UFC 257 took place Saturday, January 23rd, 2021 at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The card was headlined by a lightweight bout between Conor McGregor.
Closing odds are courtesy of one of the most popular Las Vegas based sportsbooks Circa Sports. Here’s a quick recap of each of those fights.
Favorites that Won
Joanne Calderwood outstruck Jessica Eye from distance, did more damage in the clinch, and even attained top position on the ground to earn a unanimous decision victory. Calderwood was -130 while Eye was +110
Makhmud Muradov controlled all three rounds of his fight against Andrew Sanchez, then put Sanchez away with a brutal right hand and follow-up strikes in the third. Muradov was -210 while Sanchez was +180
Arman Tsarukyan both outstruck and outgrappled Matt Frevola over the course of three rounds to earn a one-sided unanimous decision. Tsarukyan was -580, while Frevola was +450
Movsar Evloev survived some scary moments against an extremely game Nik Lentz, doing enough at the end of the first round and finishing strong in the third round to eek out a split decision victory. Evloev was -750 was while Lentz was +555
In the opening bout of the evening, Zhalgas Zhumagulov started strong, but Amir Albazi was able to rally and win the final two rounds to take a unanimous decision victory. Albazi was -120 while Zhumagulov was +100.
Underdogs that Won
In the main event of the evening, Dustin Poirier got outstruck by Conor McGregor in the first round, but kept McGregor honest with a takedown, clinch work and low calf kicks. The calf kicks paid dividends as McGregor slowed, then Poirier unloaded on McGregor when the Irishman had his back to the fence to earn a second round TKO victory. Poirier was +255 while McGregor was -305
In his UFC debut, Michael Chandler bided his time, then found a home for his brutal left hand, dropping Dan Hooker and finishing him with follow-up strikes in the first round. Chandler was +145 while Hooker was -165
Amanda Ribas dominated the first round, but Marina Rodriguez bounced back in the second, seemingly ending the fight after a barrage of punches, but after an awkward celebration, Rodriguez came back and finished the fight again with strikes to earn a second round TKO. Rodriguez was +285 while Ribas was -355
Brad Tavares fended off the takedowns from Antonio Carlos Junior and outstruck the Brazilian over the course of three rounds to earn a unanimous decision victory. Tavares was +117 while Carlos Junior was -137
Sara McMann started strong against Julianna Pena, but as she faded, Pena took over, eventually sinking in a third round rear naked choke victory. Pena was +100 while McMann was -120
Khalil Rountree came out sluggish against Marcin Prachnio, dropping the first round. Rountree took the second with improved agression, but his pace slowed and he lost the third round to surprisingly drop a decision as a massive favorite. Prachnio was +350 while Rountree was -435
