Calvin Kattar made the most of his opportunities in 2020 and will begin his 2021 project with a massive fight against among the all-time featherweight greats.
” The Boston Finisher” fights previous champion Max Holloway in the main event of UFC Fight Island 7 on Jan.16 UFC President Dana White, after months of speculation and planning, officially revealed on Tuesday that the first three occasions of the 2021 calendar year will take place in Abu Dhabi.
When Kattar initially got the bout agreement, he believed the event would happen at the UFC PEAK. The concept of fighting in Las Vegas for the first time thrilled the No. 6-ranked competitor more than the matchup itself.
” I still can’t seem to land a Vegas card, even when it’s 50-50 between Battle Island and the PINNACLE– I can’t even get a Vegas card then,” Kattar jokingly informed Mixed Martial Arts Battling on What the Heck “Then you have Rob [Font] and it resembles his seventh time fighting in Vegas. The kid’s ruined, but it’s the difference in between combating at 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.”
The ultra-focused Massachusetts native earned the opportunity to deal with Holloway after a relentless finish of Jeremy Stephens at UFC 249, and an unanimous choice win over Dan Ige at UFC on ESPN 13 in July.
Holloway has actually lost back-to-back choices to Alexander Volkanovski, including one bogged down in debate in his bid to recapture the title at UFC 251. Many think “Blessed” did enough to earn approval on scorecards in his second battle with Volkanovski.
While Kattar will not permit himself to get extremely amped about the male standing across the octagon from him, he understands the significance of the matchup itself. In the end, he hopes his challenger will look at the very first centerpiece of 2021 in the same light.
” It’s an excellent chance to reveal that I’m that person,” he stated. “There’s these guys out there touting Max like he’s still the champ, and I believe he may even be still focused on the champ. To overlook me would be a mistake.
” Whenever you fight a person like Max Holloway with the honors he has, it is a championship-caliber battle,” Kattar discussed. “He might not have the belt today, but it’s that type of fight, 100 percent. It’s a five-round centerpiece battle and the only thing missing out on is the belt.
” It’s everything about Max Holloway and I do not intend on leaving it close.”
After a 3-3 start to his UFC career, Holloway went on to win 13 straight battles in general– 14 in all at 145 pounds, consisting of an interim title and three title defenses as the undeniable champ.
Holloway’s high-volume design, in addition to his size and reach, have actually served him well over the years. Kattar is a similar fighter, but he and his group think he has a substantial power benefit.
” It’s different when you fight a man that has similar reach and, not only the reach, but can fight that style of battling long,” Kattar stated. “I believe both of us present problems that neither one people have faced in the past, and we’ll find out what’s up come Jan. 16.
” It’s coming close, and all it is here is completing camp strong– dotting the i’s, crossing the t’s– and I have actually been prepared to go all-year long. Jan. 16 can’t come soon enough.”
Having a comparable mentality as the New England Patriots, his hometown football NFL group, Kattar has constantly had the “next male up” mentality to his battling career. Doing all he might in 2020 to keep the 145- pound department moving, Kattar thinks a win over Holloway will lead to his next battle being for a world championship.
” I think anybody that desires to combat for the belt ought to have to go through Max,” Kattar mentioned.
” Whoever wanted that opportunity had it when they might’ve fought Max however I do not see a lot of individuals munching at the bit to eliminate him besides myself.”
Kattar isn’t providing anything away in terms of forecasts. But he believes that the very best version of himself is better than the very best variation of Holloway, and he prepares to prove that to the world on Jan. 16.
” I simply got ta go out there and be Calvin Kattar much better than he can be Max Holloway,” Kattar said.