The record says Calvin Kattar is 1-2 over his last three bouts in the UFC.
He doesn’t really look at it that way.
“I believe I beat Josh Emmett [controversial split decision loss] and I was in the ready to take over against [Arnold] Allen when I got hurt,” said Kattar. “But honestly, that is meaningless. Right now, I’m 0-0. and the only thing that matters is Saturday night against Alja.”
“Alja” is Alajamain Sterling, a tough matchup and former great champion of the banamweight class.
But Alja is coming off a second round knockout loss in Boston last August to Sean O’Malley. He had been complaining about struggles to make the weight, so this was his opportunity to enter the featherweight fray.
Kattar and Sterling meet on Saturday night in Las Vegas, as part of the undercard for the highly thought of UFC 300.
The winner inches closer to a title fight while the loser probably drops to the back of the top 10, which is nowhere to be in this tough class.
“I realize what’s at stake, but honestly I fight every fight with the same intentions, as if its my last,” said Kattar. “I don’t care about anything else. I don’t care about the bettors. I don’t care what people think. I only care about doing my best and beating Alja.”
There is no such thing as an easy fight at this level. Every competitor has a resume and has been through several “wringers.”
“This is not going to be easy,” said Kattar. “That’s a given. This is a former champ, a great former champ. But I know what I’m capable of.”
Unlike his last five bouts, all scheduled for five rounds (his loss came after injury early in second round), this will be three rounds at five minutes per.
Kattar is noted more as a calculating “boxer” who looks for his shot, oftentimes getting off to slow starts. In three round bouts that’s a no-no.
“We know what’s at stake, the three rounds and what Calvin needs to do,” said Kattar’s trainer and manager Tyson Chartier, who oversees the New England Cartel camp.
“Calvin is ready for this fight,” he said. “He’s more than ready.”
Rust could be an issue as Kattar hasn’t fought for close to 18 months due to his ACL tear in his bout against Allen.
But Kattar said the time off was used to refresh “the batteries,” and he was able to do some technical work on his craft.
Early odds have Sterling as the favorite over Kattar (bet $100 on Kattar to collect $135 if he wins).
“I guess Aljo picked me to fight,” said Kattar, referring to his next opponent. “He thinks it’s a good matchup for him. I’ve got to show him he picked the wrong fighter.”
Kattar says his ACL injury is 100 percent. and the time off kept his mind fresh, as in he can’t wait to fight again.
“My juices got flowing being around Rob [Font],” said Kattar, of his New England Cartel teammate who has had three bouts over the 15 months he was rehabbing. “I was around the sport. I got to watch from outside the ring. I think I learned a lot.”
“It means the start is more important,” said Kattar. “There is not a lot of time feel him out because you can lose the round and then have to win the last two rounds. The start is definitely more important.”
Sterling is noted for his take downs and fighting on the mat as opposed to Kattar’s specialty, boxing.
“Aljo is a Jujitsu guy,” said Kattar, referring to his prowess on the mat. “You’re playing with fire every second. I need to be aggressive, take everything and give nothing. Nothing!”
You can email Bill Burt at bburt@eagletribune.com.