UFC Fight Island 1 recap: Calvin Kattar beats Dan Ige in Abu Dhabi main event
- ‘It’s a great check point for me and my team,’ says Kattar after unanimous decision win, as he eyes top five featherweight opponent
- Tim Elliott defeats Ryan Benoit in co-main event, with Jimmie Rivera overcoming Cody Stamann
Calvin Kattar dominated his way to a unanimous decision against Dan Ige at UFC Fight Island 1 in Abu Dhabi – and showed the featherweight division he’s ready for a top-five opponent.
The Fight Night main event win over 10-ranked American compatriot Ige won’t do much for Kattar’s own No 6 ranking, but this was a statement showing that should earn him a crack at a Brian Ortega, or even a Max Holloway.
“It’s a good opportunity, I was happy to go out with my team and finally give ourselves a main event win, and what better spot than out here in Abu Dhabi on Fight Island. Anywhere, anytime, that’s my mindset,” Kattar said in a post-fight interview. “We just follow where the opportunities are at, we had a big one here in Abu Dhabi, like I said, I’m just happy to go and capitalise. It’s a great check point for me and my team.
“I feel great, my lungs were great, my cardio felt good. It was good to go and get five rounds because we’re eyeing that belt and we’re ready for five-round fights. We had to do that with a guy like Ige, you let him get momentum, it might be a long night for you. We figure we go out and get the momentum early and keep it as long as we could through the entirety of the fight. Everything was happening off the jab, so I was sticking to the jab, listening to my corners and we were able to go and get the job done.
“He had a good right hand, clipped my nose with one of them. In a 25-minute fight, you’re going to get hit with some s***. I felt like I hit him with a lot more and if there were a couple more rounds, maybe I get the finish, but with that kid you’re gonna have to fight to the death. He’s a tough kid, six-fight win streak, you don’t get that by luck.”