Max Holloway has surely booked a third fight with featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski by putting on a one-sided beating of Calvin Kattar at UFC Fight Island 7.
Coming off back-to-back defeats in title fights to Volkanovski, Holloway rebounded with one of his best ever performances in the headline bout of the first UFC fight card of 2021.
The Hawaiian systematically broke down Kattar, nearly stopping it in the second, third and fourth rounds before earning a unanimous decision victory with scores of 50-43 50-43 50-42.
The result should see Holloway fight for the belt again later this year. Sydney's Volkanovski is expected to defend the 145-pound title against Brian Ortega at UFC 160 in late March, with the winner set for a another bout with Holloway.
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Volkanovski earned two decision wins over Holloway in 2019 and 2020, after 'Blessed' put on a clinic when he forced the doctor to stop his title fight against Ortega in 2018.
HOLLOWAY VS KATTAR - THE FIGHT
Holloway looked as good as ever from the outset, boxing well and landing to the head and body. A legit boxer himself, Kattar landed a few nice jabs, but couldn't go with Holloway's volume.
Two spinning kicks to the body put an exclamation mark on a dominant opening frame for the former champ.
It was more of the same in the second fom Holloway, setting up beautiful combinations incorporating elbows, knees and kicks.
Meanwhile, Kattar's power and boxing technique always made him a threat - and the Massachusetts native did land a few big shots - but he was left bleeding and bruised midway through the second round.
Kattar was in serious trouble in the closing minute, backed up against the cage three times as a result of Holloway's relentless attack. Only the siren to end the round saved Kattar from being stopped.
The clinic continued into the third round, with Kattar searching more and more for the one knockout blow.
Kattar's toughness was the only thing keeping him standing through the third and fourth as blood poured from cuts around his eyes and head, and body shots sucked his power and fitness.
Kattar's team should have stopped it after the fourth, but his corner showed no indication they were even considering it. Put simply, he wasn't in the bout. A couple of hail mary shots looked close to landing, but he had been outfought and soundly beaten by the best featherweight fighter in UFC history.
HOLLOWAY VS KATTAR - THEY SAID
Holloway may have lost those two Volkanovski fights, but that experience appears to have made him better.
— Luke Thomas (@lthomasnews) January 16, 2021
Max’s ability to keep Kattar constantly guarded and guessing is allowing him to work so freely and playful. High level stuff!! #UFCFightIsland7
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) January 16, 2021
I believe we are watching the best 145er in the world fight right now 🔥 #UFConABC1
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) January 16, 2021
Max Holloway just threw like 50 punches in 30 seconds there wtf #UFCFightIsland7
— Shaheen Al-Shatti (@shaunalshatti) January 16, 2021
This fight is taking years off of Calvin Kattar's career.
— Andreas Hale (@AndreasHale) January 16, 2021
UFC FIGHT ISLAND 7 - HOLLOWAY VS KATTAR RESULTS
Main Card
Featherweight Max Holloway def Calvin Kattar
Welterweight Carlos Condit def Matt Brown UD (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)
Welterweight Li Jingliang def Santiago Ponzinibbio Rd1 KO (punch)
Middleweight Alessio Di Chirico def Joaquin Buckley Rd1 KO (head kick)
Middleweight Punahele Soriano def Duško Todorović Rd1 TKO (punches)
Preliminary card
Women's Bantamweight Joselyne Edwards def Wu Yanan UD (30–27, 30–27, 29–28)
Heavyweight Carlos Felipe def Justin Tafa SD (29–28, 28–29, 29–28)
Welterweight Ramazan Emeev def David Zawada SD (29–28, 28–29, 29–28)
Women's Bantamweight Vanessa Melo def Sarah Moras UD (30–27, 29–28, 29–28)
Featherweight Austin Lingo def Jacob Kilburn UD(30–26, 30–26, 30–27)