Calvin Kattar is in the fight business at the highest level, which means you treat your next fight like it’s potentially your last.
Well, Kattar, at 37 years old and having lost four straight UFC bouts and five of his last six, while being ranked 14th in the 145-pound featherweight division, understands that notion better than anyone.
Kattar fights in the “UFC on ESPN” on Saturday, July 12 in Nashville, Tenn. against up-and-comer Steve Garcia, 33, winner of five straight – four TKOs, one KO — non-ranked UFC fighters.
This is where the rubber meets the road. Kattar has never been knocked out in his career.
“The next one is always the biggest,” said the Methuen native.
Win or lose, there is a lot at stake for Kattar, who had been making a run at the top featherweight spot in the world.
If he wins, he’ll get a shot at another ranked fighter ahead of him. He’ll be back on the radar.
If he loses, the road to the top will probably be closed. And then there would be decisions to be made.
“I have always done my best when my back is against the wall,” said Kattar, from his training facility in Montreal. “And that’s where I am.”
Ironically, other than Kattar’s tough loss to UFC legend Max Holloway in Jan. of 2021, which Kattar withstood 445 “significant strikes,” the most in any recorded UFC bout, he hasn’t suffered any brutal “damage” in his last four losses.
He lost to Josh Emmert in a controversial split decision in June of 2022. Four months later he lost to Arnold Allen after tearing his ACL at the start of the second round.
Nearly 18 months later, he suffered a frustrating loss to Aljamain Sterling, which was more wrestling than slugging.
And in February, he lost a unanimous three-round decision to Youssef Zalal, another bout that was more defense than offense.
“I take my beatings in the gym and cage, but it’s most frustrating to come out healthy and lose,” said Kattar. “Some of my best wins have come when I’ve been beat up a bit.”
This fight with Garcia is a different one than he’s faced over his losing skid.
Garcia’s fighting style is aggressive with powerful striking. He is known for his knockout power and willingness to engage in exciting, high-paced exchanges.
“He will try to pressure me. He’s aggressive,” said Kattar. “That’s what I respect about him. When the (bleep) hits the fan, that’s when I usually do my best.”
This bout with Garcia forced Kattar to make some changes in training and head to Montreal for six weeks.
Instead of working out with a few of his guys, including his fellow New England Cartel star Rob Font, ranked eighth as a bantamweight (135 pounds), he headed north of the border to the famed H2O MMA gym.
“This is high level, with about a hundred guys in the gym every day,” said Kattar. “I sort of needed this, get away from the noise and complete focus in preparing me for what I have to do.”
Which is win. And do it with that Kattar flair, which has drawn him a few million UFC fans over his career.
The six weeks away, though, has come with a price.
He’s been home, which is now Salem, N.H., where he bought a fixer-upper last year, only one day over that span.
“I do enjoy the comforts of home, cutting my lawn, stopping by Cedardale to work out, being around my family and friends,” said Kattar. “That’s been tough. I love being home. It’s no fun being alone.
“But this is what I had to do, especially for this fight,” said Kattar. “There are no easy fights in the UFC. I’ve come up short lately, more tactical errors where I believe I’ve been beating myself. This is an opportunity to go out and test myself against a guy that will be in front of me the entire time.”
Kattar also realizes his time is now. Period.
“There is a short window left (in my career). I understand that,” said Kattar. “This is my chance, with my back against the wall, to maximize that with no regrets. That’s my attitude. And knowing the way (Garcia) fights, it should be exciting.”
You can email Bill Burt at bburt@eagletribune.com.