There were times when Kattar looked out on his feet against the cage with Holloway pouring combination after combination, but referee Herb Dean didn't stop it. Holloway didn't slow down at all in the late rounds. The only thing more impressive than Kattar's toughness was Holloway's stamina. Kattar ended up receiving "some staples in the head and a broken nose and bruising," his coach Tyson Chartier told ESPN. Holloway came close to finishing in the second with long combinations, but Kattar held strong despite being bloodied late in the round with an elbow. Kattar landed some nice combinations in the first round, but by the end of the round, Holloway's pressure and versatile combinations to every part of the body were taking over. The crowd was chanting for Holloway early because of his flurries.
It was the first paid audience to witness a UFC event since last March. The bout took place at Etihad Arena in front of a capped amount of fans who had all gone through COVID-19 protocols. "I probably threw my mouthpiece at him at one point in there." I threw everything at him," Holloway said of Kattar. "He took everything - the kitchen sink, a fire truck, an ambulance. Holloway's 141 significant strikes landed in Round 4 were also the most in a single round in UFC history. Along with Kattar's career-best 133 significant strikes, the fight also set UFC records for combined significant strikes (578) and significant strike differential (312). According to UFC Stats, Holloway landed a UFC-record 445 significant strikes, shattering the previous mark of 290 he set against Ortega at UFC 231. Saturday's main event broke several records. Good luck to him, and hopefully the champ next, because he deserves another shot." "If you ain't a Max Holloway fan, you're a hater," Kattar said. The avid gamer was like a fighting video game character come to life. Holloway landed hard elbows and knees to the gut. But for every one of those, Holloway returned volley with long, diverse combinations, targeting the head, the body, the legs and more. Kattar landed some nice jabs and hard right hands throughout. But he came out from the very first round with a different kind of ferocity. Holloway has always been an exceptional striker. The 50-42 score was only the second in UFC history after Franklin vs. The scorecards were tied for the most lopsided in a five-round fight in UFC history, along with a bout between Rich Franklin and David Loiseau at UFC 58 in 2006. Let's give Kattar the respect he deserves, too. A lot of people whom we all respect and know a lot about this sport picked Kattar to win tonight. "I think that people keep doubting Max and thinking, 'Is old Max gonna show up? The guy who has lost a step and all this?'" White said. Still, White had nothing but praise for Holloway's performance, calling him "one of the all-time greats, period, in fighting." White, however, quickly rejected that idea, telling reporters that Holloway would be going home to rest. The card was the first UFC event to air on ABC and the first since 2018 to air on network television.Īfterward, Holloway said he would be staying in Abu Dhabi for another week and will make himself available if anything happens to UFC 257 main event fighters Conor McGregor or Dustin Poirier. 6 in the world in the featherweight division coming in. And the best is 'Blessed.' Bring them all."ĮSPN had Holloway ranked No. You know the saying: To be the best, you've gotta beat the best. "Hard work? I ain't scared of no hard work.
"To get my first title, I had to win 10 fights and an interim ," Holloway said at his postfight news conference.
But Holloway will have to wait: Volkanovski's next fight will come against Brian Ortega on March 27 at UFC 260, sources told ESPN's Ariel Helwani. UFC president Dana White said he believes Holloway "deserves" another shot at current featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, to whom Holloway has lost two close fights. The fight Saturday might have been the best performance of his career - one that could put him in line for another title opportunity. Holloway is a former UFC featherweight champion and the most decorated 145-pound fighter of all time. Holloway dominated Kattar via unanimous decision (50-43, 50-43, 50-42) at UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in one of the most one-sided main events in UFC history. On ABC, the network that has been a home for boxing since the 1940s, Holloway more than proved his point with his punches. With 90 seconds left in his fight Saturday, Max Holloway turned away from his opponent, Calvin Kattar, and told the broadcast team cageside that he is the best boxer in the UFC.
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