Calvin Kattar kicked off his 2022 by putting on a striking clinic against Giga Chikadze in the first UFC event of the year.
Kattar, who hadn’t fought since absorbing a record 445 significant strikes in a five-round war with Max Holloway in the first UFC event of 2021, set a new personal best by landing 144 significant strikes on Chikadze and swept the judges’ scorecards Saturday in the main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Kattar was the No. 5-ranked featherweight contender heading into Saturday’s event and has landed more than 100 significant strikes in three consecutive outings dating back to 2020. Meanwhile, Chikadze was ranked No. 8 at 145 pounds and had his nine-fight winning streak snapped.
Despite their pre-fight-rankings, Kattar entered the bout as nearly a two-to-one betting underdog.
THAT's HOW YOU MAKE A STATEMENT
[ @CalvinKattar | #UFCVegas46 ] pic.twitter.com/yJciqlt9Dy
— UFC (@ufc) January 16, 2022
The first finish of 2022 came courtesy of Viacheslav Borshchev when the dangerous lightweight striker ended Dakota Bush’s night with a devastating left hook to the body.
Borshchev (6-1) made quite the impression with a massive knockout win during his Dana White’s Contender Series appearance in October and has now won four consecutive fights by knockout or TKO.
THE FIRST FINISH OF 2022!!!
[ @ViacheslavBors1| #UFCVegas46 ] pic.twitter.com/5jQr1EjFz1
— UFC (@ufc) January 16, 2022
In other main card action, heavyweight Jake Collier tapped Chase Sherman with a first-round rear-naked choke and Katlyn Chookagian won a decision over Jennifer Maia in a matchup of top-five women’s flyweight contenders.
Below are the complete results from UFC Fight Night.
MAIN CARD
— Calvin Kattar def. Giga Chikadze by unanimous decision
— Jake Collier def. Chase Sherman by submission (rear-naked choke)
— Brandon Royval def. Rogério Bontorin by split decision
— Katlyn Chookagian def. Jennifer Maia by unanimous decision
— Viacheslav Borshchev def. Dakota Bushby technical knockout
— Bill Algeo def. Joanderson Brito by unanimous decision
PRELIMINARY CARD
— Jamie Pickett def. Joseph Holmes by unanimous decision
— Court McGee def. Ramiz Brahimaj by unanimous decision
— Brian Kelleher def. Kevin Croom by unanimous decision
— T.J. Brown def. Charles Rosa by unanimous decision
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