Aljamain Sterling made his long-awaited move to featherweight at the historic UFC 300 on Saturday night in Las Vegas.
Taking on the always game Calvin Kattar, returning from a lengthy layoff, there were quite a few question marks surrounding the fight, primarily how the former Bantamweight Champion, Sterling would look ten pounds heavier, and what sort of toll injury and several wars had taken on Kattar.
Sterling started very strongly on the feet, and was able to take Kattar down midway through the 1st round. “The Human Backpack” wasted no time in trying to get onto the Bostonian’s back, but Kattar fended him off. Sterling managed to take Kattar down four times in the opening round.
Not even a minute into the round, Sterling got Kattar down for his fifth takedown of the fight. Sterling looked quicker on the feet, and stronger in the clinch and on the ground. Kattar’s hesitancy on the feet was costing him, and Sterling was taking full advantage of that.
Kattar’s corner was urging him on, after a lacklustre first and second round. Sterling immediately got back to work, taking Kattar down and establishing clinch control. Sterling countered Kattar’s attempt at getting up and Power bombed him right back down to the Canvas. The former Champion completely nullified Kattar’s game, en route to a perfect victory in his Featherweight debut.
Official Result: Aljamain Sterling defeats Calvin Kattar via Unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
