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With 90 seconds remaining, Max Holloway turned away from his opponent, Calvin Kattar, and told the cageside 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 has more than proven his point with his punches.
Holloway dominated Kattar by unanimous decision (50-43, 50-43, 50-42) on Saturday in one of the most one-sided main events in UFC history. Holloway is the former UFC featherweight champion and the most decorated 145-pound fighter of all time. Saturday’s fight might have been the best performance of his career at UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi.
Afterward, Holloway said he would stay in Abu Dhabi for another week and make himself available if anything happened to UFC 257 main event fighters Conor McGregor or Dustin Poirier.
However, UFC President Dana White quickly dismissed the idea, telling reporters Holloway would be heading home to rest. Still, White had nothing but praise for Holloway’s performance, calling him “one of the greatest of all time, period, in fights.”
“I think people keep doubting Max and thinking, is old Max going to 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 the sport have chosen Kattar to win tonight. Let’s give Kattar the respect he deserves too. It takes two to make a big one. combat. Incredible. “
Holloway could be next for another title opportunity. White has said he believes Holloway “deserves” another shot at current welterweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, to whom Holloway has 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 had Holloway ranked No. 2 and Kattar No. 6 in the world in the upcoming featherweight division. The card was the first UFC event to air on ABC and the first since 2018 to air on network television.
The scorecards were tied for the most lopsided in a five-round fight in UFC history, with a bout between Rich Franklin and David Loiseau at UFC 58 in 2006. The score of 50-42n was only the second in UFC history after Franklin vs Loiseau.
Holloway has always been an exceptional forward. But he came out in the first round with a different ferocity. Kattar landed nice jabs and straight hands throughout. But for each of them, Holloway returned the volley with diverse long combinations, targeting the head, body, legs and more. Holloway put his elbows and knees hard in the gut. The avid gamer was like a fighting video game character coming to life.
“If you’re not a Max Holloway fan, you’re a hater,” Kattar said. “The kid is a beast. He did what he had to do. Good luck to him and I hope the next champion because he deserves another shot.”
Saturday’s main event broke several records. According to UFC stats, Holloway notched a UFC record of 445 significant strikes, breaking the previous mark of 290 he set against Ortega at UFC 231. Along with Kattar’s 133 best significant strikes, the fight has also set UFC records for combined significant hitting (578) and large hitting differential (312).
Holloway’s 141 important strikes won in Round 4 were also the most significant in a single round in UFC history.
The fight took place at Etihad Arena in front of a limited number of fans who have all gone through COVID-19 protocols. It was the first paid audience to attend a UFC event since last March.
The crowd sang early for Holloway because of its snow showers. Kattar landed some nice combinations in the first round, but by the end of the round the pressure and Holloway’s versatile combinations on every part of the body got the upper hand. Holloway almost finished in the second with long combinations, but Kattar held on despite being bloodied late in the round with an elbow. The only thing more impressive than Kattar’s endurance was Holloway’s endurance.
Holloway didn’t slow down at all in the final laps. There were times when Kattar watched while standing against the cage with Holloway shedding combination after combination, but referee Herb Dean didn’t stop him. At the end of the fifth, Holloway began to taunt Kattar, dropping his hands and speaking to the comment booth in an astonishing display of confidence.
“He looked like Muhammad Ali tonight,” said Daniel Cormier, former two-time UFC champion and ESPN analyst. “Max Holloway was floating and stinging. It was amazing.
Holloway (22-6) fell twice in a row to Volkanovski before this fight. The two fights were very close and many believed Holloway won the second at UFC 251 in July. Holloway, 29, is the most accomplished featherweight in UFC history. He held a 145-pound title form in the UFC from 2016 to 2019. Holloway, a native of Hawaii, has the most wins (17), most KO / TKO wins (8) and most wins stop (10) UFC Featherweight History.
Kattar (22-4) had won back-to-back wins and four of his last five entries. The Massachusetts native has four finishes in six UFC wins, known for his jab and soaring right hand. Kattar, 32, had just won a unanimous decision victory over Dan Ige last July.
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