Conor McGregor v Dustin Poirier: Assessing the three headline bouts at UFC Fight Island 3

Irish superstar to make his return to the Octagon in Abu Dhabi on January 23

Conor McGregor celebrates his first round TKO victory againt Donald Cerrone in a welterweight bout during UFC246 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. AFP

Conor McGregor celebrates his win against Donald Cerrone. Reuters

Conor McGregor reacts following his first round TKO victory against Donald Cerrone. Reuters

Boxer Tyson Fury watched on from cage side. AFP

Conor McGregor pins Donald Cerrone against the cage. Reuters

Conor McGregor lands a kick against Donald Cerrone. Reuters

Conor McGregor is introduced before fighting Donald Cerrone. Reuters

Donald Cerrone is introduced before fighting Conor McGregor. Reuters

Conor McGregor before his fight against Donald Cerrone. Reuters

Conor McGregor moves in for a knee hit against Donald Cerrone. Reuters

Conor McGregor lands a kick to the face of Donald Cerrone. Reuters

MMA Mixed Martial Arts - UFC 246 - Welterweight - Conor McGregor v Donald Cerrone - T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, United States - January 18, 2020 Conor McGregor enters the arena before his fight against Donald Cerrone REUTERS/Mike Blake

MMA Mixed Martial Arts - UFC 246 - Welterweight - Conor McGregor v Donald Cerrone - T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, United States - January 18, 2020 Conor McGregor with Jerry Cerrone, grandmother of Donald Cerrone after the fight REUTERS/Mike Blake

MMA Mixed Martial Arts - UFC 246 - Welterweight - Conor McGregor v Donald Cerrone - T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, United States - January 18, 2020 Conor McGregor before his fight against Donald Cerrone REUTERS/Mike Blake

The UFC has confirmed its return to Abu Dhabi next month, for a third Fight Island series. Featuring three events across eight days from January 16-23, each show’s headline bout has been announced. They’re all blockbusters, concluding with Conor McGregor’s eagerly anticipated comeback.

Max Holloway v Calvin Kattar, Fight Night 1 (Jan 16)

The former featherweight champion, one of the most popular athletes in mixed martial arts, plots his path back to another title shot. Holloway (21-6) was defeated on points against champion Alexander Volkanovski in their rematch at UFC 251 in Abu Dhabi in July, the second encounter between the pair going the way of the first.

Again, it was viewed as a controversial result. Holloway, a record-breaker at featherweight, ranks eighth on the UFC's pound-for-pound list. In Kattar, he faces a fighter very much on the rise: the American recorded two notable victories in 2020, including his own appearance on Fight Island in the summer, when he saw off the dangerous Dan Ige by unanimous decision. Ranked 6th in the division, this represents a golden chance for Kattar (22-4) to leapfrog Holloway in title contention.

Leon Edwards v Khamzat Chimaev, Fight Night 2 (Jan 20)

Originally booked for earlier this month, Edwards had to withdraw from the bout after contracting Covid 19. The Englishman, the welterweight division’s No 3-ranked challenger, is one of the most talented athletes in the division, but hasn’t fought since July last year. Boasting an 18-3 record, he rides an incredibly impressive eight-fight win streak.

As for his opponent? Chimaev is the breakout star of 2020, blitzing through his first three fights in the UFC. He won comfortably twice in 10 days on the inaugural Fight Island in July – a promotion record – then needed only 17 seconds to triumph on US debut in September.

His profile has grown exponentially, with Chimaev (9-0) now must-see TV. Now ranked 15th at welterweight, this is arguably the Chechen’s first real test – and what a challenge it presents.

Dustin Poirier v Conor McGregor, UFC 257 (Jan 23)

What a way to end the UFC’s latest residency. A rematch of their 2014 encounter, when McGregor cruised to a first-round TKO, this constitutes an altogether different challenge. And not just that it plays out at lightweight, instead of featherweight.

Poirier has grown to become one the division's most dangerous athletes, a former interim champion who last time out in June contested a Fight of the Year contender against Dan Hooker, where he won on points. The No 2-ranked challenger (26-6) has Abu Dhabi experience, too, losing to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 242 in September last year.

McGregor, ranked at No 4, remains an enthralling fighter, inside and outside the octagon. The former two-division champion (22-4) last fought in January, marking 14 months away from the sport by crushing Donald Cerrone in 40 seconds. Returning from another short-lived "retirement", still arguably the UFC's biggest draw.