The UFC kicks off 2020 with the biggest star in combat sports and one of the most notable athletes in the world as former two-division world champion Conor McGregor returns to the Octagon to take on Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in the main event of UFC 246 on Saturday, Jan. 18 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
McGregor (21-4) makes his highly anticipated comeback after losing by fourth-round submission to current lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 in October 2018. More is made of the aftermath then the actual fight, as a melee ensued between both fight camps, resulting in a series of fines and suspensions on both sides.
The question since then has been: When would McGregor compete in the UFC again? The Irishman has been in the headlines for all of the wrong reasons, including beating an older gentleman in an Irish bar, getting arrested for smashing a cell phone outside a nightclub in Miami, and two separate allegations of sexual assault (McGregor hasn’t been charged in the alleged incidents).
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The question was answered on Thanksgiving when it was announced that McGregor would battle Cerrone in a welterweight bout.
Cerrone (36-13) enters the biggest fight of his career with the most wins in UFC history (23) and the most finishes (16). In his first run at welterweight from February 2016-November 2018, “Cowboy” went 6-4 with all of the wins coming by stoppage.
Wanting to make one more run at a world title, Cerrone dropped back to lightweight and went 2-2, losing the last two fights to Tony Ferguson and, most recently, Justin Gaethje by first-round TKO in September.
McGregor vs. Cerrone has been brewing since 2015 when they appeared at a press conference together to promote the former’s featherweight title unification fight against Jose Aldo and the latter’s challenge of then-lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos.
An exchange between the two ensued when dos Anjos and Cerrone were asked about facing McGregor. dos Anjos said it would be easy money. Cerrone said that “Conor has no right coming over to 155. There is no way. He is not gonna stand a chance. We are too big for him. We are too strong. So you can take your little English a—.”
McGregor interrupted and told Cerrone, “You are too slow and too stiff. You are stiff as a board. I will snap you in half. And that’s it.”
McGregor has proclaimed that he’s got big plans for 2020. He says he’ll fight three times in the calendar year, beginning with Cerrone and ending with him fighting the winner of the lightweight title fight between Nurmagomedov and Ferguson that occurs at UFC 249 on April 18.
Standing in the way of McGregor’s goals is Cerrone. Can he do it, or does “Mystic Mac” back up his own words?
Here is everything you need to know about Conor McGregor’s return to the UFC against Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, including the start time, fight card, PPV price and odds for UFC 246 in Las Vegas.
When is Conor McGregor’s fight in UFC 246?
Date: Saturday, Jan. 18
Time: 10 p.m. ET | 7 p.m. PT
UFC 246 will take place Saturday, Jan. 18, with pay-per-view coverage beginning at 10 p.m. ET. Expect Conor McGregor and Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone to enter the Octagon around 12:15 a.m. ET following the rest of the main card, which also includes Holly Holm vs. Raquel Pennington among other fights.
Conor McGregor’s last fight date
Conor McGregor hasn’t fought in the UFC since his Oct. 6, 2018 loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229. Since then, McGregor has retired and unretired from mixed martial arts and has run afoul of the law outside on several occasions. His return to the Octagon in January will mark his first fight in nearly a year and a half.
UFC 246 PPV price: How much does the card cost?
The main card on pay-per-view can be purchased for $64.99. Every UFC PPV is shown exclusively through the end on ESPN+.
Where is UFC 246 taking place?
UFC 245 will be held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
McGregor vs. Cowboy odds for UFC 246
According to BetOnline.ag, Conor McGregor is a sizable favorite, coming in at -315, which means you’d need to bet $315 to win $100. Donald Cerrone is a +245 underdog, meaning if you were to bet $100, you would net $245.
UFC 246 fight card
Main card
Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone; Welterweight Holly Holm vs. Raquel Pennington; Women’s Bantamweight Aleksei Oleinik vs. Maurice Greene; Heavyweight Cláudia Gadelha vs. Alexa Grasso; Women’s Strawweight Anthony Pettis vs. Carlos Diego Ferreira; Lightweight
Preliminary card
Roxanne Modafferi vs. Maycee Barber; Women’s Flyweight Andre Fili vs. Sodiq Yusuff; Featherweight Drew Dober vs. Nasrat Haqparast; Lightweight Chas Skelly vs. Grant Dawson; Featherweight Sabina Mazo vs. JJ Aldrich; Women’s Flyweight Tim Elliott vs. Askar Askarov; Flyweight Brian Kelleher vs. Ode Osbourne; Bantamweight Aleksa Camur vs. Justin Ledet; Light Heavyweight