With 90 seconds left, Max Holloway turned away from his opponent, Calvin Kattar, and told the broadcast team that he was the best boxer in the UFC. On ABC, the network that has been a home for boxing since the 1940s, Holloway has more than proved his stamp.
Holloway dominated Kattar via unanimous decision (50-43, 50-43, 50-42) at the UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi, in one of the most one-sided major events in UFC history. Holloway is the former UFC featherweight champion and the 145-pound decorated fighter of all time. Saturday’s fight was perhaps the best performance of his career, which could have put him in line for another title event.
UFC president Dana White has said he believes Holloway “deserves” a new shot at current welterweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, to whom Holloway lost two close fights. But Holloway will have to wait: Volkanovski’s next fight will take place on March 27 against Brian Ortega at UFC 260, sources told Ariel Helwani of ESPN.
“To win my first title, I had to win ten fights and an interim win. Max Holloway defeats Calvin Kattar in one-sided UFC main event, “Holloway said during his news conference.” Hard work? I’m not afraid of hard work. You know the saying – to be the best, you have to beat the best. And the best is ‘Blessed’. Bring everyone along. ‘
ESPN named Holloway no. 2 and entered Kattar at number 6 in the world in the featherweight division.
Holloway then said he would stay another week in Abu Dhabi and make himself available if anything happened to UFC 257 fighters Conor McGregor or Dustin Poirier. However, UFC President Dana White quickly rejected it, telling reporters that Holloway was going home to rest.
White, however, had nothing but praise for Holloway’s actions, calling him “one of the greatest of all, a period of struggle.”
‘I think people keep doubting and thinking about Max. Is old Max going to show up? The man who lost a step and all that? ‘ White said. “He just does not do it. Many people for whom we all respect a lot and know a lot about this sport, Kattar chose to win tonight. Let’s also give Kattar the respect he deserves. It takes two to fight a great battle.
The scorecards were tied in a five-round fight in UFC history, along with a fight between Rich Franklin and David Loiseau at UFC 58 in 2006. The score 50-42 was only the second ever in UFC history after Franklin vs. Loiseau.
Holloway has always been an extraordinary attacker. But he came out of the very first round with a different kind of ferocity. Kattar landed some nice jabs and hard right hands throughout. But for each of them, Holloway sage returned with long, varied combinations, targeting the head, body, legs and more. Holloway landed hard elbows and knees to the gut. The avid gamer was like a fighting video game that came to life.
“If you’re not a fan of Max Holloway, you’re a hater,” Kattar said. “Child is an animal. Do what he had to do. Good luck to him and hopefully the next champion, because he deserves another blow. ‘
Saturday’s main event broke several records. According to UFC Stats, Holloway set a UFC record of 445 significant strikes, breaking the previous point of 290 he hit against Ortega at UFC 231. Along with Kattar’s best 133 significant strikes, the fight also set UFC records for combined significant strikes (578) and significant strike differential (312).
Holloway’s 141 important attacks in Round 4 were also the most in a single round in UFC history.
“He took everything – the kitchen, a fire truck, an ambulance. I threw everything at him,” Holloway said of Kattar. “I probably threw my mouthpiece there at some point.”
The fight took place in the Etihad Arena in front of a limited number of fans who all went through COVID-19 protocols. It was the first paid audience to see a UFC event since March last year.
The crowd sang for Holloway early because of his wave. Kattar delivered some beautiful combinations in the first round, but by the end of the round, Holloway’s pressure and versatile combinations took over to each body part. Holloway finished close in second place with long combinations, but Kattar held strong despite being bloody with an elbow late in the round. The only thing that was more impressive than Kattar’s toughness was Holloway’s endurance.
Holloway did not slow down at all in the late rounds. There were times that Kattar looked out at his feet against the cage with Holloway pouring out after combination combination, but referee Herb Dean did not stop it. Late in the fifth, Holloway starts to taunt Kattar, drops his hands and speaks with astonishing confidence to the commentary box.
UFC analyst Daniel Cormier noted that Holloway ‘looks like Muhammad Ali’ on Saturday.
“I experienced the time of my life,” Holloway said. ‘I had to talk [Cormier] a little in there, let him know I’m coming for his job. … Your guys’ job is not safe either. I come for everything. I want everything, honey. ‘
Holloway added: “Maybe Muhammad Ali put a little spirit in me, I don’t know. It was a little Muhammad there. I was in the zone.”
Holloway (22-6) dropped to Volkanovski two in a row before this fight. Both matches were very close, and many thought Holloway had won second at UFC 251 in July. Holloway, 29, is the most capable featherweight in UFC history. He had some form of the 145-pound title in the UFC from 2016 to 2019. Holloway, a Hawaiian-born, has the most wins (17), the most KO / TKO wins (8) and the most wins (10) in UFC featherweight history.
Kattar (22-4) has won two in a row and four of the last five he has entered. The Massachusetts native has four finishes in six UFC wins, known for his stabbing and thriving right-handers. Kattar, 32, won a unanimous victory over Dan Ige last year.