Conor McGregor v Dustin Poirier: When is UFC 264, who is fighting and how to watch on TV?

Trilogy fight between two lightweight stars tops the bill at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas

US fighter Dustin Poirier after his knockout victory over Conor McGregor 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 during UFC 257 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, on January 23. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

UFC president Dana White congraulates Dustin Poirier after his win over Conor McGregor. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Dustin Poirier celebrates after beating Conor McGregor. 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 punches Conor McGregor. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Conor McGregor lands a punch on Dustin Poirier. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Dustin Poirier punches Conor McGregor. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Conor McGregor ahead of the fight against Dustin Poirier. Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Conor McGregor returns to the octagon next Sunday with his must-see trilogy clash with Dustin Poirier, the headline bout at a sold-out UFC 264 in Las Vegas. Here’s the details.

What is it?

The latest pay-per-view event from the world’s lead mixed martial arts organisation. UFC 264 is topped by McGregor’s third fight with Poirier and comes less than six months after the American levelled the series at 1-1 via an emphatic TKO at UFC 257 in Abu Dhabi.

When is it?

Sunday July 11 (July 10 in United States). The early prelims kick off at 2:15am UAE time, the prelims at 4am, and main card at 6am.

Where is it?

T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas. The events marks the first time the UFC have put on a sold-out show in Las Vegas since before the pandemic.

Who’s fighting?

Undoubtedly, the blockbuster attraction is McGregor-Poirier 3. The pair first met in 2014, at featherweight at UFC 178, when McGregor ended a heated build-up by knocking out Poirier in the first round. However, some seven years later, at lightweight, the American exacted revenge, triumphing in the second round at Etihad Arena – the curtain closer to Fight Island 3 in the capital. The loss represented the first knockout defeat of McGregor’s 27-fight professional mixed martial arts career.

If the pre-fight back in January was congenial, the Irishman vowed in the aftermath that there would be “no more Mr Nice Guy”. That has certainly rang true the past week: the pair have been busy exchanging barbs on social media. Poirier sits currently as the lightweight division’s No 1-ranked challenger (McGregor is No 5), with the winner expected to next take on champion Charles Oliveira for the belt.

Elsewhere on the card, former welterweight title challenger Gilbert Burns returns for the first time following his championship defeat to Kamaru Usman in February. The Brazilian, the division’s No 2-ranked contender, takes on 4th-ranked Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson in the prelude to McGregor-Poirier.

Meanwhile, Mexico’s Irene Aldana looks to bounce back from her defeat last October to Holly Holm in Abu Dhabi when she faces fellow bantamweight Yana Kunitskaya, while fan favourite Sean O’Malley will hope to edge closer to bantamweight title contention with a match-up against newcomer Kris Moutinho. The UFC debutant is a late stand-in for the injured Louis Smolka.

Full Card *subject to change

Main

Dustin Poirier v Conor McGregor (lightweight)

Gilbert Burns v Stephen Thompson (welterweight)

Tai Tuivasa v Greg Hardy (heavyweight)

Irene Aldana v Yana Kunitskaya (women’s bantamweight)

Sean O’Malley v Kris Moutinho (bantamweight)

Prelims

Carlos Condit v Max Griffin (welterweight)

Niko Price v Michel Pereira (welterweight)

Ryan Hall v Ilia Topuria (featherweight)

Trevin Giles v Dricus Du Plessis (middleweight)

Early Prelims

Jennifer Maia v Jessica Eye (women’s flyweight)

Omari Akhmedov v Brad Tavares (middleweight)

Zhalgas Zhumagulov v Jerome Rivera (flyweight)

Hu Yaozong v Alen Amedovski (middleweight)

How to watch in UAE

Fight fans can watch all the action through the UFC Arabia app.