Holloway, Kattar Scrap for Title Shot

The UFC is back in action this weekend with the first event of 2021. The main event features former UFC featherweight champion Max “Blessed” Holloway taking on rising contender Calvin Kattar with title implications on the line.

Holloway, ranked No.1, is the former UFC featherweight champion who successfully defended his title three times against former UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo, Brian Ortega and former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar. Holloway is coming off consecutive losses to current UFC featherweight champion Alexander “The Great” Volkanovski, with the last fight being so close many fans around the world disagreed with the split decision that went towards Volkanovski.

Holloway went on an impressive 13-fight win streak that saw him beat the likes of former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis, Jeremy Stephens, Aldo and Ortega. Holloway attempted to make history at UFC 236 when he moved up a weight class and took on Dustin Poirier for the UFC interim lightweight championship. The two went to war and put on a “Fight of The Year” contender that saw Poirier defeat Holloway by unanimous decision and snap Holloway’s win streak.

Holloway returned to the featherweight division and take on Edgar at UFC 240 for the UFC featherweight championship. Holloway silenced his critics and win by unanimous decision. Holloway is a striker who doesn’t throw every punch with power but throws bunches of punches to wear his opponents out. Holloway is just 29 but has already accomplished so much in his career. Going up against Kattar is guaranteed fireworks, but if Holloway can win and win impressively, another title shot might just be next him.

Kattar, ranked No.6, has slowly been making a name for himself in the UFC as a legit title contender. Kattar made his UFC debut at UFC 214 taking on Andre Fili and winning the fight by unanimous decision. Kattar would next take on rising prospect Shane Burgos at UFC 220. Kattar would shine and deliver a highlight-reel finish when he TKO’ed Burgos in the third round.

Kattar would go 2-2 in his next four fights before taking on longtime UFC veteran Jeremy Stephens at UFC 249. Kattar would yet again add another finish to the highlight reel by knocking out Stephens in the second round. Kattar’s next fight saw him matched up with featherweight contender Dan Ige as the main event of UFC on ESPN 13. Kattar and Ige delivered a great fight with Kattar taking home the unanimous decision. This next fight against Holloway is Kattar’s biggest to date by far. Expect to see Kattar dig deep to put away the former champion.

These two featherweights are by far the most exciting fighters in the division, and I’m picking Holloway to win by decision. Catch all of the amazing fights this Saturday on ESPN+ and ABC!