• Dustin Poirier after his knockout victory over Conor McGregor in a lightweight fight during UFC 257 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, on January 23. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
    Dustin Poirier after his knockout victory over Conor McGregor in a lightweight fight during UFC 257 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, on January 23. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
  • US fighter Dustin Poirier after his knockout victory over Conor McGregor of Ireland. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
    US fighter Dustin Poirier after his knockout victory over Conor McGregor of Ireland. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
  • Dustin Poirier celebrates after beating Conor McGregor. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
    Dustin Poirier celebrates after beating Conor McGregor. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
  • UFC president Dana White congraulates Dustin Poirier after his win over Conor McGregor. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
    UFC president Dana White congraulates Dustin Poirier after his win over Conor McGregor. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
  • Dustin Poirier punches Conor McGregor during their fight at UFC 257. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
    Dustin Poirier punches Conor McGregor during their fight at UFC 257. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
  • Dustin Poirier points at Conor McGregor during the fight. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
    Dustin Poirier points at Conor McGregor during the fight. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
  • Dustin Poirier punches Conor McGregor. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
    Dustin Poirier punches Conor McGregor. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
  • Dustin Poirier punches Conor McGregor. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
    Dustin Poirier punches Conor McGregor. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
  • Conor McGregor lands a punch on Dustin Poirier. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
    Conor McGregor lands a punch on Dustin Poirier. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
  • Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor during the fight. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
    Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor during the fight. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
  • Conor McGregor ahead of the fight against Dustin Poirier. Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
    Conor McGregor ahead of the fight against Dustin Poirier. Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
  • American fighter Michael Chandler punches Dan Hooker of New Zealand in their lightweight fight at UFC 257. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
    American fighter Michael Chandler punches Dan Hooker of New Zealand in their lightweight fight at UFC 257. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
  • Michael Chandler after his knockout victory over Dan Hooker. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
    Michael Chandler after his knockout victory over Dan Hooker. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
  • Michael Chandler punches Dan Hooker. Jeff Bottari/Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports
    Michael Chandler punches Dan Hooker. Jeff Bottari/Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports
  • Dan Hooker punches Michael Chandler during their bout. Jeff Bottari/Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports
    Dan Hooker punches Michael Chandler during their bout. Jeff Bottari/Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports
  • Joanne Calderwood, left, of Scotland after her win over American fighter Jessica following their flyweight bout at UFC 257 . Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
    Joanne Calderwood, left, of Scotland after her win over American fighter Jessica following their flyweight bout at UFC 257 . Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
  • Joanne Calderwood of punches Jessica Eye. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
    Joanne Calderwood of punches Jessica Eye. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
  • Makhmud Muradov of Uzbekistan celebrates after his TKO victory over US fighter Andrew Sanchez in a middleweight bout at UFC 257. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
    Makhmud Muradov of Uzbekistan celebrates after his TKO victory over US fighter Andrew Sanchez in a middleweight bout at UFC 257. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
  • Makhmud Muradov punches Andrew Sanchez. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
    Makhmud Muradov punches Andrew Sanchez. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
  • Makhmud Muradov punches Andrew Sanchez. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
    Makhmud Muradov punches Andrew Sanchez. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
  • Andrew Sanchez punches Makhmud Muradov during their a middleweight fight. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
    Andrew Sanchez punches Makhmud Muradov during their a middleweight fight. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
  • Brazil's Marina Rodriguez after her knockout victory over countrywoman Amanda Ribas in a strawweight fight at UFC 257. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
    Brazil's Marina Rodriguez after her knockout victory over countrywoman Amanda Ribas in a strawweight fight at UFC 257. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
  • Marina Rodriguez punches Amanda Ribas. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
    Marina Rodriguez punches Amanda Ribas. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
  • Marina Rodriguez punches Amanda Ribas during their strawweight fight. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
    Marina Rodriguez punches Amanda Ribas during their strawweight fight. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
  • Amanda Ribas punches Marina Rodriguez. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
    Amanda Ribas punches Marina Rodriguez. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

UFC 257: Conor McGregor's return against Dustin Poirier ranks third in all-time PPV buys – reports


John McAuley
  • English
  • Arabic

Conor McGregor’s return to the UFC in Abu Dhabi on Sunday ranked as one of the all-time highest pay-per-view buys for the promotion, according to reports.

On Monday, Sports Business Journal reported that UFC 257, the final event on Fight Island Triple Header, clocked 1.6 million buys – 1.2m on ESPN+ in the United States and 400,000 internationally – making it the third most successful in UFC history. Since the world's lead mixed martial arts organisation is not a publicly traded company it does not disclose financials.

McGregor's rematch with Poirier topped the bill at Etihad Arena, with the American sealing a devastating second-round TKO win. The bout marked McGregor's comeback to the octagon for the first time in more than a year – it was also his UAE debut – further proof the Irishman remains the sport's biggest draw.

UFC 229 in 2018, which was headlined by Khabib Nurmagomedov’s victory against McGregor, remains the promotion’s record pay-per-view generator, at a reported 2.4m. Meanwhile, UFC 202 in 2016, featuring McGregor’s win against Nate Diaz, apparently racked up 1.65m buys.

Should the report on UFC 257 prove correct, McGregor is now understood to have been involved in five of the top six most-selling MMA cards of all time.

ESSENTIALS

The flights

Emirates flies direct from Dubai to Rio de Janeiro from Dh7,000 return including taxes. Avianca fliles from Rio to Cusco via Lima from $399 (Dhxx) return including taxes. 

The trip

From US$1,830 per deluxe cabin, twin share, for the one-night Spirit of the Water itinerary and US$4,630 per deluxe cabin for the Peruvian Highlands itinerary, inclusive of meals, and beverages. Surcharges apply for some excursions.

Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now

Election pledges on migration

CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections" 

SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom" 

How to vote

Canadians living in the UAE can register to vote online and be added to the International Register of Electors.

They'll then be sent a special ballot voting kit by mail either to their address, the Consulate General of Canada to the UAE in Dubai or The Embassy of Canada in Abu Dhabi

Registered voters mark the ballot with their choice and must send it back by 6pm Eastern time on October 21 (2am next Friday) 

Federer's 19 grand slam titles

Australian Open (5 titles) - 2004 bt Marat Safin; 2006 bt Marcos Baghdatis; 2007 bt Fernando Gonzalez; 2010 bt Andy Murray; 2017 bt Rafael Nadal

French Open (1 title) - 2009 bt Robin Soderling

Wimbledon (8 titles) - 2003 bt Mark Philippoussis; 2004 bt Andy Roddick; 2005 bt Andy Roddick; 2006 bt Rafael Nadal; 2007 bt Rafael Nadal; 2009 bt Andy Roddick; 2012 bt Andy Murray; 2017 bt Marin Cilic

US Open (5 titles) - 2004 bt Lleyton Hewitt; 2005 bt Andre Agassi; 2006 bt Andy Roddick; 2007 bt Novak Djokovic; 2008 bt Andy Murray

MATCH INFO

Inter Milan 2 (Vecino 65', Barella 83')

Verona 1 (Verre 19' pen)