Former two-division UFC champion Conor “The Notorious” McGregor will make his return to the Octagon against Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone at UFC 246 on Saturday 18th January. The fan favorites will meet in the welterweight main event at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada, United States.
Conor McGregor (21-4) has been out of action since his submission loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 in October 2018. The Irish superstar stepped away from the MMA game in 2017 to participate in the massive boxing superfight against the undefeated Floyd Mayweather. UFC President Dana White has suggested that a win for McGregor will likely put him in position for a rematch with bitter rival UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov if the Russian is successful in his title defense against Tony Ferguson at UFC 249 in April.
Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone (36-13, 1 NC) is in desperate need of a win after going on a two-fight losing streak against Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje. Despite the setbacks against elite competition, Cowboy has earned himself five post-fight performance bonuses in his last five bouts. Cerrone will have the advantage of fighting in the 170 weight class after going 6-4 in the UFC’s welterweight division before returning to lightweight.
UFC 246 will air live on BT Sport Box Office
UFC 246 Main Card (BT Sport)
Welterweight: Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone
Women’s Bantamweight: Holly Holm vs. Raquel Pennington
Heavyweight: Aleksei Oleinik vs. Maurice Greene
Women’s Strawweight: Cláudia Gadelha vs. Alexa Grasso
Lightweight: Anthony Pettis vs. Carlos Diego Ferreira
UFC 246 Preliminary Card (BT Sport)
Women’s Flyweight: Roxanne Modafferi vs. Maycee Barber
Featherweight: Andre Fili vs. Sodiq Yusuff
Lightweight: Drew Dober vs. Nasrat Haqparast
Featherweight: Chas Skelly vs. Grant Dawson
UFC 246 Early Preliminary Card (UFC Fight Pass)
Light Heavyweight: Aleksa Camur vs. Justin Ledet
Flyweight: Tim Elliott vs. Askar Askarov
Bantamweight: Brian Kelleher vs. Ode Osbourne
Women’s Flyweight: Sabina Mazo vs. JJ Aldrich
