Calvin Kattar Sees Himself, Dan Ige as ‘Overlooked’ in UFC’s Featherweight Division

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While Dan Ige isn’t the most high-profile name in the featherweight division, Calvin Kattar had no problem accepting a fight against the streaking Hawaiian.

Coming off a spectacular knockout of Jeremy Stephens at UFC 249, “The Boston Finisher” could have waited for an opponent with a bigger name. But Kattar has seen Ige compile a six-bout winning streak in the UFC and believes “50K” is a worthy foe. The two featherweights will square off in the UFC on ESPN 13 headliner on Wednesday night.

“It’s what it is. I’m here to compete against the best guys in the world,” Kattar said during a virtual media day on Monday. “Dan’s done what he had to do against the last six guys. He earned this shot, too.

“I think we’re similar in the fact that many people overlooked us and didn’t think we’d have this opportunity ahead of us. Maybe probably doubted us along the way. Here we are. It’s a main event, Abu Dhabi, ‘Fight Island. ‘Now it’s just simply me going out and showing why I’m the better fighter.

Kattar is confident that staying active and accepting fights is the best path to the top of the division.

“There’s a lot of talking going on and not a lot of fighting,” he said. “You see guys like myself and Dan Ige wanting to be busy, it shows who’s hungry. That type of mindset pays dividends in the long run. People can stay inactive if they want. We’ll catch up to them all eventually.”

Kattar’s last four UFC triumphs — Stephens, Ricardo Lamas, Chris Fishgold and Shane Burgos — have all come via KO or TKO — but he claims that a finish is not something he actively pursues. He won’t force anything against Ige, who has never been stopped in 16 professional outings.

“Jeremy Stephens showed incredible durabilty over the course of his career, as well,” Kattar points out. “I just take what these guys give me. I fight like I fight, and finishes come. I try not to force them — just my style of fighting. I see an opportunity, I strike. We’ll see how Dan Ige holds up to that.”

A victory against Ige would give Kattar a 4-1 mark in his last five UFC bouts. If a chance to face reigning 145-pound champ Alexander Volkanovski comes sooner than expected, Kattar won’t turn down the opportunity.

“I’ll take that belt as soon as it presents itself,” he said. “A win over Dan Ige puts me in that mix. A perfect world, I want the champ.”