke. McMann with an elbow from the top. Pena throwing hammerfists from the bottom. McMann gets the back as Pena was trying to scramble to her feet. McMann was going for a choke but Pena escapes and grabs the neck but they stand. They trade knees in the clinch. McMann pressing Pena against the cage but Pena lands a knee. Pena with an elbow on the break and then a combo. Pena lands a left hand. 10-9 Pena, 19-19.

They trade to start the third and Pena pushing forward. They clinch and McMann has the underhooks. Pena throwing some knees. Pena gets a takedown from the clinch and is in side control. Pena working from the top and then grabs the back and is landing and looking for the rear-naked choke. She has it locked in and McMann taps! Big win for Pena as she submits McMann in the third.

Official Result- Julianna Pena def. Sara McMann by submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:39 of Round 3

> Brad Tavares (#14, 17-6, 12-6 UFC) vs. Antonio Carlos Junior (10-4 1 NC, 7-4 1 NC UFC)
Middleweights

Tavares with a leg kick. He lands another. Tavares with another leg kick after they both throw punches. Carlos Junior with a body kick and he goes for a takedown against the fence. Carlos Junior has a leg of Tavares. Tavares escapes. Tavares with a leg kick. They trade punches and Carlos Junior tries for a takedown but Tavares defends. Carlos Junior has Tavares pushed against the fence. They break. Tavares with a heavy calf kick and then another. Carlos Junior with a body kick as they throw in the pocket and Carlos Junior goes for a takedown against the fence. Tavares defends but is pressed against the fence. Carlos Junior lands a big knee to the groin of Tavares and we have a timeout. We get back to action and Tavares with a leg kick. 10-9 Tavares.

They trade punches to start the second. Tavares with a leg kick. Carlos Junior gets a brief takedown but Tavares is able to scramble up. Carlos Junior is in deep for a takedown against the fence. They break. Tavares lands a right hand and then a combo. Carlos Junior with the jab. Tavares lands a right hand. Carlos Junior grabs the leg looking for a takedown but Tavares defends. Tavares lands a combo and ends it with a right hand that hurts Carlos Junior bad. Carlos Junior trying to hold on and then Tavares lands a glancing low blow and we have a timeout. We get back to action and Tavares lands a combo. Tavares with a jab and then a body kick. 10-9 Tavares, 20-18 Tavares.

Tavares lands a right hand. Tavares with a leg kick and follows it with a left hand. Carlos Junior with a leg kick. Tavares with an inside leg kick. Carlos Junior tries for a takedown but Tavares defends against the fence. Carlos Junior still pressuring Tavares against the fence. They are broken up by Marc Goddard. Tavares with an inside leg kick. Tavares with a right hand. Tavares with a leg kick and Carlos Junior looks for a takedown as he presses Tavares against the fence. Tavares with some short slaps in the clinch. Carlos Junior doing nothing as the fight ends. 10-9 Tavares, 30-27 Tavares.

Official Result- Brad Tavares def. Antonio Carlos Junior by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

> Arman Tsarukyan (15-2, 2-1 UFC) vs. Matt Frevola (8-1-1, 2-1-1 UFC)
Lightweights* (Tsarukyan missed weight by 1 pound)

Tsarukyan with a leg kick early on and then gets a takedown. Frevola rolls back to the fence and they stand and Tsarukyan gets another takedown but Frevola scrambles to his feet. Tsarukyan gets the single-leg and another takedown. They trade punches on the mat. They stand and Tsarukyan lands a right hand. Frevola lands a left hand. Tsarukyan with a right hand. Tsarukyan with a combo. They throw and Tsarukyan goes for a takedown but Frevola reverses and gets a takedown but they stand and are clinched. Tsarukyan with a knee and Frevola lands a knee and they break. They break and Tsarukyan with a body punch. Tsarukyan with a combo. Tsarukyan with an inside elbow. Tsarukyan with a high kick. Tsarukyan with a triple jab and then a right hand. Frevola lands a right hand. Frevola lands a right hand. Freolva stuns Tsarukyan late. 10-9 Tsarukyan.

Tsarukyan going for a takedown right away and Frevola landing punches as he tries to defend. They get up and Tsarukyan has the body locked and gets another takedown. Tsarukyan on top and lands some punches. He gets the back of Frevola as Frevola forces a scramble. Tsarukyan gets another takedown. They stand and both throw and Tsarukyan gets another takedown. Tsarukyan in side control. Tsarukyan moves to the half-guard. Tsarukyan gets the back late as he looked to set up an arm-triangle. 10-9 Tsarukyan, 20-18 Tsarukyan.

Tsarukyan gets a quick takedown to start the third. Frevola tries to land a kick but Tsarukyan grabs it and Frevola slips away. Tsarukyan gets a takedown and is working in the guard of Frevola and landing punches. Frevola tries to slip out and throws an upkick but Tsarukyan grabs the neck and then they scramble up. Tsarukyan drops under and gets the big takedown and has the back of Frevola. Tsarukyan is in side control. Tsarukyan now gets the back and looks to set up a choke but maintains the mount as the fight ends. 10-9 Tsarukyan, 30-27 Tsarukyan.

Official Result- Arman Tsarukyan def. Matt Frevola by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)

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> Marina Rodriguez (#8, 13-1-2, 2-1-2 UFC) vs. Amanda Ribas (#9, 10-1, 4-0 UFC)
Women’s Strawweights

They are both looking for openings inside the first minute. Ribas gets a takedown and is in the guard of Rodriguez. Ribas working from the top and lands a right hand. Ribas with some more punches from the top. Rodriguez lands some punches from the bottom but Ribas just smothering from the top throughout the first. Ribas has a strong opening round. 10-9 Ribas.

Rodriguez lands a right hand. They clinch and Rodriguez lands a knee. Rodriguez drops Ribas and is pounding away and it looked like Herb Dean stopped it but he didn’t and they keep fighting. Rodriguez then lands an elbow and has Ribas in trouble standing and the fight is stopped. Rodriguez with the huge upset.

Official Result- Marina Rodriguez def. Amanda Ribas by TKO (punches) at :54 of Round 2

> Andrew Sanchez (12-5, 5-3 UFC) vs. Makhmud Muradov (24-6, 2-0 UFC)
Middleweights

Sanchez with a body kick and Muradov grabs the leg but lets go. Muradov with a leg kick. They trade and Sanchez shoots for a takedown but Muradov defends. Muradov lands a leg kick and Sanchez lands a right hand. Muradov with a right hand. Muradov with a leg kick. Muradov with another leg kick and then another. Sanchez lands a right hand. Muradov with a calf kick. Muradov with a combo. Sanchez lands a right hand. Muradov tries a takedown but lands some punches instead. Muradov with the calf kick. Muradov with a right hand. Muradov with a leg kick at the end. 10-9 Muradov.

Sanchez coming forward. Muradov with a leg kick. We have a timeout for a groin strike on Muradov. They are both looking to trade. Sanchez drops down for a takedown but Muradov defends as they’re clinched against the fence. They break. Sanchez with the jab. He lands another. They trade punches. Muradov slipping away from Sanchez throwing. Sanchez lands a right hand. Muradov with the jab. Muradov with a combo. Muradov with a high kick that just misses the head of Sanchez. Muradov with two hard right hands late in the round. 10-9 Muradov, 20-18 Muradov.

Muradov lands a left hook as Sanchez lands a high kick. They trade punches. Muradov with a right hand. Sanchez is bleeding from the nose. Muradov with a big right hand as Sanchez covers up. Muradov with a right hand to the body. Sanchez lands a right hand. They trade punches. Sanchez lands a right hand. Muradov lands a big right hand that stuns Sanchez and then a flying knee and Sanchez is pressed against the fence and Muradov tees off and the fight is stopped. Big finish by Muradov.

Official Result- Makhmud Muradov def. Andrew Sanchez by TKO (punches) at 2:59 of Round 3

> Jessica Eye (#6, 15-8 1 NC, 5-7 1 NC UFC) vs. Joanne Calderwood (#7, 14-5, 6-5 UFC)
Women’s Flyweights

Calderwood with a body kick. She lands another body kick. They clinch and Eye pushes Calderwood against the fence. They break. They trade right hands. They clinch and Eye with a knee and then lands a punch as they break. They trade and clinch again and Eye with an uppercut. Calderwood with an elbow. Calderwood with a right hand. They clinch againand Eye pushes Calderwood against the fence. Calderwood lands some knees and then Eye lands some body punches as she has the body lock. Calderwood with a knee and they break. They briefly clinch and Eye lands to the body. Calderwood with a front kick and then a leg kick. Back to the clinch and Eye with a knee and Calderwood with a leg kick on the break. Eye lands a right hand. Eye with an uppercut. Eye with a left hand to the body. They trade. Calderwood with a body kick. Eye with a right hand. Calderwood with a right hand. 10-9 Calderwood.

Calderwood with a body kick. They clinch and Eye lands an uppercut. Calderwood with a right hand. They trade right hands. Calderwood with the jab and then a front kick to the face. Calderwood landing and gets a brief takedown but lets it get right back up. Eye with the jab. Eye with some punches in the clinch. Calderwood with a knee and Eye lands a right hand as they break. Eye with a jab. Calderwood with a leg kick. Eye with a combo but eats an elbow from Calderwood. Calderwood lands a knee to the body. Calderwood with a knee and then a body kick. The pace is slowing a little, especially from Calderwood, as they trade. Calderwood with a spin kick. Eye lands a right hand. Calderwood with more volume which is being the difference. Eye with a takedown and pushes Calderwood against the fence. Eye with a left hand from the top. Eye ends the round on top. 10-9 Calderwood, 20-18 Calderwood.

Calderwood with some kicks. Eye comes forward and lands and Eye pushes Calderwood against the fence. Eye pressuring Calderwood against the fence. Eye leaning on Calderwood but can’t get the takedown. Eye lands a couple of right hands. They break and trade and Calderwood clinches. Eye with some body punches and Calderwood lands a body kick as they break. Eye goes for a takedown but Calderwood defends. They clinch again and Calderwood lands a body kick as they break. They clinch and both are landing. Calderwood lands a knee and Eye is cut open. Eye tries a late takedown. 10-9 Calderwood, 30-27 Calderwood.

Official Result- Joanne Calderwood def. Jessica Eye by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

> Dan Hooker (#6, 20-9, 10-5 UFC) vs. Michael Chandler (21-5, 0-0 UFC)
Lightweights

Chandler coming forward right away. Hooker with some quick leg kicks. Hooker with a leg kick. Hooker with more leg kicks as that’s all he’s done in the first two minutes. Chandler with a right hand to the body and then one to the head and then a push kick. Hooker circling away. Hooker with a hard leg kick. Chandler knocksHooker down with a left hand and then starts unloading punches on the ground and this fight is stopped. Huge win for Chandler, who couldn’t have looked better in his UFC debut.

Official Result- Michael Chandler def. Dan Hooker by TKO (punches) at 2:30 of Round 1

> Dustin Poirier (#2, 26-6 1 NC, 18-5 1 NC UFC) vs. Conor McGregor (#4, 22-4, 10-2 UFC)
Lightweights

McGregor lands a left hand. Poirier looking for kicks. McGregor with another left hand. Poirier lands a right hand. Poirier gets a takedown and McGregor gets his back against the fence. Poirier not doing much from the top as they stand. McGregor with a shoulder strike. They trade shoulder strikes. Poirier with a left hand as they’re clinched against the fence. McGregor with some knees. McGregor with a hard knee. He lands a couple more. Poirier trying for the takedown. McGregor reverses and another shoulder strike. McGregor lands a clean elbow as they break. McGregor with a left hand. McGrgor with a combo and Poirier is rocked. McGregor with a hard jab. Poirier lands a hook and a leg kick. McGregor with a left hand. McGregor with a spin kick. They trade late. 10-9 McGregor.

Poirier with a hard calf kick. McGregor with a left hand and then lands a combo with an uppercut. McGregor with a leg kick and then a high kick. Poirier with a leg kick but McGregor counters with a left hand. They trade left hands. They trade kicks. McGregor with a left to the body and then to the head. Poirier with a kick and McGregor grabs the leg and lands a couple of left hands. McGregor lands another. They trade in the pocket. McGregor with a left hand. Poirier still landing the kicks. Poirier rocks McGregor against the fence and then knocks McGregor down and finishes it! Oh wow!

Official Result- Dustin Poirier def. Conor McGregor by TKO (punches) at 2:32 of Round 2