On Saturday, in the co-main event of UFC 251, Alexander Volkanovski successfully, albeit controversially, defended his belt for the first time with a Split Decision win over former champion Max Holloway. On Wednesday, in the main event of UFC on ESPN 13, Calvin Kattar emphatically defeated the extremely game Dan Ige via Unanimous Decision. At the post-fight press conference, Kattar was asked who he wants next.
I mean if I make my case, I don’t got to do it with my mouth, said Kattar, as transcribed by Damon Martin for MMA Fighting. I do it in the cage. Like all these other guys, they all talk. Where I’m from, we don’t really talk about stuff too much. You go out and prove it. You earn it. In here, that’s not really the business model, so it’s a little bit of an adjustment for me. I go out, I fight, and I try to earn every opportunity in front of me.
The champ should see that. He’s saying he wants contenders. You’re not going to find one more ready than myself.
I respect his mindset as the champ. He says he wants contenders. He’s not trying to jump around other weight like everybody’s doing nowadays, which not hating on them either. Two belts sounds real nice. But I respect the fact that he wants to go out and fight the contenders in his weight and he’s got one in me.
He wants to earn it. I think we’re similar in that fact. I think it would be a good opportunity to go out and compete against him. I proved I can go five rounds. I just want more big moment opportunities. I’m ready for five round fights and main events.
I know I’m on these guys’ radar. I’m a problem to deal with, and they’re all starting to realize they’re going to have to deal with me soon.
I keep winning, they can’t deny me. That was my mindset getting into the UFC. I didn’t ask to get in the UFC. I just said if I keep winning, they won’t deny me. They can’t deny me. There’s nothing they can do if you keep winning. That’s what I’m doing right now. If they don’t want to give me a title shot now, go out, get another win. They can’t keep denying me forever. Hopefully, top five after this fight and that’s a short list.
This is the short list, before Wednesday’s event:
FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPION ALEXANDER VOLKANOVSKI
1. Max Holloway
2. Zabit Magomedsharipov
3. Brian Ortega
4. Chan Sung Jung
5. Yair Rodriguez
6. Calvin Kattar
Who’s my competition? said Kattar. No one’s been busy in 2020. I think I’m doing well for myself competing, earning opportunities and I can’t really say much for everybody else in the division.
UG, who do you want to see The New England Cartel’s “The Boston Finisher” fight next?
