Calvin Kattar (/ˈkeɪtər/ KAY-tər; born March 26, 1988) is an American professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Featherweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional competitor since 2007, Kattar formerly competed for EliteXC. As of April 16, 2024, he is #9 in the UFC featherweight rankings.[4]
Calvin Kattar | |
---|---|
Born | Calvin Kattar March 26, 1988 Methuen, Massachusetts, U.S. |
Other names | The Boston Finisher |
Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) |
Weight | 145 lb (66 kg; 10 st 5 lb) |
Division | Lightweight Featherweight |
Reach | 72 in (183 cm) |
Team | New England Cartel (2015–present)[2] Lauzon MMA Hard Knocks Boston 617 Fight Sports Team Sityodtong |
Rank | Blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[3] |
Years active | 2007–present |
Mixed martial arts record | |
Total | 31 |
Wins | 23 |
By knockout | 11 |
By submission | 2 |
By decision | 10 |
Losses | 8 |
By knockout | 1 |
By submission | 1 |
By decision | 6 |
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog |
The son of James and Sandra Kattar, Calvin was born and raised in Methuen, Massachusetts.[5] He has two brothers and a sister.[6][5] After initiating in the sport in ninth grade, Kattar was a standout wrestler at Methuen High School,[7] being ranked as high as eighth in the state (160 pounds)[8] and placing fifth at the Division I MIAA state championships as a senior in 2006.[9] After graduating, he was unsure whether he should wrestle in college or not, and ended up opting to pursue a career in mixed martial arts.[9] He went on to earn an associate degree at Middlesex Community College.[10] In an interview, Kattar expressed that he got a chance to train with Nick and Nate Diaz when he was 19 years old, and how that influenced his way of training, stating:
“I got like three bloody noses a day. I’m out there dogging it out. I’m by myself. But it was a great opportunity. Long term I was able to see these guys and how they train on the West Coast. Watching the Diaz brothers train at 1 a.m. and realizing you can lie to yourself and say guys aren’t training like that, but somewhere they are. I was exposed to that, which is great."[11]
Kattar won eight consecutive bouts and was unbeaten in over seven years competing on the regional circuit primarily in his native New England prior to his UFC career.[12]
Kattar made his UFC debut replacing Choi Doo-ho against Andre Fili on July 29, 2017 at UFC 214.[12] Kattar won the fight by unanimous decision.[13]
Kattar faced undefeated prospect Shane Burgos on January 20, 2018 at UFC 220.[14] Kattar won the fight via technical knock out in round three.[15] The fight was awarded the Fight of the Night bonus.[16]
Kattar faced Renato Moicano on April 7, 2018 at UFC 223.[17] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[18]
Kattar faced promotional newcomer Chris Fishgold on October 27, 2018 at UFC Fight Night 138.[19] He won the fight via technical knockout in the first round.[20] By the bout, Kattar fulfilled his first four-fight contract with the UFC.[21]
Kattar faced Ricardo Lamas at UFC 238 on June 8, 2019.[22] He won the fight via knockout in the first round.[23]
Kattar was scheduled to face Zabit Magomedsharipov on October 18, 2019 at UFC on ESPN 6.[24] However, Magomedsharipov was removed from the card due to injury on September 13 and the pairing was rescheduled for the following month at UFC on ESPN+ 21.[25] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[26] This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.[27]
Kattar was scheduled to face Jeremy Stephens on April 18, 2020 at UFC 249.[28] However, on April 9, Dana White, the president of UFC announced that this event was postponed[29] and the bout eventually took place on May 9, 2020.[30] At the weigh-ins on May 8, Stephens missed weight, weighing in at 150.5 pounds, 4.5 pounds over the non-title featherweight limit. As a result, the bout proceeded as a catchweight bout and Stephens was fined 20% of his purse which went to Kattar.[31] Kattar won the fight via technical knockout in round two.[32]
The first bout of his new six-fight contract came against Dan Ige on July 16, 2020 at UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Ige.[33][34] Kattar won the fight via unanimous decision.[35]
Next, Kattar faced former UFC Featherweight champion Max Holloway, while headlining UFC on ABC 1 on January 16, 2021.[36] In a one-sided fight where Kattar suffered plenty of physical trauma due to Holloway's strikes, which set multiple UFC records, he was defeated by unanimous decision.[37][38] Despite being a one-sided fight, both competitors earned the Fight of the Night award as Kattar was able to land powerful strikes of his own, despite all the damage he received.[39][40]
Kattar faced Giga Chikadze on January 15, 2022 at UFC on ESPN 32.[41] He won the fight via unanimous decision after knocking down and almost finishing Chikadze in the final seconds of the bout.[42] This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.[43]
Kattar faced Josh Emmett on June 18, 2022 in the main event at UFC on ESPN 37.[44] He lost the close bout via split decision.[45] 14 of 19 MMA media outlets scored the bout in favor of Kattar.[46] This fight earned him his third consecutive Fight of the Night award.[47]
Kattar faced Arnold Allen on October 29, 2022 at UFC Fight Night 213.[48] He lost the fight via technical knockout following a knee injury.[49]
Kattar faced former UFC Bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling on April 13, 2024 at UFC 300.[50] Kattar lost the fight by unanimous decision.[51]
31 matches | 23 wins | 8 losses |
By knockout | 11 | 1 |
By submission | 2 | 1 |
By decision | 10 | 6 |
Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 23–8 | Aljamain Sterling | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 300 | April 13, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Loss | 23–7 | Arnold Allen | TKO (knee injury) | UFC Fight Night: Kattar vs. Allen | October 29, 2022 | 2 | 0:08 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Loss | 23–6 | Josh Emmett | Decision (split) | UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Emmett | June 18, 2022 | 5 | 5:00 | Austin, Texas, United States | Fight of the Night. |
Win | 23–5 | Giga Chikadze | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Chikadze | January 15, 2022 | 5 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Fight of the Night. |
Loss | 22–5 | Max Holloway | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ABC: Holloway vs. Kattar | January 16, 2021 | 5 | 5:00 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Fight of the Night. |
Win | 22–4 | Dan Ige | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Ige | July 16, 2020 | 5 | 5:00 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
Win | 21–4 | Jeremy Stephens | KO (elbows) | UFC 249 | May 9, 2020 | 2 | 2:42 | Jacksonville, Florida, United States | Catchweight (150.5 lb) bout; Stephens missed weight. |
Loss | 20–4 | Zabit Magomedsharipov | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Magomedsharipov vs. Kattar | November 9, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Moscow, Russia | Fight of the Night. |
Win | 20–3 | Ricardo Lamas | KO (punches) | UFC 238 | June 8, 2019 | 1 | 4:06 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | |
Win | 19–3 | Chris Fishgold | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Volkan vs. Smith | October 27, 2018 | 1 | 4:11 | Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada | |
Loss | 18–3 | Renato Moicano | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 223 | April 7, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Brooklyn, New York, United States | |
Win | 18–2 | Shane Burgos | TKO (punches) | UFC 220 | January 20, 2018 | 3 | 0:32 | Boston, Massachusetts, United States | Fight of the Night. |
Win | 17–2 | Andre Fili | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 214 | July 29, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Anaheim, California, United States | |
Win | 16–2 | Chris Foster | Decision (unanimous) | CES 38: Soriano vs. Makashvili | September 23, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States | |
Win | 15–2 | Kenny Foster | Decision (split) | CES 34: Curtis vs. Burrell | April 1, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States | |
Win | 14–2 | Gabriel Baino | Decision (unanimous) | Combat Zone 44: Steel Cage Fighters | June 14, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Salem, New Hampshire, United States | |
Win | 13–2 | Saul Almeida | Decision (unanimous) | CES 13: Real Pain | October 6, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Providence, Rhode Island, United States | |
Win | 12–2 | Cody Stevens | Decision (unanimous) | Combat Zone 39: Smack Down at the Rock | October 21, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Salem, New Hampshire, United States | Featherweight debut. |
Win | 11–2 | Luiz Rodrigues | Decision (unanimous) | Combat Zone 36: Smashing on the Rock | January 28, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Salem, New Hampshire, United States | |
Win | 10–2 | Chris Connor | TKO (punches) | Combat Zone 33: Massacre in the Meadow | June 19, 2010 | 1 | 3:40 | Gilford, New Hampshire, United States | |
Win | 9–2 | Jeff Anderson | TKO (punches) | Xtreme Championship Fight League 2 | March 26, 2010 | 3 | 4:05 | Lowell, Massachusetts, United States | |
Loss | 8–2 | Don Carlo-Clauss | Decision (split) | Xtreme Championship Fight League 1 | February 6, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Marlborough, Massachusetts, United States | |
Win | 8–1 | Andrew Montanez | Decision (unanimous) | American Steel Cagefighting 2 | September 11, 2009 | 5 | 5:00 | Salem, New Hampshire, United States | |
Win | 7–1 | Rodrigo Almeida | Submission (guillotine choke) | World Championship Fighting 7 | June 27, 2009 | 1 | 2:16 | Wilmington, Massachusetts, United States | |
Win | 6–1 | Jonathan Bermudez | TKO (punches) | Combat Zone 27: The Rock 2 | February 6, 2009 | 1 | 0:29 | Salem, New Hampshire, United States | |
Win | 5–1 | Bobby Diaz | Submission (triangle choke) | World Championship Fighting 5 | November 14, 2008 | 1 | 1:21 | Wilmington, Massachusetts, United States | |
Win | 4–1 | Kevin Roddy | KO (punches) | Combat Zone 26: The Rock | September 26, 2008 | 1 | 0:47 | Salem, New Hampshire, United States | |
Loss | 3–1 | James Jones | Submission (rear-naked choke) | EliteXC: Primetime | May 31, 2008 | 1 | 4:49 | Newark, New Jersey, United States | |
Win | 3–0 | Bob Pupa | TKO (submission to punches) | Combat Zone 24: Renaissance | October 13, 2007 | 1 | 0:51 | Revere, Massachusetts, United States | |
Win | 2–0 | Donald Peters | TKO (punches) | Combat Zone 23: Down and Out | August 25, 2007 | 1 | N/A | Revere, Massachusetts, United States | |
Win | 1–0 | Tony Armijo | TKO (punches) | Combat Zone 22: Cage Masters 3 | June 23, 2007 | 1 | 2:02 | Derry, New Hampshire, United States |