McGregor to return for a UFC rematch next year

Conor McGregor has agreed to return to the UFC for a rematch with Dustin Poirier on January 23 at UFC 257.

UFC President Dana White confirmed to The Associated Press today that McGregor has ended his latest retirement from mixed martial arts by signing an agreement for a 155-pound fight with Poirier.

White hasn't decided whether UFC 257 will be held in Las Vegas or in the UFC's coronavirus-secure bubble in Abu Dhabi.

McGregor who has recorded 22 wins and 4 defeats has fought in the UFC cage just twice since November 2016, but he dramatically stopped Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone in 40 seconds at UFC 246 last January.

The 32-year-old Irish veteran remains the biggest star in combat sports despite retiring for the third time in four years last June amid frustration with his inability to book the fights he wanted due to the pandemic.

TVNZ Sports reports McGregor was still a rising MMA star when he stopped Poirier just 1:46 into the first round at UFC 178 in September 2014. McGregor won his next three fights, culminating in his 13-second victory over Jose Aldo to claim the UFC lightweight championship.

[Source: TVNZ]