Tag: Calvin Kattar

Calvin Kattar vs. Youssef Zalal In The Works For UFC Fight Night On Feb. 15

Veteran UFC featherweight contender Calvin Kattar will need to defend his spot in the rankings this year following a difficult period. After a battering at the hands of Max Holloway, Kattar (23-8) kept his name close to the title picture in 2022 by being on the opposite end of a destructive display against Giga Chikadze. […]

Veteran UFC featherweight contender Calvin Kattar will need to defend his spot in the rankings this year following a difficult period.

After a battering at the hands of Max Holloway, Kattar (23-8) kept his name close to the title picture in 2022 by being on the opposite end of a destructive display against Giga Chikadze.

But “The Boston Finisher” hasn’t had his hand raised since. He fell on the wrong side of a contentious split decision against Josh Emmett, lost to Arnold Allen after tearing his ACL mid-fight, and most recently failed to spoil Aljamain Sterling’s featherweight debut at UFC 300.

With that losing skid in mind, Kattar will unsurprisingly be fighting down the pecking order in 2025. And should plans come to fruition, that’ll seemingly be against the charging Youssef Zalal (16-5-1).

The fight was announced by Zalal during an appearance on the JAXXON Podcast.

Zalal exited the UFC in 2022 after going 0-3-1 across a four-fight run, in which he lost to Ilia Topuria, Seungwoo Choi, and Sean Woodson. But since working his way back with three wins on the regional scene, he’s been unstoppable.

The 28-year-old Moroccan went 3-0 under the UFC banner in 2024, submitting Billy Quarantillo, Jarno Errens, and Jack Shore to earn a shot at the rankings and the featherweight top 10.

With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at the UFC Fight Night on Feb. 15 are as follows:

  • Jared Cannonier vs. Gregory Rodrigues (middleweight main event)
  • Edson Barboza vs. Steve Garcia (featherweight)
  • Calvin Kattar vs. Youssef Zalal (featherweight)
  • Yuneisy Duben vs. Carli Judice (women’s flyweight)
  • Ismael Bonfim vs. Nazim Sadykhov (lightweight)
  • Gabriel Bonfim vs. Rinat Fakhretdinov (welterweight)
  • Jose Delgado vs. Connor Matthews (featherweight)
  • Billy Ray Goff vs. Nikolay Veretennikov (welterweight)
  • Dylan Budka vs. Edmen Shahbazyan (middleweight)
  • Vince Morales vs. Elijah Smith (bantamweight)
  • Jesus Aguilar vs. Rafael Estevam (lightweight)
  • Don’Tale Mayes vs. Valter Walker (heavyweight)
  • Kaue Fernandes vs. Jared Gordon (lightweight)

Aljamain Sterling dubs his bland performance against Calvin Kattar ‘the most dominant fight’ at UFC 300

Aljamain Sterling dubs his bland performance against Calvin Kattar 'the most dominant fight' at UFC 300Aljamain Sterling delivered one of the most dominant performances of UFC 300. Unfortunately, it was also one of the…

Aljamain Sterling dubs his bland performance against Calvin Kattar 'the most dominant fight' at UFC 300

Aljamain Sterling delivered one of the most dominant performances of UFC 300. Unfortunately, it was also one of the least exciting — so much so that the ‘Funk Master’ was the only fighter on the night who didn’t get a post-fight interview with Joe Rogan.

After surrendering his bantamweight title to ‘Sugar’ Sean O’Malley in August, Sterling made his move to featherweight official at the landmark event, squaring off with the returning Calvin Kattar who had been on the shelf since blowing out his knee in October 2022. Determined to make a statement in his divisional debut, many expected Sterling to snuff out a highlight-reel-worthy win, especially with a $300,000 performance bonus up for grabs.

But instead, Aljamain Sterling was content to smother Kattar for three rounds, utilizing his superior wrestling skills to keep the five-time Fight of the Night winner grounded and score an uninspired unanimous decision.

Aljamain Sterling

MMA fans inside T-Mobile Arena and those posting from around the world on X made it quite clear how unimpressed they were with the performance — something the ‘Funk Master’ was quick to defend, calling his victory at UFC 300 the most dominant of the night.

“Our fight on that particular night of UFC 300 was not the most entertaining,” Sterling said on his YouTube channel. “But it was the most dominant fight I think you could’ve possibly looked at from the entire card from top to bottom. I think I’m arguably the top 3 most dominant on that entire fight card from top to bottom.

“I think I’m arguably the top three most dominant on that entire fight card. So when you look at that, I think to keep it in perspective is, you got a guy [Kattar] who, on average, lands about 4-5 strikes per minute, who was reduced to about 0.5. over 15 minutes.”

Aljamain Sterling

Aljamain Sterling’s performance didn’t exactly set the world on fire, but it landed him inside the featherweight division’s top 10, taking the No. 8 spot.

Aljamain Sterling

Aljamain Sterling calls for a clash with T-City

Following his success at UFC 300, ‘Funk Master’ called for a clash with 145-pound mainstay and No. 3 ranked contender, Brian Ortega.

“Give me the next best guy,” Sterling said at the post-fight press conference. “I’ll take Brian Ortega, respectfully. He’s a guy I got to train with one time, same management, there’s no bad blood or anything like that. We’re both just trying to chase the same thing. It’s not like he’s my main training partner like Merab [Dvalishvili] was. It’s a different situation. I think I beat a guy like him, and I’m undeniable.”

T-City is coming off a third-round submission victory over former interim champion Yair Rodriguez in February.

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Aljamain Sterling admits he was weighing up retirement if he lost at UFC 300: ‘I was probably done’

Aljamain Sterling reveals plan to retire with UFC 300 loss I was probably doneReceiving stark criticizm for his performance en route to a dominant shutout win over Calvin Kattar in his featherweight…

Aljamain Sterling reveals plan to retire with UFC 300 loss I was probably done

Receiving stark criticizm for his performance en route to a dominant shutout win over Calvin Kattar in his featherweight debut at UFC 300 over the course of last weekend, former bantamweight champion, Aljamain Sterling claims he was going to retire from MMA if he lost.

Sterling, a former undisputed bantamweight titleholder, made his first outing inside the Octagon over the weekend since his August knockout loss to Sean O’Malley in the pair’s heated title fight at 135lbs.

Aljamain Sterling UFC 300 Carmen Mandato 3

And making good on his first venture at the featherweight limit, Sterling took on fellow East Coast star, Kattar – turning in a one-sided unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) victory over the Boston native, wrestling and grappling his way to a fist victory in the weight class. 

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Aljamain Sterling reveals potential retirement at UFC 300

Receiving some notable criticizm from a vocal section of the mixed martial arts community for his grappling and wrestling-heavy game plan en route to his triumph, Sterling, who has landed at number eight in the official featherweight pile, revealed a defeat at UFC 300 would have likely ended his tenure in the sport.

“I think if I had got my ass completely handed kicked by Calvin Kattar, I was probably done,” Aljamain Sterling told MMA Fighting. “And no one knew about that. I didn’t share those sentiments with anybody, even my fiancee. It’s just one of those things.”

“I mentioned to her like, ‘Well, if I can’t beat him (Kattar), I don’t know,” Aljamain Sterling explained. “But I didn’t really go into detail what that actually meant. I just kind of said like, ‘We’ll see what happens. I don’t know what’s going to happen’. That’s kind of the way I kept it with everybody.”

Aljamain Sterling UFC 300 Carmen Mandato

Eyeing a potential title-eliminator in his sophomore outing at the featherweight limit, Serra-Longo MMA staple, Sterling weighed up the chance to fight either Movsar Evloev in his return, if not a clash with former title challenger, Brian Ortega next.

Who would you like to see Aljamain Sterling fight next?

Video – Ex-UFC champ Aljamain Sterling ready to throw hands in prank gone wrong: ‘Stop playing with me’

Video - Ex-UFC champ Aljamain Sterling ready to throw hands in prank gone wrong: 'Stop playing with me, man'A prank on former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling nearly turned disastrous. In the video clip, which you can…

Video - Ex-UFC champ Aljamain Sterling ready to throw hands in prank gone wrong: 'Stop playing with me, man'

A prank on former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling nearly turned disastrous.

In the video clip, which you can see below, Sterling is sitting at a table, minding his business, and scrolling through his phone when another individual wearing a VR headset approaches and mistakes him for a woman.

Clearly, the ‘Funk Master’ was in no mood for shenanigans. And as expected, the comments from UFC fans on X did not disappoint.

Aljamain Sterling
Aljamain Sterling
Aljamain Sterling
Aljamain Sterling
Aljamain Sterling

Aljamain Sterling gearing up for his featherweight debut at UFC 300

After surrendering the bantamweight title to Sean O’Malley at UFC 292 last August, Aljamain Sterling is ready to conquer a new division. On Saturday, April 13, the ‘Funk Master’ will make his featherweight debut as a part of the promotion’s loaded UFC 300 card in Las Vegas. Welcoming Sterling to the division will be Calvin Kattar.

It will be Kattar’s first fight since suffering an injury against Arnold Allen in October 2022. ‘The Boston Finisher’ goes into the bout having lost three of his last four. Despite that, he’s still holding strong at No. 7 in the division.

Aljamain Sterling vs. Calvin Kattar

Aljamain Sterling reveals 9-Week drinking, Hookah binge after title loss hampered return: ‘It took a toll on my lungs’

Aljamain Sterling reveals 9-week drinking and hookah binges effect lungs ahead of UFC 300 returnAljamain Sterling reveals he has been drinking regularly and has reached 180lbs. Sterling is set to return to The…

Aljamain Sterling reveals 9-week drinking and hookah binges effect lungs ahead of UFC 300 return

Aljamain Sterling reveals he has been drinking regularly and has reached 180lbs.

Sterling is set to return to The Octagon as part of the UFC 300 card, this time moving up to featherweight to take on Calvin Kattar.

Fans last saw Sterling in August when he dropped his title to Sean O’Malley, ending a 2-year+ reign as champion. Sterling had said prior to this fight that he intended to move up in weight regardless of result after the weight cut had begun to take its toll. 

Aljamain Sterling reveals weight gain 

Being a champion can become a massive part of a fighter’s identity and when they lose it can be difficult to deal with. People deal with it in different ways.

“Right now I’m just tired. I do one to two rounds of striking, and I’m exhausted,” Sterling said. (H/T MMA Junkie) 

“Also (I’m) moving around and trying to do what I do when I’m lighter. Those eight to nine weeks of drinking every single day and hookah non-stop, staying up late at night, it definitely took a toll on my lungs, so I still feel like I’m battling back from and trying to gain all that.”

On top of drinking, Sterling revealed that he has also been enjoying his food, and lots of it. 

“I got a sweet tooth, and even though I’m not only eating candies and chocolates, it almost feels like a bottomless pit,” Sterling continued.

“Like you can’t help yourself. You’re telling yourself to stop eating, but somehow your hands are still moving towards the fridge, your legs are still walking towards the fridge, and your fingers are dialling DoorDash and Uber Eats. Somehow you’re still ordering food when you know you don’t want anything. It’s like a sickness.”

Who wins, Aljamain Sterling or Calvin Kattar?

Aljamain Sterling targets featherweight debut against calvin kattar at UFC 299: ‘That could be the fight’

Aljamain SterlingAljamain Sterling is ready to conquer a new weight class. The former UFC bantamweight world champion surrendered his 135-pound…

Aljamain Sterling

Aljamain Sterling is ready to conquer a new weight class.

The former UFC bantamweight world champion surrendered his 135-pound crown to current titleholder Sean O’Malley in August, forcing the ‘Funk Master’ to make a tough decision. He could either stick around at bantamweight and be inevitably forced to fight his friend and fellow contender, Merab Dvalishvili, or walk away from the division and test out his skills at 145.

During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Aljamain Sterling not only suggested that his rumored featherweight debut could come as early as UFC 299 in March, but he has a pretty good idea of who it could be against.

“The realistic scenario is probably myself and Calvin Kattar,” Sterling said. “He’s the only one, I think, who doesn’t have a fight; he’s been out for a bit as well. At this point, by March, I’m probably going to be out for a bit as well, so with that being said, that could be the fight.

“But a Max Holloway fight would be a nice one too. Two former champions going at it, Max doesn’t really have much to do right now unless he’s going to up to 155 pounds; that’s just speculation, but if he gets busy, or, if I should say, if he gets bored, you know Max, the best is ‘Blessed’ but you know the ‘Funk’ has something to say about that as well” (h/t Sportskeeda).

A win over Kattar Would Immediately Put Aljamain Sterling into the featherweight title picture

Aljamain Sterling has previously pushed for a fight against former featherweight champion Max Holloway, but with ‘Blessed’ eyeing a potential move to lightweight, a clash with Calvin Kattar appears to be the next best option for Sterling.

Kattar has been on the shelf since suffering a torn ACL in the opening seconds of the second round against Arnold Allen at a UFC Fight Night event in October 2022. Despite losing three of his last four inside the Octagon, ‘The Boston Finisher’ is still occupying the No. 7 spot in the featherweight rankings.

A win over Kattar could immediately thrust Aljamain Sterling into the division’s top ten and put him within reach of a fight against reigning champion Alexander Volkanovski.