Speaking of the loaded featherweight division…
Methuen, Massachusetts’ Kattar used 2020 to cement his standing as one of the absolute best fighters in the 145-pound weight class, rebounding from his frustrating year-end loss to Zabit Magomedsharipov last November in Moscow with a hellacious knockout win over Jeremy Stephens at UFC 249 and a technical, polished, professional decision victory over Dan Ige two months later on Fight Island.
It took Kattar a little longer to reach the Octagon, but he’s made up for that by facing a non-stop diet of dangerous foes since matriculating to the UFC in the summer of 2017, including Andre Fili, Shane Burgos, Renato Moicano, and former title challenger Ricardo Lamas.
There is zero flash to Kattar’s game, and I say that with the utmost respect, as the New England Cartel member prefers to handle his business inside the cage and allow his work to speak for itself. In 2020, it spoke volumes.
The Underrated Moments Of 2020
Kattar has exceptional boxing and has started mixing in short, punishing elbows as of late, including the one that he unleashed on Stephens in May. His conditioning is exceptional and though he can be a slow starter at times, once the 32-year-old finds his range and rhythm, it’s a steady diet of clean, crisp strikes that have a way of wearing out opponents and creating opportunities for the Top 10 staple to turn up the pressure and intensity.
After a breakthrough 2020 campaign, Kattar will kick off his 2021 schedule with his biggest fight to date — a main event assignment opposite former featherweight champ Max Holloway to close out the first UFC fight card of the year.
