Toughness and durability are a valued trait in martial arts, but the ability also costs.
On Saturday in the UFC Fight Island 7 main event, Calvin Kattar displayed it all and more when he completed a five-round fight against Max Holloway while absorbing a jaw 445 significant attacks for 25 minutes.
The fourth round in particular was difficult to keep track of at the moment as Holloway struck just ahead of Kattar, who refused to go down while eating a lightning series of punches, kicks and elbows from the former featherweight champion.
Even UFC president Dana White was shocked when he looked at the cage while Kattar was trapped against the fence, while Holloway just dropped him off with a series of devastating combinations that would probably have completed most featherweights. In fact, White actually moved to Kattar’s corner to talk to them as the fight came to an end.
“I thought the fight had to be stopped in the fourth round,” White said Saturday night. “I was a little scared. I said [to his coaches] he’s not going to stop and talk to anyone. We’re going to take him straight to the ambulance and send him to the hospital.
‘Then I went to him and said,’ you’re so tough, what an amazing show, ‘and he said,’ that’s not what I want to be known for. ‘He’s going’ but I’m not going back anyone ‘and I said we’ll send you to the hospital right away. I do not want you to talk to anyone or do anything. He starts laughing and thinks it’s funny. He is in a good mood, his head is clean. ”
There were some moments, especially during the fourth round, where the commentary team that edited the UFC broadcast called for the fight to be stopped, but Kattar refused to give up, while always somehow found a way to survive.
Referee Herb Dean watched the action closely as he watched Kattar unleash incredible heart to endure some of the combinations Holloway unleashed throughout the course of the fight.
“I’m not the ref,” White said. ‘Herb Dean was the man who made the decision tonight. I thought it had to be stopped in the fourth round. I hate to see a child continue to punish like that. But he seems to be OK, and as long as he’s good, it’s the ref’s job, not mine. ”
Despite all the strikes that Kattar absorbed during five rounds, White conceded that talking about the New England native after the event helped calm his nerves about the decision to let him fight to the end.
“Our interaction made me feel better,” White said. “Everything is fine and so far everything I hear is fine. That kind of fighting scares me.
“He was completely coherent, clear and spoke perfectly. But we managed him with an ambulance and had him checked out. ‘