Calvin Kattar absorbed a tremendous amount of punishment when he stepped into the cage against Max Holloway in the UFC on ABC 1 main event Saturday.
Monday, less than 48 hours after his unanimous decision loss to Holloway (22-6 MMA, 18-6 UFC), Kattar released a statement on the defeat on his Instagram page.
“Success in life comes when you simply refuse to give up,” Kattar wrote. With goals so strong that obstacles, failure and loss only act as motivation. Props to Max on a hell of a fight he deserves all the praise. Thankful for my team’s commitment for this fight. On to the next. There is no stopping the man who doesn’t quit.”
Despite absorbing a UFC record-breaking 445 significant strikes, Kattar (22-5 MMA, 6-3 UFC) refused to quit – the attitude he aims to carry going forward.
Kattar, 32, suffered a broken nose in his losing effort. In an exchange with MMA Junkie on Sunday, his manager and coach Tyson Chartier, Kattar also received eight staples in his head. One half of the UFC’s New England Cartel tandem, Kattar has never been finished in his UFC tenure.
UFC on ABC 1 took place Saturday at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. The main card simulcasted on ABC and ESPN+ after prelims on ESPN/ESPN+.
