How dominant was Max Holloway in his UFC on ABC 1 main event against Calvin Kattar? Well, the scorecards of 50-43, 50-43, 50-42 in the former UFC featherweight champion’s favor paint a pretty accurate picture.
And yet, somehow, that still doesn’t tell the entire story.
Holloway didn’t just dominate the fight, but he did so with the specific brand of fiery Hawaiian flare that has made him such a fan favorite over the years.
Nowhere was this more apparent than during the fifth round. Kattar, if nothing else, showed classic Boston toughness and obstinance in taking a vicious beating, staying on his feet, and coming back for more.
In the final two minutes, Holloway put on a memorable display, as he landed a two-punch combo, had words for the commentary team cageside, effortlessly dodged Kattar’s attempt to push forward and throw, then had some words for Kattar.
Come to think of it, perhaps this was an homage to Muhammad Ali. After all, this was the first UFC event on ABC, a network with a rich history of boxing coverage back in the day. And no one was bigger on ABC than Ali, a famed showboater who had many of his biggest bouts on the network.
Either way, some things you simply need to see for yourself to fully appreciate. So check out the video below (via Twitter):
I'M THE BEST BOXER IN THE UFC!!!! #UFCFightIsland7 pic.twitter.com/Nfc4Csp6f4
— UFC (@ufc) January 16, 2021
UFC on ABC 1 took place Saturday at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
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