UFC Vegas 46: For Calvin Kattar The Ultimate Goal Is The Title

Las Vegas, NV – Almost a year to the day after losing to a former champion in the same building Calvin Kattar is back with another high-profile fight as he works his way back into the UFC featherweight title picture.

Kattar (22-5) takes on rising star Giga Chikadze (14-2) as the main event at UFC Vegas 46 at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas.

“Just aware of it obviously, but anybody who can go 7-0 in the UFC they’re doing something right. He’s found a way to win but I just feel like I’m a different caliber opponent than he’s faced. I feel like I’ve got the tools to beat him,” Kattar said about his opponent at media day on Wednesday.

Asked if this match-up would boil down to boxing vs. kickboxing Kattar reiterated what he’s said all along about the fight.

“Like I said it’s mixed martial arts. However I’ve got to get it done I’m down. The last fight I probably could have showed a little more diversity specially when things weren’t panning out too well on the feet, but sometimes just that dog in you comes out and you just get in that exchange. Who knows what the f*ck is going to happen honestly.”

This fight comes just days after the UFC announced that Max Holloway would challenge Alexander Volkanovski for the UFC featherweight title only to pull Holloway just a couple days after due to injury. Popular opinion was that Chikadze would be pulled from the main event at UFC Vegas 46 and inserted into a matchup with Volkanovski. Ultimately the UFC decided to insert Chang Sung Jung, the Korean Zombie, in to the title fight leaving Kattar’s bout intact.

“I can’t really control that so I try not to put too much energy into it. Only thing I can control is me and my opponent. Saturday night is coming soon so for him to be focused on anybody else would be a big mistake.”

Even with a big fight ahead of him and the noise surrounding the title picture at 145-pounds, for Kattar, all roads lead to a title.

“My mindset getting into the UFC was ‘If you keep winning they can’t deny you.’ I believe I was like 16-2 before getting in here. Not asking for it, working for it. That’s my mindset. My mindset is just getting my hand raised this Saturday night and that’ll put me one step closer to the ultimate goal which is getting that title around my waist.”