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The UFC returns to action on Saturday at Octagon in Austin, Texas, with an interesting featherweight matchup card headlined. When the top ten featherweight Calvin Kattar and Josh Emmett competed for the title shot at UFC on ESPN 37.
Kattar vs. Emmett Background
Fourth-ranked Calvin Kattar faces off in a five-round headline bout with seventh-ranked Josh Emmett. Kattar is in his fourth consecutive main event and is looking for an impressive win against Giga Chikadze in January. Emmett goes on to win four fights in this fight and was last in action at UFC 269 in December, winning a decisive victory over Dan lge. The winner will claim the title shot for his next match.
Kattar vs. Emmett Play-by-Play
In Round 1, both fighters were very hesitant. In the first three minutes, they basically increased the size of each other and launched air strikes to test their range. However, nothing important happened. In the last couple of minutes, they both started to let go. Emmett seemed to be taking more effective shots, although Kattar seemed a bit more busy.
In the second, Emmett saw the pressure. He was swinging hard and backing up the dagger. But about halfway through, the blow of the dagger came in and landed hard on Emmett's face. A cut had opened on Emmett's left eye and he was bleeding profusely. Emmett tried to respond with large looping hooks, but most of them were stopped by the dagger.
The third, fourth and fifth rounds were constantly back and forth between their powers.
Kattar had a long way to go in which he combined solid shots with his jaw and other range attacks. But Emmett will also go where he is forced to press the dagger and throw the big looping hooks back. At the last bell, both fighters were killed and bloodied.
Emmett (18-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) defeated Kattar (23-6 MMA, 7-4 UFC) by split decision. The judges’ scorecards read 48-47 and 48-47 in favor of Emmett and a single 47-48 card for Kattar.
Emmett now finds himself on an unbeaten run of five fights. Emmett entered the UFC on ESPN 37 with successive victories over Michael Johnson, Mirsad Bektic, Shane Burgos and Dan lge. The 37-year-old has not lost in 2018 since being stopped by Jeremy Stephens.
Kattar is 1-2 in its last three matches. He was badly beaten by Max Holloway in Abu Dhabi in early 2021 and returned with a resounding victory over Giga Chikadze. It was the third consecutive event hosted by a Boston native at the UFC.
Breaking News
Longtime UFC veteran and fan-favorite Donald Cerrone competed in the lightweight bout against Joe Lauzon in the co-host competition, but was later removed from the card because Lauzon suffered a strange knee injury after losing weight.
Also on the main card is a welterweight bout pitting Tim Means against Kevin Holland, and a pair of middleweight fights when Joaquin Buckley fights Albert Duraeo, and a match between Julian Marquez and Gregory Rodriguez. Exciting competitions are also included.
UFC on ESPN 37 results include:
Kattar vs. Emmett Fight Card
Main Card
Josh Emmett def. Calvin Kattar via split decision (47-48, 48-47, 48-47)
Kevin Holland def. Tim Means via submission (D’Arce choke) – Round 2, 1:28
Joaquin Buckley def. Albert Duraev via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) – Round 3, 0:10
Damir Ismagulov def. Guram Kutateladze via majority decision (28-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Gregory Rodrigues def. Julian Marquez via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 3:18
Adrian Yanez def. Tony Kelley via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 3:49
Natalia Silva def. Jasmine Jasudavicius via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
Jeremiah Wells def. Court McGee via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 1:34
Ricardo Ramos def. Danny Chavez via knockout (spinning back elbow) – Round 1, 1:12
Maria Oliveira def. Gloria de Paula via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Cody Stamann def. Eddie Wineland via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 0:59
Phil Hawes def. Deron Winn via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 4:25
Roman Dolidze def. Kyle Daukaus via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 1:13