Calvin Kattar eyes December return to earn winner of eventual Alexander Volkanovski vs. Brian Ortega title fight
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Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
Calvin Kattar has two big wins in 2020 and is waiting for his phone to ring once again.
“The Boston Finisher” picked up a second-round finish of Jeremy Stephens at UFC 249, along with a main event unanimous decision win over Dan Ige in July, as he currently sits at No. 6 in the promotion’s 145-pound rankings.
After Brian Ortega defeated The Korean Zombie in Saturday night’s UFC Fight Island 6 headliner, Kattar joined MMA Fighting’s post-fight show to discuss the landscape of featherweight division and was asked about some popular fantasy matchmaking between he and former longtime champion Max Holloway.
“It seems to make sense,” Kattar said. “Everyone else is busy, so it would be two game guys trying to stay busy. I’m with it, man. I’m not training this hard for nothing.”
Whether it’s Holloway, or anyone in the top-five, Kattar doesn’t care who stands across the octagon from him. He wants to put pen to paper on a big fight before the calendar turns to 2021—and hopes to do it alongside his teammate and fellow New England Cartel member.
“Sign one of these guys up,” Kattar said. “My goal is to go 3-0 this year and the year’s not done yet. I’ll be ready whenever they come calling.
“December sounds good, but I’d like to get on a card with my teammate Rob Font. He’s overdue coming off a big win over Simon. Everyone’s talking about these bantamweights but they’re all forgetting about Rob Font.”
The 32-year-old Massachusetts native admits he was impressed with Ortega’s win this past weekend and feels that if that same version shows up to fight Alexander Volkanovski for the title that it could be a very competitive matchup.
No matter how the dominos fall, Kattar just wants to see the division continue to move forward.
“Honestly, I don’t really give a sh*t,” Kattar stated. “I just want to fight somebody.
“I don’t care where the division goes, I just hope it keeps shuffling around. I’ll fight all of these guys (ahead of me). Line them all up. Let’s get something going. If the champ wants Ortega, cool, let’s make it happen. The featherweight division should stand out above the rest so let’s make these big fights happen.”
Following his win over Ige, Kattar told MMA Fighting he is confident he would give Volkanovski fits whether they fought now, next year, or whenever that fight would take place. Being active has put himself in an interesting spot in division that continues to slowly get deeper and deeper.
Kattar is keeping things simple: he wants respect, another fight in 2020, and with a victory, wants the winner of the assumed Volkanovski vs. Ortega title fight.
“I’m coming for all of them and when [the UFC] shows those rankings, they need to show one through six, not just the [top-five]. I need to get some TV love, include my ass in there.
“Seriously, though, I’m coming for that belt. Next is Ortega, then it’s me to get that opportunity. Line them up.”
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