Former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway looked better than ever earlier today (Sat., Jan. 16, 2021) at UFC Fight Island 7 live on ABC/ESPN+ from inside Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E., when “Blessed” destroyed rising contender Calvin Kattar over the course of five bloody rounds.
Holloway won the early exchanges with volume and speed as the former champion hit Kattar to the head and body with relative ease. Kattar kept his feet moving and responded with some good counter shots of his own, but “Blessed” was too consistent and precise.
In Round 2, Holloway kept digging to the body and landed two clean shots every time Kattar got too close. Kattar was able to score some power punches when he threw first, but “Blessed” didn’t allow much of that. Holloway kept closing the gap and getting inside to bash Kattar with hooks, uppercuts, and more body shots. He then landed an elbow out of nowhere that buckled Kattar and nearly ended the fight. Holloway followed up with a head kick but Kattar still survived.
It was much of the same in the third round as Holloway kept his punches straight and snapped Kattar’s head back at every turn. Kattar found a home for his patented uppercut but it didn’t seem to faze “Blessed” too much. Holloway turned it up a gear in the fourth and trapped Kattar along the cage, That’s when Holloway demolished Kattar with ridiculous elbows over the top and countless hooks to the body. Kattar was bloodied, wobbled, and out of sorts, but he never went down.
Holloway didn’t let up in the fifth when a barrage of punches put Kattar on wobbly legs yet again. The Boston native stood strong but didn’t have much to offer in the form of offense. Kattar’s corner could have thrown in the towel, but they didn’t. Holloway cruised for the final few minutes and ended up with the easy unanimous decision win on the heels of 455 significant strikes landed (a new UFC record).
Check out the full fight highlights below courtesy of UFC/ESPN.
The Boston Finisher on his way to the Octagon! #UFCFightIsland7 #InAbuDhabi @VisitAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/96xGgnUhdO
— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) January 16, 2021
Here to remind that the best is Blessed #UFCFightIsland7 pic.twitter.com/OzyaU5Wo34
— UFC (@ufc) January 16, 2021
Salen los puños de Max! #UFCFightIsland7 pic.twitter.com/mmlLo9r0V5
— ufcespanol (@UFCEspanol) January 16, 2021
The fans are sensing something in round 1?? #UFCFightIsland7 pic.twitter.com/F5l6xH936y
— UFC (@ufc) January 16, 2021
En está Holloway desde round 1! Quiere finalizar #UFCFightIsland7 pic.twitter.com/KE4rsxJrn3
— ufcespanol (@UFCEspanol) January 16, 2021
Y al suelo! #UFCFightIsland7 pic.twitter.com/fu8NftvxuJ
— ufcespanol (@UFCEspanol) January 16, 2021
Holloway is absolutely pouring it on!!! #UFCFightIsland7 pic.twitter.com/CLdXbTVL2f
— UFC (@ufc) January 16, 2021
SAVED BY THE BELL @BlessedMMA nearly closed the show with this head kick #UFCFightIsland7 pic.twitter.com/SzpzLPM9js
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) January 16, 2021
Una batalla de estilos! #UFCFightIsland7 pic.twitter.com/okxeukhTMU
— ufcespanol (@UFCEspanol) January 16, 2021
He’s feeling himself
@BlessedMMA showing no signs of slowing down! #UFCFightIsland7 pic.twitter.com/dEbDYdxOEE
— UFC (@ufc) January 16, 2021
Things that cannot be questioned:
@BlessedMMA‘s relentless pace
@CalvinKattar‘s toughness pic.twitter.com/F8oWdVXaBM— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) January 16, 2021
Brutal castigo de Max, Kattar no cae #UFCFightIsland7 pic.twitter.com/fH08HIjjDS
— ufcespanol (@UFCEspanol) January 16, 2021
“Soy el mejor boxeador de UFC” grita @BlessedMMA en medio de la pelea! #UFCFightIsland7 pic.twitter.com/DEKfzDqISC
— ufcespanol (@UFCEspanol) January 16, 2021
For more UFC Fight Island 7 results and coverage click here.