UFC: Conor McGregor ‘accepts’ January rematch against Dustin Poirier ahead of planned bout with Manny Pacquiao

Irishman wants the MMA contest to take place at the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium in Texas

Former dual-weight champion Conor McGregor has taken to Twitter to accept a UFC rematch with old foe Dustin Poirier.

The Irishman last week challenged Poirier, whom he knocked out in the first round of the pair’s featherweight clash in 2014, to a charity bout in Dublin in December.

That followed a spat between McGregor and UFC president Dana White, with the former leaking messages between the pair to indicate that he has been keen to fight since his last contest – a 40-second win over Donald Cerrone in January – but has been held back.

White responded by saying the UFC had a January 2021 date lined up for McGregor to fight Poirier but that the former simultaneous feather- and lightweight champion wanted to compete before the end of 2020.

McGregor has seemingly relented, however, writing on Twitter on Wednesday: “I accept, Jan 23rd is on! “My goal is to see this fight take place in Cowboy stadium. Proper Style!”

McGregor was referencing AT&T Stadium, home of Texan NFL franchise the Dallas Cowboys.

“[Cowboys owner] Jerry Jones is a friend and the stadium can hold our crowd,” McGregor continued. 

“I will be ready for Texas and Texas will be ready for my fans! Then Manny.”

The “Manny” in question is professional boxer Manny Pacquaio, whom McGregor has claimed he will be boxing in the Middle East in the near future.

As for McGregor’s reference to fans attending a January bout at the AT&T Stadium, certain NFL franchises have been permitting fans at stadia in recent weeks while others have not.

Meanwhile, the UFC has been holding behind-closed-doors events at their Apex institute in Las Vegas and on Yas Island – nicknamed ‘Fight Island’ – in Abu Dhabi since the pandemic began to sweep across the globe earlier this year.