Max Holloway vs Calvin Kattar discussion

nick jacoby

nick jacoby

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Man what a matchup!!. I really never bet against Max but I could see Kattar being a really tough fight.
He's a big featherweight at 5'11, has really crisp boxing, and I can really see him out boxing Max.

Then again... Calvin's fights against Zabit and Carneiro did show some holes Max should be able to capitalize on.... My heart says we are gonna get a straight up beast mode, championship caliber Max Holloway performance after losing his belt.

Max Holloway by Unanimous Decision in a war is my pick. Picks and thoughts my fellow Sherdoggers?
 
Calvin has that nose issue which made him throw less vs Dan Ige. If Max can pop it a few times and break it Max will run away with this fight.

Calvin most likely isn't going to KO Max so it will be a 5 round war.
 
This fight reminds me of Diaz McGregor. On one hand we got a guy with crisp boxing and great power (Kattar) and on the other hand we have a volume boxer with great endurance. The thing is Max has a good chin and Kattar doesn’t really slow down that much.

Really tough pick but I gotta go with Max in this spot because I wasn’t really impressed with Kattar in his last performance while I was really surprised how good Max looked against Volk in the rematch (I thought he won the fight). Your only as good as your last fight I guess.
 
MikeK1989 said:
Calvin has that nose issue which made him throw less vs Dan Ige. If Max can pop it a few times and break it Max will run away with this fight.

Calvin most likely isn't going to KO Max so it will be a 5 round war.
Click to expand...

That was six months ago. His nose has been healed since September. The real cause of kattar's lack of activity in that fight was his hand that he hurt in round one. That said, in that five round fight, kattar landed more than max did in Max's last five round fight, so I'm not sure why people act like kattar threw one punch per round.
 
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I've got kattar, but I do see a path to victory for max. If Max can stay just outside of boxing range and step back when kattar jabs then counter the jab with low kicks, then use his great lateral movement, circle and repeat--that will cause big troubles for Kattar. That said, I haven't seen max counter a jab with leg kicks consistently before (I'm not saying he can't, but he just hasn't shown it).

What's more likely for max is that he will try to stick and move on the outside, which also is not a bad plan; but max does the majority of his work with his hands, so he'll eventually have to enter the pocket with kattar and that is always risky.

The gameplan Max should not try is his usual gameplan of constantly pressuring and then pocket boxing. Kattar will eat him alive in the pocket and he'll walk Max on to the jab if Max pressures him consistently.

There are many x factors here. Will they both come out with leg kick heavy gameplans since both have shown weaknesses to them? Will kattar mix in wrestling (he typically shoots for at least one takedown per fight--he took down fili twice, tried to takedown Stephens and burgos, and took down Ige). What will the clinch exchanges look like? Kattar has looked nasty in the clinch lately with knees and elbows.

Both guys also very comfortable at shifting stances, but max is probably the better of the two when it comes to fighting southpaw.

I honestly think kattar has the advantage nearly everywhere unless max can make kattar chase/follow him, around the octagon which is entirely possible.

Long story short, I like kattar at boxing range and clinch range, but at kickboxing range I give a slight edge to Max, but I'm not sure if max can keep that range long enough to win.
 
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Forget about the past. This is the present and RIGHT NOW - this is a coin flip fight. Max is still a stud but has accumulated alot of wear and -185 is just too high for me. I'm going to sit back and watch a usual entertaining Max fight. I wont be surprised a bit if Kattar wins( not picking a winner here).

Vegas has made a big mistake in February ( they're usually on but theyve made some wrong favorite favorite missteps lately). I just got down with maycee at +160 against Grasso. I made a decent wager. They have posted wrong favorite ( Grasso has been finally fighting to her press clippings but Barber - young- fought with injury and outcome of her last fight is just not indicative of the animal she is ).
 
fortheo said:
That was six months ago. His nose has been healed since September. The real cause of kattar's lack of activity in that fight was his hand that he hurt in round one. That said, in that five round fight, kattar landed more than max did in Max's last five round fight, so I'm not sure why people act like kattar threw one punch per round.
Click to expand...

I never said he threw one punch per round i said his output decreased. Big difference right.

After the last fight - "I'll take, it man," Kattar said of potentially reinjuring his nose. "I think it's tough to not get damage in my fights with my style."

I didnt see anything about his hurt hand. If you can find it post it for me.
 
MikeK1989 said:
I never said he threw one punch per round i said his output decreased. Big difference right.

After the last fight - "I'll take, it man," Kattar said of potentially reinjuring his nose. "I think it's tough to not get damage in my fights with my style."

I didnt see anything about his hurt hand. If you can find it post it for me.
Click to expand...

Yes, but even with decreased output he landed more than max did in Max's last five rounder, so it's odd that we're critiquing kattar's output.

As for his hand: go to 2:18



He says: "my corner wanted more volume, but I kind of jacked up my hands a little bit in some of the rounds so.......I would have liked to have put a little bit more volume out there but..."
 
fortheo said:
Yes, but even with decreased output he landed more than max did in Max's last five rounder, so it's odd that we're critiquing kattar's output.

As for his hand: go to 2:18



He says: "my corner wanted more volume, but I kind of jacked up my hands a little bit in some of the rounds so.......I would have liked to have put a little bit more volume out there but..."
Click to expand...


I dont like comparing who had more output because one guy fought Dan Ige ranked what? 13th? Compared to Max fighting the Champ.

Thanks for the video you're right I remmeber him saying that about his hands. Someone else posted about how Max hasn't beaten anyone who throws more than 5 SS / Minute and Kattar does.

I'm still concerned about Kattar's nose but I'm super pumped for this brawl!
 
Really hard to pick. I am gonna go with Max, I think he will outpoint Kattar in a 5 round fight. This could be a bit like the Volk fight, I expect Max to start strong, but I doubt Kattar is able to comeback like Volk did. 49-48 UD Max.
 
Max is on the decline while Celvin is on the come up. Celvin wins via decision.
 
fortheo said:
That was six months ago. His nose has been healed since September. The real cause of kattar's lack of activity in that fight was his hand that he hurt in round one. That said, in that five round fight, kattar landed more than max did in Max's last five round fight, so I'm not sure why people act like kattar threw one punch per round.
Click to expand...
He broke it again with Stephens
It's definitely soft
 
Worried about my boy Max here. I’m pretty high on Kattars striking at the moment.
 
Max is a more complete mma fighter. I think if he fights smart and keeps mixing it up like he did in Volk 2, he beats Kattar. If he plays Kattars game and boxes, he would likely lose. Max by decision.
 
I’m taking Kattar here. I will never downplay Holloway’s accomplishments and I think that his last fight against Volk showed he’s still essentially prime, but I favor Kattar because of the styles.

Neither one will likely show the other much in terms of clinch or ground work I think, so I’m anticipating a kickboxing match.

Max is usually the longer, taller guy and attacks with volume but Kattar will have reach on him, is probably equally slick, and I think is more powerful.

i also think that history tells us that as great of an MMA kickboxer as Holloway is, he’s not fared well against Poirier and McGregor, and both those guys have good hands.
 
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