'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#6 Zabit Magomedsharipov vs. Calvin Kattar (Featherweight)
The stakes were high for the UFC Featherweight clash between two of the most promising fighters in the division currently ruled by Max Holloway. This was a main event that promised to be a proper mixed martial arts spectacle and it certainly lived up to all the hype.
Trending
Round 1: Zabit began in trademark fashion as he went for the double jab and inside low kicks. Inside leg kicks were followed by an oblique kick from the Russian.
Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more
Calvin Kattar pushed forward with a lead right. Zabit replied with double jabs and a right from the top. He was light and mobile on his feet and got in a few kicks to the body.
Both the Featherweights tried to get into the groove with their striking. Zabit didn't take much time to settle in as he kept tagging Kattar with his unorthodox combinations. The Russian wasn't afraid to get into the pocket and engage in a dirty brawl with Kattar. The round ended with one of those high-volume exchanges in the pocket.
Round 2: The Dagestani got straight to work with a pressing 1-2. Zabit kept firing in the left jabs. He followed it up with a right front head kick that missed the target. Zabit shifted stances and got into the pocket but didn't let his hands loose.
ZaBeast came in with a brilliant combination that started with a flying knee and ended with a spinning back fist. While none of it landed, it was poetry in motion.
Kattar landed with the left jabs but visibly found it tough to deal with Zabit's constant feints, movement and unique style of striking. Zabit smartly front tripped Kattar and got hold of his back for a few seconds. That was ingenuity at its best.
The American was having his moments too as he landed quite a few shots as well during the exchanges. The left jabs, in particular, were quite a prominent facet of his game plan. Zabit briefly lost balance at the end of the round and almost got caught with a head kick. Kattar pressed forward for a finish but Zabit retreated until the sound of the bell. Zabit nodded his head in appreciation as he went to his corner.
Round 3: A furious exchange of jabs began the third round. A groin strike paused the fight for a few seconds before we were back underway.
Kattar was the one pushing forward now and he increased the volume of his strikes as well. He went for a big overhand right but he couldn't touch the elusive Zabit.
Kattar was having a solid round as he went on to land quite a few strikes to the face and body of his Russian counterpart. The American continued to hurt Zabit with various combinations. Zabit kept going back and the scales had now turned in favor of Kattar.
Left hooks, lead rights, uppercuts, body shots, right hooks, and the jabs kept coming in from Kattar. He went for a flying knee but Zabit caught him in mid-air and slammed him down to the mat. Kattar didn't stay idle on his back as he fired off elbows and punches until the fight came to an end.
Result: Zabit Magomedsharipov def. Calvin Kattar via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
ZaBeast survived a late onslaught to notch up his sixth UFC win inside the Octagon and fourteenth consecutive victory as a fighter. Both the world-class featherweights put on a striking clinic that deserved to be a 5-round affair.
