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Resilience is a trait that separates the contenders from the pretenders. UFC featherweight fighter Calvin Kattar knows this all too well. As he continues his journey to the top, Kattar's focus isn't on hand-picking opponents but on climbing the UFC rankings and positioning himself for another shot at greatness.
Kattar, with a record of 23-7 in MMA and a UFC record of 7-5, is gearing up for a return to the octagon. The 35-year-old from Massachusetts recently underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL, a setback incurred during a TKO loss to Arnold Allen in October 2022. It marked the end of a two-fight losing streak that had Kattar eager to return to his winning ways.
However, Kattar isn't one to get bogged down in the politics of matchmaking or hand-selecting his next opponent. When asked about his preferred opponent, he candidly replied,
“I don’t really focus on that. Just staying ready, being the best version of myself, and whoever we fight, we adapt. Keeps my job simple. I don’t really worry about the other stuff.”
Kattar's fighting resume boasts clashes with some of the division's best, including former champion Max Holloway, former interim title challenger Josh Emmett, and top contender Arnold Allen. While he doesn't fixate on specific matchups, Kattar's aspirations are clear: he aims to continue competing against the upper echelon of the division.
Ideally, Kattar envisions a path that leads him upward in the rankings, inching closer to a title shot.
"Ideally, what I would be most in favor of is fighting up and then trying to – anything that’ll get you closer to the title, things like that,” Kattar explained. “I really don’t care. It’s just ideally, if we can fight up and something that’ll get you to the title faster, that’s what I would prefer. But other than that, it’s whoever.”
Despite a recent rough patch, Kattar remains unfazed and determined. He sees his setbacks as opportunities for growth and redemption.
"I feel like I’m the best I’ve ever been," he declared. "I feel like training is at a great point. Obviously, setbacks happen on the way, but that only kind of hardwires me more. I think right now is the best version of myself."
As Calvin Kattar heals and refines his skills, his quest to ascend the UFC featherweight rankings continues, driven by the belief that he's destined for even greater heights in the world of mixed martial arts.