UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs Kattar Recap and Takeaways, Fight of the Year 16 Days Into 2021?

Overtime Heroics Editorial

868 days ago

This UFC Fight Night clash between undefeated fighters started off with Todorovic slipping some punches from Soriano. Dusko was keeping his hands low possibly to avoid a shot from Soriano. While Todorovic was at first avoiding his opponent’s punches well, he was holding his chin high in the air and leaning far back beyond his base. Punahele Soriano would eventually land a couple of huge lefts on Todorovic and drop him. Todorovic would go to his back and hang in there well until it was stood up. Dusko would eat a left hand and lose his mouthpiece. Upon getting his mouthpiece back, Todorovic would eat another left and right hook and the first UFC Fight Night bout would be called off.

Punahele Soriano vs Dusko Todorovic

Joaquin Buckley vs. Alessio Di Chirico

The surging Joaquin Buckley was moving forward and trying to land punches at the beginning of the fight. Alessio Di Chirico was taking advantage of the open stance match up landing inside low kicks and going high as well. Alessio would go high one more time on Buckley. He turned his hips over beautifully to land his right shin to Buckley’s head and score a shocking upset. Di Chirico then gave a gracious post-fight interview after making a huge statement this UFC Fight Night. I think he’s earned his way into the top fifteen and would like to see him face Edmen Shabazyan or Ian Heinisch next.

Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Li Jingliang

Santiago Ponzinibbio returned to the octagon for the first time since November of 2018 for this UFC Fight Night. Li Jingliang did a great job of landing inside low kicks and keeping Ponzinibbio guessing with feints. Santiago wasn’t able to get off very much offense before Li Jingliang caught him with a huge left hook to end the fight and end Ponzinibbio’s seven-fight win streak. When you take into account Ponzinnibio’s win streak and ranking prior to his inactivity this is more than just a win over an unranked fighter for Jingliang. I think he earned his way into the top fifteen and would like to see him fight Robbie Lawler or Belal Muhammad next.

Carlos Condit vs. Matt Brown

The co-main event of this awesome UFC Fight Night was a fight over seven years in the making between Carlos Condit and Matt Brown. Brown got a takedown off a body lock in the first and spent most of his time in Condit’s guard and didn’t really land much. Condit landed some shots off the back and would hit a switch to get top at the end of the round. In the second, Brown would stun Condit with an elbow and then land some clinch Knees and get taken down and eat some elbows. In the third, Condit would land an elbow, get a takedown, and land some ground and pound. Condit won by unanimous decision and called for Vicente Luque.

Main Event

First Round

In the first round of the UFC Fight Night main event, Kattar would land some stiff jabs and a couple of nice right hands but was outstruck significantly by holloway who landed many crisp hand combos.

Second Round

The second round was a bad one for Kattar he landed a couple of nice right hands but was beaten badly. He was first stunned by a big hand combo from Holloway and then ate two huge elbows and Giant combinations. Holloway finished the round with a head kick that stunned Kattar.

Third Round

In the third Kattar clinched a little bit and landed a couple of nice right hands, but was again outstruck by holloway who ended his combos with body kicks to great effect this round.

Fourth Round

The fourth round of this fight made it a prospect for the fight of the year. holloway would begin a massive combo with a right elbow and land an unbelievable amount of punches to the body and head, as well as some nice elbows. UFC Fight Night

Fifth Round

In the fifth Max Holloway showed everyone why he is arguably the greatest featherweight of all time. Calvin Kattar put up a valiant effort and was in the fight until the very end, but Max just kept hitting him to the body and head. Towards the end of the round, Kattar would throw big and Max would lay the showmanship on thick; going as far as to turn away from Kattar and yell at the commentators. UFC Fight Night

What’s Next for Max Holloway and Calvin Kattar?

The obvious next fight for Max Holloway is a rematch with Alexander Volkanovski for the title. Anything else would be insulting. After Max’s performance tonight he’s almost guaranteed a title shot. Calvin Kattar showed his level of toughness and a high level of skill tonight despite being so badly beaten. The fact that Kattar was throwing until the final bell tonight proved volumes. I would like to see his next fight be a rematch of his first bout with Zabit Magomedsharipov.

Takeaway

This UFC Fight Night was simply unreal tonight. Punahele Soriano started off the night with a huge stoppage in the first round over Dusko Todorovic. Alessio Di Chirico would then land a huge right head kick in the first round to stop the biggest betting favorite on the card, Joaquin Buckley. Li Jingliang landed a huge left hook on Santiago Ponzinibbio to stop him in the first round. A long-awaited fight between Carlos Condit and Matt Brown would take place and see Condit win a unanimous decision. Max Holloway looked quite literally better than ever against a game Calvin Kattar in a potential fight of the only year sixteen days into 2021. Needless to say, the UFC Fight Night performance warrants a title shot for Max Holloway.

Featured Image Credits to Embed from Getty Images

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