Dana White feared for Calvin Kattar's life during Holloway fight

Four boxers died from boxing in 2019, and approximately 500 have died since the advent of the Marquis of Queensbury rules in 1884 (gloves mandatory, 3 minute rounds with a 1 minute rest period, 10 count for a KO, etc). Far more common however is a boxer who is never the same after a single bout. It can happen in MMA, too.

During the UFC on ABC 1 main event on January 16 vs. Max Holloway, Calvin Kattar sustained a ferocious beating. As seen in a recent video entitled “UFC’s Grand New Stage” UFC president Dana White, whose background is in boxing, is seen fearing for Kattar’s life.

Seated cageside with Matt Serra and Din Thomas, White is seen during Round 4 speaking with league Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell, saying he wanted the fight to be stopped.

He took so much f***ing punishment in this fight, I’m freaking out a little bit, man, said White. “I don’t like it. This reminds me of the kind of fight where the fight’s over, and he walks on back and f***ing dies. I think that f***ing Herb Dean should’ve stopped it in the fourth round. He was wobbling all over the f***ing place.

When this fight’s over, no stopping, no talking. Get this kid in an ambulance and get him the f*** out of here immediately.

In Round 5, White continued to express his dismay, saying “this fucking round can’t end fast enough for me.

Post-fight, White moved to Kattar’s corner, and expressed the need to get Kattar straight to the hospital.

Kattar, 32, suffered a broken nose and needed eight staples for a scalp laceration. The fighter was suspended for 60 days with no contact for 45 days, and further was suspended up to 180 days, unless the nose was cleared by a physician. Kattar, who has been fighting professionally since 2007, has never been stopped by strikes.

In a post-fight statement on his social network, Kattar was unbowed.

“Success in life comes when you simply refuse to give up,” he wrote. “With goals so strong that obstacles, failure, and loss only act as motivation. Props to Max on a hell of a fight he deserves all the praise. Thankful for my team’s commitment for this fight. On to the next. There is no stopping the man who doesn’t quit.”

The fight led to an ongoing debate on whether the fight should have been stopped by referee Herb Dean or by Kattar’s corner from the highly respected New England Cartel. What’s your opinion UG?