With 90 seconds left, Max Holloway moved 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 home to boxing since the 1940s, Holloway proved his fist.
Holloway dominated Kattar by a unanimous decision (50-43, 50-43, 50-42) on Saturday in one of the most one-sided major events in UFC history. Holloway is the former UFC featherweight champion and the most decorated 145-pound fighter of all time. Saturday’s fight could have been the best performance of his career at the UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi.
Holloway later said he would stay in Abu Dhabi for another week and be available if anything happens to UFC 257 main event fighters Conor McGregor or Dustin Poirier.
However, UFC President Dana White quickly dismissed the idea, telling reporters that Holloway would go home to rest. However, White had nothing but praise for Holloway’s performance, calling him “one of the greatest of all time, period, in battle.”
“I think people keep doubting Max and thinking, will old Max show up? The guy who lost a step and all that?” White said. “He just doesn’t do it. A lot of people we all respect and know a lot about this sport have chosen Kattar to win tonight. Let’s give Kattar the respect he deserves. It’s It takes two to do a great fight. Incredible. “
Holloway could be next for another title opportunity. White said he believes Holloway “deserves” another blow to current welterweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, whom Holloway lost two close fights, but Holloway will have to wait. Volkanovski’s next fight will be against Brian Ortega on March 27 at UFC 260, sources told ESPN’s Ariel Helwani.
ESPN ranked Holloway 2nd and Kattar 6th in the world in the featherweight division. The card was the first UFC event to air on ABC and the first in 2018 to air on network television.
The scores were matched for the most insignificant in a five-round fight in UFC history, along with a fight between Rich Franklin and David Loiseau at UFC 58 in 2006. The 50-42 score was only the second in UFC history. after Franklin vs. Loiseau.
Holloway has always been an exceptional striker. But he came out of the first round with a different kind of ferocity. Kattar landed some nice shots and hard straight hands everywhere. But for each of these, Holloway returned to volleyball with long and diverse combinations, targeting the head, body, legs and more. Holloway landed his elbows and hard knees to his gut. The greedy player was like a fighting character who came to life.
“If you’re not a Max Holloway fan, you’re ugly,” Kattar said. “The child is a beast. He did what he had to do. Good luck to him and we hope he will be the next champion, because he deserves another shot.”
Saturday’s main event broke several records. According to UFC Statistics, Holloway set a UFC record with 445 significant strikes, destroying the previous record of 290 he set against Ortega in UFC 231. Along with Kattar’s best 133 significant strikes in his career, the fight also set UFC records for significant combined strikes (578) and significant strike differential (312).
Holloway’s 141 significant hits that landed in round 4 were also the most in a single round in UFC history.
The race took place at the Etihad Arena, in front of a maximum number of fans who all went through the COVID-19 protocols. He was the first paid audience to attend a UFC event in March last year.
The crowd sparked early for Holloway because of his storms. Kattar got some nice combinations in the first round, but by the end of the round Holloway’s pressure and versatile combinations for each body part took over. Holloway was close to finishing second with long combinations, but Kattar remained strong despite being bled late in the tour with an elbow. The only thing more impressive than Kattar’s endurance was Holloway’s endurance.
Holloway has not slowed down at all in recent rounds. There were times when Kattar stared at the cage, with Holloway pouring one combination after another, but referee Herb Dean didn’t stop it. At the end of the fifth, Holloway began to mock Kattar, letting go of his hands and speaking to the commentary stand in an astonishing display of confidence.
“He looked like Muhammad Ali tonight,” former UFC double champion and ESPN analyst Daniel Cormier said on air. “Max Holloway was floating and stinging. It was incredible.”
Holloway (22-6) fell two in a row to Volkanovski before this fight. Both matches were very close and many thought Holloway won second at UFC 251 in July. Holloway, 29, is the most accomplished weightlifter in UFC history. He held a £ 145 UFC title from 2016 to 2019. Holloway, originally from Hawaii, has the most wins (17), most KO / TKO wins (8) and most wins. from stop (10) in UFC Wedge Weight History.
Kattar (22-4) has won two in a row and four of the last five to enter. The Massachusetts native has four points in six UFC wins, known for his booming jab and right hand. Kattar, 32, was due to win a unanimous decision over Dan Ige in July last year.