‘Blessed’ put on one of the most impressive non-title fight performances that we have ever seen inside the Octagon.
Max Holloway has produced many iconic moments, performances and fights since signing with the UFC back in 2012.
If there’s one single outing that stands out from the rest, along with his UFC 300 display against Justin Gaethje, it’s when he made his return to being in non-title fights following his incredible reign as the featherweight champion where he faced Calvin Kattar.
Kattar was a contender on the rise and with Holloway coming off of back-to-back defeats to Alexander Volkanovski, it was a huge opportunity for him to earn the biggest win of his career.
Instead, ‘Blessed’ bounced back in style with a y’all must have forgot performance where he laid down a marker to every other UFC fighter who fancies themselves as a talented boxer.
Max Holloway breaks multiple striking records with a one-sided display against Calvin Kattar
Max Holloway and Calvin Kattar headlined the first UFC card to take place at the newly built Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi along with being the promotion’s first event on ABC.
Whilst Kattar has suffered some losses inside the Octagon, with the Massachusetts native set to return this weekend in Las Vegas to take on Youssef Zalal, he has never come across anything quite like Holloway on this night in January of 2021.
‘Blessed’ proved that he was still one of the best and after some pre-fight comments about how they would matchup in the boxing exchanges, the former champion had a point to prove.
In one of the most outrageous sequences we have ever seen inside the Octagon to this day, Holloway looked at the commentators, telling them that he’s the best boxer in the UFC whilst continuing to slip out the way of his opponent’s shots.
It was clear during the contest that fight fans were watching something special and that came to fruition at the end of the fight.
Not only did Holloway become one of just four fighters to obtain a 50-42 scorecard in the UFC, he broke multiple striking records for a single fight including total and significant strikes landed and attempted.
Kattar somehow made it to the final bell in an outstanding display of toughness but there was no doubt who the better man was on this night.
Calvin Kattar has struggled for form ever since
Heading into his fight with Max Holloway, Calvin Kattar was coming off of an impressive run in the division.
He had put in a good showing against Zabit Magomedsharipov despite losing the fight before going on to secure wins over Jeremy Stephens and Dan Ige.
Since his one-sided beatdown at the hands of Holloway, Kattar has won one in his last four, that being a bounce back victory and dominant performance against Giga Chikadze one year after his fight with ‘Blessed’
He returns this Saturday at the Apex in Las Vegas looking to end a three-fight skid whilst his opponent, Morocco’s Youssef Zalal, looks to extend his current UFC winning streak to four after beating Billy Quarantillo, Jarno Errens and Jack Shore.