UFC featherweights ‘better not have forgotten about me’

Calvin Kattar is not any stranger to bouncing again, and that’s precisely what he plans to do once more.

Kattar (23-7 MMA, 7-5 UFC) blew out his knee simply eight seconds into Spherical 2 of his TKO loss to Arnold Allen final October. He’s been on the mend ever since after present process surgical procedure and is hoping to return by the top of the yr.

“I delight myself in being mentally robust, however this one was difficult,” Kattar advised Middle Easy. “It’s a protracted restoration, sluggish course of, however I’m proud of progress it doesn’t matter what, regardless of how sluggish it’s. So, it was incrementally getting higher. One % each day, you give me that, I’m a contented man.”

It’s not the primary time Kattar has sat on the sidelines. The 35-year-old took a yr off after a lopsided decision loss to Max Holloway in a Combat of the Evening effort in January 2021. He returned a yr later in one other headliner the place he put a beatdown on streaking contender Giga Chikadze, and he plans on making one other emphatic return.

“Some new ones (contenders) are rising somewhat,” Kattar mentioned of the featherweight division. “The champ’s nonetheless doing his factor on the prime, so it’s moved barely. It’s beginning to shift somewhat bit because it normally does, and I believe it’ll proceed to shift by yr’s finish. However they higher not have forgotten about me as a result of I’m leaping again within the combine quickly.”

When requested who has impressed him probably the most all through his absence, Kattar mentioned UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, for his exercise and willingness to tackle all challengers.

“I’d simply say the champ, man. He’s persevering with to impress me,” Kattar mentioned. “I like the way in which he carries himself as a champ. Even after the surgical procedure he’s obtained developing now, he’s saying he desires to get proper again in by the top of the yr. That’s simply somebody that you really want in your division with the belt, if it’s not going to be your self, as a result of he retains issues shifting. He accepts all challenges and challengers. That’s what I like, man. I believe he’s achieved a fantastic job up up to now.”