Tag: UFC on ESPN+ 13

Despite rankings, Calvin Kattar didn’t hesitate to accept UFC on ESPN 13 fight vs. Dan Ige

‘Hell no”, Calvin Kattar didn’t hesitate to accept a UFC “Fight Island” opportunity vs. Dan Ige.

ABU DHABI – Did [autotag]Calvin Kattar[/autotag] hesitate to accept a UFC “Fight Island” opportunity vs. Dan Ige? “Hell no.”

While many fans were surprised he accepted a fight vs. a lower-ranked opponent, Kattar (21-4 MMA, 5-2 UFC) was eager to sign the contract, the featherweight contender said at a UFC on ESPN 13 pre-fight media day Monday.

“Main event? Fight Island? Hesitation? Hell no,” Kattar told MMA Junkie.

The fight against Ige (14-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) is Kattar’s second UFC main event, but his first five-rounder. It’ll also mark the second time Kattar has competed in 2020. He’s setting out to go 3-0 this year and is already one-third of the way there after he defeated Jeremy Stephens by knockout in his most recent outing at UFC 249 in May.

“I wanted to have a busy year this year, especially the way I finished off last year in November,” Kattar said. “I want to go 3-0 this year. I took a little late start. We were supposed to fight in March, then April, then it turned out May. A quick turnaround puts me right back on schedule. That’s it. I’m happy to have a big opportunity here – main event, Dan Ige. I got the green light from my manager and we took it. We jumped.”

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Kattar, 32, said he respects what Ige brings to the cage. The Hawaiian fighter has won six straight fights, defeating Edson Barboza in his most recent fight in May.

“Yeah, he’s a tough kid, man,” Kattar said. “He’s done what he’s had to do to the last six guys. I think we’re similar in the fact we’ve both been overlooked most of our careers. Here we are, (a) main event (on) ‘Fight Island.’ I’m not like the last six guys he’s fought. I won’t overlook him. He’s got my full attention. Come Wednesday, I’m going to take him out.”

Kattar is unamused by the talk among the top UFC featherweights. He said he thinks activity will give him an edge in an otherwise stagnant top six. Not overlooking Ige, Kattar thinks his name will be thrown in the title conversation at 145 pounds with a victory.

“You’re damn, right,” Kattar said. “They’re all talking.

“… Dan Ige has my full attention. A win over him puts me in that mix, where if you want to fight, you’ve got to stay busy. If there’s one thing I’ve shown, it’s that.”

UFC on ESPN 13 takes place Wednesday at Flash Forum on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. The event airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.

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Emotional Abdul Razak Alhassan hopes accusers face karma: ‘I really hope they get what they deserve’

Abdul Razak Alhassan has not competed since January 2018.

ABU DHABI – [autotag]Abdul Razak Alhassan[/autotag] is back.

At UFC on ESPN 13, Alhassan (10-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) will make his first walk to the cage in 22 months. Alhassan has not competed since September 2018, largely due to accusations made by two Texas women.

“It’s forever changed because your name can never be the same,” Alhassan told MMA Junkie at a pre-fight media day Monday. “But for me, life is back to normal. The reason I say that is the past two years, life was not normal. The only thing pretty much I did was cry, sleep, look at my family. I’d cry in my sleep without even knowing I was crying. My family would wake me up saying I’m crying in my sleep, stressed, thinking about what’s going to happen in the future.”

Alhassan was accused of rape by two women stemming from encounters after he allegedly took them back to one of their homes in Saginaw, Texas, on March 23, 2018. Alhassan had been working at the Varsity Tavern in Fort Worth that night as a bouncer. He was indicted on the allegations in September 2018, but was found not guilty in March 2020.

Alhassan, 34, said he’s in a good place mentally entering his UFC return against Mounir Lazzez on Wednesday. In fact, he may be happier now than he’s ever been in his life.

“You never know what’s going to happen,” Alhassan said. “But knowing that that weight is lifted off when you can wake up and see your family and know you’re going to be there for them. I feel like, for me, life is even much happier now than it was before.”

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Behind the happiness, however, anger still remains. Alhassan knows he’ll have to harness his emotions on fight night. In one particularly emotion-filled answer, Alhassan expressed his hope the accusers “pay” for their past claims.

“When I was going through all this, I said to myself that it was good for me that I was going through this embarrassment that I’m going (through),” Alhassan said. “I’m a good person. I’d never do what they said I did. It got to a point where I asked myself, ‘Why is God letting evil people like that live?’ Because if I didn’t do something like that to you, why?

“… I thought about revenge. If I tell you I didn’t, I’m lying. I thought about all the revenge in this world in that I can – for the pain they are putting me through. They are out there stripping, not caring what they’re doing to me, having lives, posting things on social media happy, throwing alcohol (back), while I’m home crying every day. I can’t even take care of my kids. So much anger. I have so much anger. I know it’s behind me now, but I really hope God takes some huge revenge on these girls. I really hope they get what they deserve.”

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Dan Ige not ruling out UFC on ESPN 13 win could earn him title shot

Dan Ige isn’t expecting a title shot if he beats Calvin Kattar – but doesn’t think it’s out of the question, either.

ABU DHABI – [autotag]Dan Ige[/autotag] isn’t expecting a title shot should he beat [autotag]Calvin Kattar[/autotag] – but doesn’t think it’s out of the question either.

At UFC on ESPN 13, Ige (14-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) headlines for the first time under the promotion’s banner. The fight is pivotal. Both men sit toward the top of a stacked 145-pound division. With no clear-cut No. 1 contender, Ige thinks he could land the opportunity if he beats Kattar (21-4 MMA, 5-2 UFC).

“A big win over Calvin Kattar, (if) I make a big statement win, could easily very-well get me a title shot,” Ige said Monday. “Maybe the people won’t say I deserve it, but I will fight anyone, anywhere, any time to get what I want. That’s a world title. I know (featherweight champion Alexander) Volkanovski wants to fight the No. 1 contenders. I’ve watched all of his interviews. I study every guy in the division. I know he has his eyes on me and he’ll have his eyes on this fight. We’ll see what happens.”

Ige thinks his activity-level will be key in any offer he receives from the UFC. In recent weeks, UFC president Dana White has voiced his pleasure in fighters who are trying to stay active during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I really want to go out there and show that I’m a true contender – that I’m champion-worthy,” Ige said. “I can very well do that. I have a huge opportunity (and) a big platform to do so on Wednesday. With the way the division is tied up right now, these guys in the top five are not active. These guys, a lot of them haven’t fought in one year (or) two years and they’re still up there in the top ranking in the world.”

UFC on ESPN 13 takes place Wednesday at Flash Forum on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. The event airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.

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Paul Felder will pause broadcast duties for one fight to corner Jared Gordon at UFC on ESPN 13

Paul Felder will be on double duty Wednesday when he steps away from the commentating booth to corner Jared Gordon at UFC on ESPN 13.

[autotag]Paul Felder[/autotag] will be on double duty Wednesday.

After all of [autotag]Jared Gordon[/autotag]’s coaches failed to make the trip to Abu Dhabi after testing positive for COVID-19, Felder will step in to corner good friend and teammate Gordon at UFC on ESPN 13.

Gordon, who recently moved to Florida to train at Sanford MMA, traveled to Abu Dhabi alone and will now have Felder and Xtreme Couture head coach Eric Nicksick in his corner for his fight against Chris Fishgold on Wednesday.

SuckerPunch Entertainment head Brian Butler revealed the news of Gordon’s new corner in an Instagram post Sunday.

“Breaking: @jaredflashgordon’s coaches and team all tested positive for CV and were not able to make the trip to corner him. With no corners or coaches Jared was determined to fight and pressed through set back after setback and still made his way to Fight Island. In an unprecedented move, long time friend, training partner and fellow SP teammate, @felderpaul is scheduled to commentate the remaining events on Fight Island and has gotten clearance to come off the desk to help his friend through the fight during the event. Also long time SP friend @eric_xcmma who is there with fellow SP client @dynamitedan808 will step up and help Jared in his fight. #1team1dream #represented”

Felder, a longtime training partner of Gordon’s at Roufusport in Milwaukee, took to Instagram to comment on his cornering duties.

View this post on Instagram

No way I’m letting my man go into a fight alone. 👊🏼 #Repost @suckerpunchent ・・・ Breaking: @jaredflashgordon ‘s coaches and team all tested positive for CV and were not able to make the trip to corner him. With no corners or coaches Jared was determined to fight and pressed through set back after setback and still made his way to Fight Island. In an unprecedented move, long time friend, training partner and fellow SP teammate, @felderpaul is scheduled to commentate the remaining events on Fight Island and has gotten clearance to come off the desk to help his friend through the fight during the event. Also long time SP friend @eric_xcmma who is there with fellow SP client @dynamitedan808 will step up and help Jared in his fight. #1team1dream #represented

A post shared by Paul Felder (@felderpaul) on

“No way I’m letting my man go into a fight alone. 👊🏼”

Felder is on commentator duty for the remainder of the “Fight Island” events, but will be stepping away from commenting duties for one fight to corner Gordon.

The recently retired lightweight is currently taking time off, but confirmed in a recent interview with MMA Junkie that he intends on returning to the octagon once the right opportunity presents itself.

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UFC on ESPN 13 free fight: Calvin Kattar starches Jeremy Stephens with brutal elbow

Ahead of his main event Wednesday, watch Calvin Kattar’s finish over Jeremy Stephens at UFC 249.

[autotag]Calvin Kattar[/autotag] continues to rise to the occasion.

Kattar (21-4 MMA, 5-2 UFC) fought hard-hitting featherweight Jeremy Stephens at UFC 249 looking to add another finish to his resume.

Stephens put everything into his shots, pressuring Kattar right off the bat, but Kattar did a good job of circling away from danger. Stephens did damage with numerous low kicks, while Kattar used his jab to keep Stephens at bay. Kattar started opening up, landing a good left hook and a right hand that snapped Stephens’ head back.

In Round 2, Stephens ramped up the aggression, but Kattar started to find a home for the uppercut on the counter. Midway through the round, Kattar countered a Stephens right with a beautiful elbow which dropped and stunned him. He followed it up with another elbow that split Stephens open and a few shots later, the referee stopped the fight.

Kattar returns Wednesday when he meets Dan Ige (14-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) in the UFC on ESPN 13 headliner at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.

Before he faces Ige, relive Kattar’s finish over Stephens in the video above.

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UFC on ESPN 13: Make your predictions for Calvin Kattar vs. Dan Ige

We want your predictions for Wednesday’s UFC on ESPN 13 event in Abu Dhabi.

We want your predictions for Wednesday’s UFC on ESPN 13 event in Abu Dhabi.

Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we’ll use the official tallies that are registered by Monday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).

Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the UFC on ESPN 13 event staff predictions we release Tuesday ahead of the event. UFC on ESPN 13 takes place Wednesday at Flash Forum in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. The card airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.

Make your picks for all five main card fights inside:

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6, Page 7

Khamzat Chimaev tapped as replacement to fight John Phillips at UFC on ESPN 13

The UFC plans on bringing in a highly touted welterweight prospect as a short-notice replacement.

It didn’t take long for the UFC to find [autotag]John Phillips[/autotag] a replacement opponent.

With Dusko Todorovic out, the UFC is now targeting [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag] to fight Phillips (22-9 MMA, 1-3 UFC) on July 15. UFC on ESPN 13 takes place on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi as part of the promotion’s stretch of four “Fight Island” events in 15 days.

A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed the targeted booking to MMA Junkie on Wednesday, but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. Russian MMA reporter Igor Lazorin was the first to report the news.

Chimaev (6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is one of Europe’s top welterweight prospects. Moving up to middleweight for his promotional debut, Chimaev will look to keep his six-fight finishing streak alive. Chimaev was supposed to challenge for the Brave CF title in April in Stockholm, Sweden, but the event was canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

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Phillips, a veteran of the European regional scene, started his UFC run with a disappointing three-fight losing streak. However, he earned a “Performance of the Night” bonus after picking up his first UFC win, when he knocked out Alen Amedovski in just 14 seconds in September.

With the change, the latest UFC on ESPN 13 lineup includes:

MAIN CARD (ESPN, ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET)

  • Calvin Kattar vs. Dan Ige
  • Frankie Edgar vs. opponent TBA
  • Jimmie Rivera vs. Cody Stamann
  • Abdul Razak Alhassan vs. Mounir Lazzez
  • Chris Fishgold vs. Jared Gordon

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN, ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)

  • Modestas Bukauskas vs. Vinicius Moreira
  • Molly McCann vs. Taila Santos
  • Lerone Murphy vs. Ricardo Ramos
  • Khamzat Chimaev vs. John Phillips
  • Ryan Benoit vs. Tim Elliott
  • Diana Belbita vs. Liana Jojua
  • Aaron Phillips vs. Jack Shore

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