UFC 257: Poirier vs. McGregor 2 takes place on Saturday, January 23 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The offshore sportsbooks recently opened up the betting odds for the event, and MMAOB staff writer Adam Martin takes a look at the opening odds below.
UFC 257 Odds
Conor McGregor -175
Dustin Poirier +150
Dan Hooker -160
Michael Chandler +140
Joanne Calderwood -140
Jessica Eye +120
Ottman Azaitar -115
Matt Frevola -105
Amanda Ribas -270
Marina Rodriguez +230
Arman Tsarukyan -300
Nasrat Haqparast +250
Brad Tavares -120
Antonio Carlos Junior +100
Julianna Pena -140
Sara McMann +120
Khalil Rountree -300
Marcin Prachnio +250
Andrew Sanchez -179
Makhmud Muradov +148
Movsar Evloev -400
Nik Lentz +300
Zhalgas Zhumagulov -115
Amir Albazi -105
Here are my initial thoughts on the UFC 257 Opening Odds:
- The main event of UFC 257 is a highly-anticipated lightweight rematch between Conor McGregor (22-4) and Dustin Poirier (26-6, 1 NC). These two previously met at UFC 178 in September 2014, with McGregor knocking Poirier out in the first round of a featherweight bout. McGregor is fighting for the first time in a year since knocking out Donald Cerrone at UFC 246, while Poirier is fighting for the first time since beating Dan Hooker last June. McGregor is one of the best fighters in the world and the UFC is a better promotion with him on the active roster. After taking only two MMA fights in the last four years, McGregor looks to fight more often in 2021, and it starts with this fight against Poirier. Ever since losing to McGregor seven years ago, Poirier moved up to 155lbs and became an interim champion. The first fight may have been a blowout, but that doesn’t mean the rematch will be too. McGregor should be favored due to his KO power, but Poirier is going to put up a better fight this time around.
- The co-main event is a tremendous matchup between lightweight contenders Dan Hooker (20-9) and Michael Chandler (21-5). Hooker is 7-2 overall in the UFC while fighting as a lightweight, and he has notable wins over the likes of Gilbert Burns, Paul Felder, and Al Iaquinta. As for Chandler, the former three-time Bellator lightweight champion is finally making his long-awaited UFC debut. He’s coming into the UFC riding a two-fight win streak over Benson Henderson and Sidney Outlaw and a win over Hooker would allow him to become an instant lightweight contender in the UFC. Hooker opened up as the clear favorite here given his UFC experience, but you have to give Chandler a long look at the betting underdog here.
- Another intriguing main card battle features women’s strawweight contenders Amanda Ribas (10-1) and Marina Rodriguez (12-1-2). Ribas has been an unbelievable find for the UFC, racking up a perfect 4-0 record since joining the promotion in 2019. In her last fight, Ribas finished Paige VanZant in the first round in a devastating fashion in a flyweight bout, but she’s back to 115lbs for this fight. She takes on Rodriguez, who is 2-2-1 in the UFC. In her last outing, she dropped a split decision to Carla Esparza. This is going to be a competitive fight. Ribas opened as a big favorite, but it would be foolish to completely write off Rodriguez here.
