Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
UFC on ESPN 13 takes place Wednesday in Abu Dhabi, and you can discuss the event here.
ABU DHABI – MMA Junkie is on scene and reporting live from Wednesday’s UFC on ESPN 13 event at Flash Forum at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, which kicks off at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT). You can discuss the event here.
Be sure to follow along with the latest card updates in our UFC on ESPN 13 live results post, and then discuss the event in the comments section below.
Round-by-round updates and official results begin at approximately 7 p.m. ET for the preliminary card and 10 p.m. ET for the main card.
Previewing Wednesday’s UFC on ESPN 13 Fight Island bout between Calvin Kattar and Dan Ige, with MMA betting odds, picks, tips and bets.
Calvin Kattar and Dan Ige will battle in a featherweight bout on the main card at UFC on ESPN 13 Wednesday at the UFC’s Fight Island facility on Yas Island, United Arab Emirates. The prelims kick off at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN+, followed by the main card set for 10 p.m. ET.
Want to place a bet on UFC on ESPN 13? Place bets at BetMGM online in CO, IN, NJ and WV! New customer offer: Risk-free first bet! Visit BetMGM for terms and conditions. Bet now!
It hasn’t been long since we last saw Kattar (21-4) inside the octagon. The “Boston Finisher” made quick work of Jeremy Stephens at UFC 249 on May 9, winning by KO/TKO at 2:49 of Round 2, Kattar’s fourth win in the past six bouts, each by KO/TKO. Since arriving at the UFC level, he has posted a 5-2 record with one unanimous decision win, two unanimous decision losses and four wins by knockout. Three of his past four outings have finished inside the distance, and he holds a 5.29 to 4.12 advantage in significant strikes landed per minute over his opponent.
Ige (14-2) also fought fairly recently, winning in a split-decision vs. Edson Barboza May 16 in Jacksonville, Fla., on the Overeem-Harris card. Ige has two straight split-decision wins, three decision victories in a row and has won six straight overall since losing to Julio Arce Jan. 20, 2018 at UFC 220 in his debut at the top level. Four of Ige’s past five bouts have gone the distance, a stark contrast to the quick finishing Kattar.
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 6:10 a.m. ET.
Kattar (-313) is an overwhelming favorite on the 2-way line, and there is no way to justify risking more than three times your possible return. You’ll need to get a bit creative. Look to the 5-way line instead, as KATTAR BY KO/TKO, DQ or SUBMISSION (-118) for the method of victory. While Ige (+245) will be trying to get Kattar to the mat early and often, as grappling is his specialty, Kattar is so polished and a much more superior upright fighter. If he can avoid going to the mat, this one might be over quickly for Ige.
As such, look to UNDER 4.5 ROUNDS (-162) as a near certainty, but also toss in a small-unit wager on UNDER 3.5 ROUNDS (-130) just for fun.
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MMA Junkie fight analyst Dan Tom takes a closer look at the UFC Fight Island 1 headliner between Calvin Kattar and Dan Ige.
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MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom breaks down the UFC’s top bouts. Today, we look at the main event for UFC on ESPN 13.
UFC on ESPN 13 takes place Saturday at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. The event airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.
Staple info:
Supplemental info:
+ Regional MMA titles
+ Wrestling base
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu blue belt
+ 11 KO victories
+ 2 submission wins
+ 10 first-round finishes
+ KO Power
+ Good feints and footwork
+ Accurate shot selection
^ Works well off of left hand
+ Solid wrestling ability
^ Defensively and offensively
+ Shows serviceable grappling
^ Positional awareness and fundamentals
Staple info:
Supplemental info:
+ Regional MMA titles
+ Wrestling base
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt
+ Judo brown belt
+ 3 KO victories
+ 5 submission wins
+ 5 first-round finishes
+ Aggressive pace and pressure
+ Solid feints and footwork
+ Improved boxing ability
^ Variates well to the body
+ Strong inside the clinch
+ Scrambles and wrestles well
^ Works best from top position
The main event for UFC on ESPN 13 features a fun featherweight fight between two men who quietly go to the body in trying to take out their opposition.
An aggressive, forward fighter, [autotag]Dan Ige[/autotag] embodies a lot of the hallmarks of a Hawaiian fighter.
Typically the shorter man, Ige does well when utilizing feints to help freeze up his opposition. In recent fights, Ige has done even better when pairing said fakes to his footwork, taking more advantageous angles to his approach.
Demonstrating a steadily improving boxing game, Ige can enter space with either hand, often slipping off of jabs while doing so. Once working his way inside the pocket, the 28-year-old talent stays poised as he looks to either change levels to the body or come up high with his patent heavy hooks.
Ige is also good about mixing in uppercuts into his repertoire, whether he is launching them from the clinch with a collar tie attached or using them in close while coming off an angle. And though his uppercuts and bodywork will likely serve him well against a fighter who has a propensity to shell, Ige’s stylings arguably open him up to similar weapons.
Enter [autotag]Calvin Kattar[/autotag].
Quietly crafting his tools in and out the regional scene for roughly a decade, Kattar steps in with some fundamentally sound striking and well-earned hype. Whether he is coming forward or sticking and moving, Kattar does a great job of keeping his feet underneath him, occasionally shifting stances when he finds his groove.
Typically working behind a high guard, Kattar maintains solid shoulder and head position, protecting his chin from the majority of hard punches that come his way. Kattar, who trains with a lot of pro boxers, also does well at diversifying his shot selection from a boxing perspective.
From slipping offline to changing his level, he offers options to both the body and the head. Wielding a stinging jab (both defensively and offensively), Kattar will either use it to disrupt his opponent’s striking rhythms or allow it to help set up punishing hooks and crosses once establishing his range.
Although there will only be an inch difference in reach on paper, Kattar will be the taller and longer party, as I see jabs layered with uppercut threats being some of the more reliable weapons for him in this fight. The New England native has also shown an improved defense and awareness to leg kicks in his last outing, but his borderline boxing-centric guard and stance can still offer targets of the level-changing variety.
Next point of interest: Shutting down the scrambling:
Bantamweight contender Jimmie Rivera says seeing former foe Petr Yan capture the UFC bantamweight title has given him renewed confidence.
Seeing [autotag]Petr Yan[/autotag] capture the UFC bantamweight title has given [autotag]Jimmie Rivera[/autotag] confidence.
Rivera (22-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC) hasn’t competed since June 2019, when he suffered a unanimous decision loss to Yan at UFC 238 in a fight where the American produced a competitive performance in defeat to the future UFC champion.
Rivera was able to find his range and land solid shots in their exchanges, but was dropped twice at the end of both Rounds 1 and 2 as he lost out to Yan on the judges’ scorecards.
After defeating Rivera, Yan knocked out Urijah Faber at UFC 245, then finished Jose Aldo at UFC 251 as he captured the vacant bantamweight title.
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It’s been a rough stretch for Rivera, who’s dropped three of his last four, but all to top-level competition. Though he lost to Yan in his last outing, Rivera was able to gauge where he stands in the division, which has motivated him to climb his way back up to contention.
“Yeah it does,” Rivera told reporters during the UFC on ESPN 13 virtual media day. “I feel like people say different things, but I think I gave Yan his toughest fight and just the fact that I knew I was up in the first and second round, and I wanted to coast, was a hard lesson learned.
“It’s definitely a big motivation to get back in there and just to fight and obviously taking a fight last minute to fill up a spot and help the UFC out. So I’m looking forward to it, just getting back in and grateful that the UFC gave me this opportunity.”
Rivera was forced to sit out earlier in the year when he tested positive for COVID-19, but was able to use training to get back to full recovery. Now he’s ready to return and, although his fight booking with Stamann came together in about a week – and despite the short-notice nature of his return – Rivera said he’s just happy to be back competing.
“I want to say I should do really well in this fight,” Rivera said. “I’m just looking to put on a war and put on a fight for the fans, to be honest. My only worry in the outcome is getting my hand raised, getting the W at the end, but obviously (I’m) always hoping to get the finish.”
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Despite his displeasure with UFC 251 judges, Dana White said they will finish out their stint on “Fight Island.”
ABU DHABI – Despite his displeasure with UFC 251 judges, UFC president Dana White confirmed there will be no personnel changes for the three remaining “Fight Island” events this month.
This past weekend, featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski escaped with a narrow split decision win in his rematch with Max Holloway, with a large portion of fans ad media expressing disagreement with the result. According to MMADecisions.com, 65 percent of polled fans thought Holloway won.
Following the UFC on ESPN 13 weigh-ins Friday, White was asked whether or not the promotion would make any changes. Unlike state-sanctioned events in the U.S., the UFC is self-governed when it comes to certain international events, including those held on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.
“No, whatever we had planned for here is planned,” White said. “No matter who you bring in or what you do, there’s always a possibility of bad decisions. Did you guys see today that FanDuel, if you bet with FanDuel, they gave you your money back on Max Holloway? Yeah, it’s pretty crazy. That there goes to show you.”
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Following Volkanovski’s win over Holloway, White voiced his displeasure with the judges’ decision. White said the promotion would have to “figure it out.”
“Listen, man, you can’t leave it to these guys,” he told reporters backstage at Flash Forum. “We’ve got some bad judging. …
“I dunno. Did anybody in here score it for Volkanovski? Nobody in the media? I don’t know. We’ll have to figure it out.”
UFC on ESPN 13 takes place Wednesday on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. The event airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.
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“Fight Island” is the backup plan.
ABU DHABI – “Fight Island” is here to stay.
According to UFC president Dana White, the promotion is planning on holding more events on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi later this year after the conclusion of the promotion’s current July run of four events in 15 days.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday ahead of UFC on ESPN 13, White wouldn’t officially confirm a timeline for a “Fight Island” return. However, he declared the UFC will come back to Yas Island.
“Not officially, but yes, we’re going to have another run of events out here,” White said. “If you look at what’s going on in the world, like I told you guys before, I don’t see this changing anytime soon.”
With COVID-19 numbers rising in the U.S., White stressed the importance of being prepared for another shutdown of events in Nevada. If it comes to that, White said the UFC’s August schedule could shift from the Apex in Las Vegas to Yas Island.
“We’re thinking about (a backup plan) now,” White said. “My backup plan would be ‘Fight Island.’ We might be living here. … Anything is possible. If Nevada shuts down and doesn’t allow us to do fights in Nevada, yeah, I’m going to be spending a lot of time in Abu Dhabi.”
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When asked about potential event cancellations or postponements, White added, “I hope not. I hope not, no. Listen, we’ve proved we can do these things in Nevada or anywhere – safely. Hopefully we keep getting to do what we do in Nevada, and we can keep coming to Abu Dhabi for international fights. That’s what I’m hoping. But yes, I’m thinking about what happens if we get shut down and what’s next.”
The promotion held its first “Fight Island” event this past Saturday with UFC 251. The promotion will hold UFC on ESPN 13 on Wednesday, followed by events on Saturday and July 25.
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Check out our staff members’ picks for the UFC on ESPN 13 main card at “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi.
| Kattar vs. Ige |
Benoit vs. Elliott |
Rivera vs. Stamann |
McCann vs. Santos |
Alhassan vs. Lazzez |
|
| MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 2020: 60-36 |
 Kattar (75%) |
 Elliott (59%) |
 Stamann (59%) |
 McCann (67%) |
 Alhassan (87%) |
| Nolan King @mma_kings 2020: 76-25 |
Kattar |
Elliott |
Stamann |
McCann |
Alhassan |
| Dan Tom @DanTomMMA 2020: 75-26 |
Kattar |
Elliott |
 Rivera |
McCann |
Alhassan |
| Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 2020: 73-28 |
Kattar |
Elliott |
Rivera |
McCann |
 Lazzez |
| Mike Bohn @MikeBohnMMA 2020: 72-29  2014 Champion |
Kattar |
Elliott |
Rivera |
McCann |
Alhassan |
| Simon Head @simonhead 2020: 71-30 2019 Champion* |
Kattar |
Elliott |
Stamann |
McCann |
Alhassan |
| Simon Samano @SJSamano 2020: 71-30 |
Kattar |
Elliott |
Rivera |
McCann |
Alhassan |
| Brian Garcia @thegoze 2020: 70-31 2017 Champion |
Kattar |
Elliott |
Stamann |
McCann |
Alhassan |
| Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway 2020: 69-32 2018 Champion |
 Ige |
Elliott |
Stamann |
McCann |
Alhassan |
| Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 2020: 69-32 |
Kattar |
 Benoit |
Stamann |
McCann |
Alhassan |
| Dave Doyle @davedoylemma 2020: 68-33 |
Kattar |
Elliott |
Stamann |
McCann |
Alhassan |
| George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 2020: 67-34 |
Ige |
Benoit |
Stamann |
McCann |
Alhassan |
| John Morgan @MMAjunkieJohn 2020: 67-34 |
Ige |
Benoit |
Stamann |
McCann |
Alhassan |
| Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 2020: 63-38 |
Kattar |
Elliott |
Stamann |
McCann |
Alhassan |
| Matt Erickson @MMAjunkieMatt 2020: 38-63 |
Kattar |
Benoit |
Stamann |
 Santos |
Lazzez |
The UFC puts on its second of four straight events on “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, and featherweight contenders top the card.
UFC on ESPN 13 takes place Wednesday at Flash Forum in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. The card airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.
(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)
In the main event, [autotag]Calvin Kattar[/autotag] (21-4 MMA, 5-2 UFC) takes on [autotag]Dan Ige[/autotag] (14-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) in a featherweight bout. Kattar is more than a 3-1 favorite, and he’s got a big 11-3 lead in the picks from our 14 editors, writers, videographers and radio hosts.
In the co-main event, [autotag]Ryan Benoit[/autotag] (10-6 MMA, 3-4 UFC) meets former flyweight title challenger [autotag]Tim Elliott[/autotag] (15-11-1 MMA, 4-9 UFC). Elliott is just a slight favorite, but he’s got a big 10-4 picks advantage.
Also on the main card, [autotag]Jimmie Rivera[/autotag] (22-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC) fights [autotag]Cody Stamann[/autotag] (19-2-1 MMA, 5-1-1 UFC) in a bantamweight bout. Although it’s Rivera with a slight edge at the sportsbooks, it’s Stamann with a 10-4 rout in our picks.
[autotag]Molly McCann[/autotag] (10-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) takes on [autotag]Taila Santos[/autotag] (15-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) in a women’s flyweight fight that is a virtual pick’em from the oddsmakers. But despite that, McCann is our closest thing to a unanimous pick with a 13-1 lead from our staff members.
And to open the main card, [autotag]Abdul Razak Alhassan[/autotag] (10-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) is the biggest favorite on the main card, and he’s got a big 12-2 picks lead over promotional newcomer [autotag]Mounir Lazzez[/autotag] (9-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC), who is fighting what amounts to a home bout.
In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Kattar (75 percent), Elliott (59 percent), Stamann (59 percent), McCann (67 percent) and Alhassan (87 percent) are the choices.
Check out all the picks above.
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Check out the MMA junkie’s Dan Tom’s analysis and predictions for the Event Name main event between Calvin Kattar and Dan Ige.
Check out the MMA junkie’s Dan Tom’s analysis and predictions for the Event Name main event between Calvin Kattar and Dan Ige.
Check out all the fighter faceoffs ahead of UFC on ESPN 13.
ABU DHABI – After the UFC on ESPN 13 weigh-ins took place Tuesday, so too did fighter faceoffs, and MMA Junkie was on the scene.
In the main event, both [autotag]Calvin Kattar[/autotag] and [autotag]Dan Ige[/autotag] will look to make statements about their standing in the featherweight division. And in the co-headliner, former flyweight title challenger [autotag]Tim Elliott[/autotag] takes on [autotag]Ryan Benoit[/autotag]. The event also features a key bantamweight bout between Jimmie Rivera and Cody Stamann.
All six men made weight. One main-card fighter, Abdul Razak Alhassan, came in heavy for his welterweight fight against Mounir Lazzez.
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Afterward, everyone came face to face for the only time this week. You can watch the faceoffs in the video above, as well as check out our photo gallery below.
UFC on ESPN 13 takes place Wednesday at Flash Forum in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi and airs on ESPN/ESPN+.
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