The Blessed Express returns!
🚂 @BlessedMMA meets @CalvinKattar in the main event of Jan 16! pic.twitter.com/1x2aZaQLF1
— UFC (@ufc) November 17, 2020
UFC just announced that the Former Featherweight champion, Max Holloway is returning to the Octagon and will face Calvin Kattar on January 16, 2020. Holloway’s last fight was the rematch against current featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. The rematch was controversial as most saw Holloway winning the scorecards but judges saw it the wrong way.
Calvin Kattar is coming off a back-to-back impressive win against Jeremy Stephens and Dan Ige. He is known to have sharp and crisp boxing skills. He manages the distance and timing very well for an MMA fighter. Although he lost against Zabit Magomedsharipov, it was due to short notice and 3 round main event fight. His punches are a thing of beauty.
Max Holloway has also good boxing but he mixes it with kicks. His endurance and chin are his best asset. Even in the 5th round, he still doesn’t get tired. In terms of experience and resume, Max has it by a mile. Holloway may go as a heavy favorite.
Calvin Kattar’s best win might be against Jeremy Stephens and Ricardo Lamas. He proved that he is worthy of the top 5 rankings and delivered. The fight against Shane Burgos put him on the radar. It was awarded fight of the night.
Max Holloway’s best wins are against Jose Aldo (twice) and Brian Ortega. During the Aldo match, Holloway used his pressure against Aldo until he crumbled in the later rounds. It was a masterful performance but in terms of best performance, it would be against Brian Ortega.
Coming into the Ortega fight, Max who was the champion was coming in as an underdog. People were doubting because of the bad condition he had prior to the fight. He had to pull out of the card due to some poisoning in his body. Holloway proved why he is the champion and busted up Ortega. He broke the record for most strikes landed in a fight.
Stylistically, the fight is a crowd-friendly fight. The majority of the fight will be boxing and rarely will take down happen. Holloway’s boxing is more volume and pressure while Kattar is pin-point accurate. It will be fun to watch how both fighters will adjust to the opposing style.
Holloway might be one of the most fan-friendly fighters in the UFC right now due to his chill vibes and outgoing personality. It is going to good for UFC fans to see Max Holloway return in the octagon within the year. He had a famous catchphrase “It is what it is”
The fight itself will happen on Jan 16, 2020. This will be the first non-PPV card of Max Holloway since August of 2015. If Kattar manages to win, he could potentially fight for the title within next year against Alexander Volkanovski.
