CONOR MCGREGOR is making his UFC return TONIGHT with a huge Fight Island showdown against Dustin Poirier.
The eagerly-awaited UFC 257 bout is a rematch of their 2014 fight which McGregor won with a first round TKO.
- Live: Marina Rodriguez vs Amanda Ribas on NOW
- Start time: Main card started at 3am UK time/ 10pm ET
- Expect McGregor vs Poirier at around 5am UK time
- TV/ live stream: BT Sport Box Office (UK) / ESPN+ (US)
CONOR MCGREGOR BETTING OFFER: 50/1 FOR FIRST ROUND VICTORY New William Hill customers | Mobile only | 18+| UK and Ireland |T&Cs
Follow ALL of the latest updates from Fight Island below…
- Wally Downes Jr
MARINA RODRIGUEZ VS AMANDA RIBAS
Brazilian Ribas says she has the jiu jitsu skills to get this fight won on the canvas.
But her South American compatriot says her striking will be the difference.
Ribas made Paige VanZant tap last time out.
- Wally Downes Jr
DOG-BONE
Julianna Pena is not giving up on her chase for Amanda Nunes…
- Wally Downes Jr
SCENE SET
Let's go…
- Wally Downes Jr
MAIN CARD KINGS AND QUEENS
The big-boy stuff starts now with Marina Rodriguez vs Amanda Ribas.
Strawweight Ribas made headlines overnight by reportedly packing on almost two stone on her weigh-in weight.
How much will the extra bulk mean inside the cage for 15 minutes?
- Wally Downes Jr
ARMAN HAMMER
Lightweight wrestler Arman Tsarukyan has a huge engine and a fighting brain…
?? Tsarukyan really putting it all together here! #UFC257 pic.twitter.com/GR1nGqsOBs
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) January 24, 2021
- Wally Downes Jr
ARMAN TSARUKYAN WINS A UD!
The judges scored it: 30-27, 30-27 and 30-26.
The winner cantered around the cage draped in his national flag before the cards were revealed.
- Wally Downes Jr
ROUND THREE
Frevola gets his head rocked back with a counter jab.
And the American gets lifted up toward the Abu Dhabi sky and slammed to the canvas.
Tsarukyan grabs side control and has Frevola pinned to the floor.
One final bid for the neck will fail. We are going to the judges for a unanimous Tsarukyan win.
- Wally Downes Jr
ROUND THREE
Tsarukyan gets another takedown but Frevola wriggles free.
Frevola ships a left hook to the chin bit is not harmed.
Tsarukyan lands a spinning back kick but Frevola absorbs it and marches on.
This one looks destined for the judges. Tsarukyan is well rounded and relentless but not vicious.
Frevola on his back again and wasting his time looking for a guillotine.
- Wally Downes Jr
ROUND TWO
Tsarukyan almost gets Frecola's back at the end of the round but Frevola is smart and hears the bell.
Fravelo's corner tell him he just lost the second and cannot be taken down again in the third.
Tsarukyan's team tell him it is probably 1-1 and he has five minutes to secure the win.
- Wally Downes Jr
ROUND TWO
Frevola pinned up against the cage wall and getting kneed in the ribs.
But Tsarukyan is having a far harder night than he expected against the wide underdog.
Tsarukyan is cut around one of his eyes or hairline, Frevola must have slashed him with an elbow off his back.
- Wally Downes Jr
ROUND TWO
Frevola's team tell him he just enjoyed a "f****** beautiful round".
Team Tsarukyan want more feints from their man.
Tsarukyan scores a double-leg takedown but Frevola really can grapple.
Frevola on his back now but not in any grave danger.
- Wally Downes Jr
ROUND ONE
Frevola impressing everyone so far with his grappling skills but Tsarukyan looks so dangerous.
Tsarukyan lands a couple of punches but Frevola's ginger beard helps absorb the blows.
Textbook boxing from Tsarukyan, straight punches landing flush on Frevola but not hurting him.
Round ends with Frevola hurting the red-hot favourite with a right hand.
- Wally Downes Jr
ROUND ONE
Tsarukyan takes Frevola down early but the American does superbly in the scramble.
The Armenian has Frevola pinned on the fence, they're up and down again.
Superman punch from Frevola but Tsarukyan copes and cracks him with a right hand.
Double-jab-right-hand from Tsarukyan but more great grappling from the Steamrolla.
- Wally Downes Jr
MATT FREVOLA VS ARMAN TSARUKYAN NOW
Steamrolla Frevola is facing a last-minute replacment with a huge reputation.
Tsarukyan is from Georgia and has some serious scalps on his young record.
This lightweight action is supposed to be very lop-sided so can Frevola produce a huge shock?
- James Orr
TAVARES WINS
Tavares has picked up the split decision win
- Wally Downes Jr
BRAD TAVARES GETS THE SD WIN!
The judges called it 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28.
Light work for the American middleweight.
- Wally Downes Jr
ROUND THREE
Tavares scores with a great right, Carlos Jr is now marked up from a series of crisp punches.
The Brazilian misses with another takedown attempt.
Nothing happened in the final ten seconds so Tavares should get the judges' decision.
Tavares celebrates to the partial crowd.
Carlos Jr gets his cuts tended to and crouches down to his haunches.
- Wally Downes Jr
ROUND THREE
Carlos Jr fails with another takedown.
Tavares just has to survive this session and should get a win.
Carlos Jr has Tavares pinned up against the cage wall but nothing is happening.
Ref Marc Goddard resets them in the middle of the cage.
- Wally Downes Jr
ROUND TWO
Carlos Jr took plenty of time to recover from the right hand, more than the low blow.
The bell goes to end the second that Tavares should get from the judges.
Carlos Jr's corner tell him he might have lost both rounds so he has to "go for it" in this final round.
- Wally Downes Jr
ROUND TWO
Right hand from Tavares scores but Carlos Jr is hard as nails.
The lead left knee of Carlos Jr is a purple and swollen mess following a series of Tavares' kicks.
Carlos Jr tries another single-leg takedown but Tavares defends and then cracks him back with a peach of a right hand punch.
Just when Tavares looks capable of winning he lands a low blow so Carlos Jr has a time-out to recover.
- Wally Downes Jr
ROUND TWO
Tavares' team tell him to jab and feint more.
Carlos Jr is told to throw more uppercuts and throw his kicks after a jab.
Tavares lands a crunching right hand but Carlos Jr scores a brief takedown.
Clinch of the cage wall again.
- Wally Downes Jr
ROUND ONE
Tavares threw a couple of leg kicks but was punished with a three-punch combination from Carlos Jr.
Tavares is now pinned against the fence.
Carlos Jr lands a horribly knee to the gonads, the protective cup makes a sickening sound.
Tavares has five minutes to recover but the round ends.
- James Orr
BRAD TAVARES VS ANTONIO CARLOS JR
Middleweight clash up NOW!
- Wally Downes Jr
ROUND ONE
Englishman Marc Goddard reffing this for us Brits.
Carlos Jr tries a single-leg takedown but Tavares cleverly defends.
Tavares lands an overhand right and then defends another takedown brilliantly.
The middleweights clinch on the cage wall…
- Wally Downes Jr
BRAD TAVARES VS ANTONIO CARLOS JR
American striker vs Brazilian grappler at middlweight now.
Carlos Jr will be looking for nothing but a submission win.
Tavares needs to stay of the canvas at all costs.
Carlos Jr is 11-4 while Tavares enters the Abu Dhabi cage at 17-7.
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