Calvin Kattar believes his way to the UFC featherweight tournament goes through former title star Max Holloway. The two main featherweight finalists will meet in the main UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs Kattar on January 16 on Fight Island. This is the first UFC event of 2021.
Speaking to Mike Heck at MMA Fighting, Kattar explained that he believes that anyone who wants to retain the 145-pound title must beat Holloway to get there:
“Yeah, for sure. That’s why I said before to get the matchup with Max, I think anyone who wants to fight for the belt should have to go through Max, especially the one that is so close.To avoid Max on your way to the belt just doesn’t make sense to me.You want to be a camper, you have to take Max Holloway on your way , and I have that opportunity before me. “
Kattar said that if he is really able to get the upper hand over Holloway, he hopes to be in the next line of sight for UFC featherweight Alexander Alexander Volkanovski:
“Like you said, I think after Max, that was the goal, and whoever wanted that opportunity when they could have fought Max, but I don’t see too many people jumping at business to do it, but myself. “
Calvin Kattar comes off a backhand win against a pair of feathered feathers in Jeremy Stephens and Dan Ige.
Max Holloway, meanwhile, is coming off a backup to ruling champion Alexander Volkanovski in UFC featherweight title blows.
Calvin Kattar is facing the biggest test of a UFC career in Max Holloway
Calvin Kattar will take on perhaps the biggest test of a young UFC career when he meets Max Holloway, a former featherweight champion at the UFC Fight Night on Jan. 16.
Kattar made his UFC debut back in 2017 and made an instant shower by scoring back-to-back wins over Andre Fili and Shane Burgos. The Massachusetts native then suffered his first career loss in his third UFC fight at the hands of Renato Moicano.
Calvin kicked Kattar back with another winning pair, finishing both Chris Fishgold and TKO title opponent Ricardo Lamas. But he would suffer another hurdle in the form of a unanimous decision loss for Zabit Magomedsharipov.
In his last two Octagon scenes, Kattar knocked out Jeremy Stephens and decided to give Dan Ige a shot at former featherweight governor Max Holloway.
Holloway easily represents the toughest test in Kattar UFC’s career. The former champion held the title from 2016 to 2019 and has won over the likes of Charles Oliveira, Anthony Pettis, Jose Aldo (twice), and Frankie Edgar.
If Calvin Kattar can beat Holloway, he will solidify his status as the next fit for the UFC featherweight title picture.
Published 28 December 2020, 19:00 IST