UFC Fight Night – Calvin Kattar vs Steve Garcia: Preview & Betting Tips

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Veteran technician Calvin Kattar takes on surging knockout artist Steve Garcia in a featherweight bout on the undercard for the upcoming UFC Fight Night event.

Once regarded as one of the UFC’s cleanest boxers, Kattar (23-9) now finds himself on the outside looking in after a rough stretch dating back to 2022. Losses to top-tier 145-pounds talents have eroded his featherweight ranking. 

Garcia (17-5) has evolved from a scrappy prospect to a featherweight wrecking ball with five consecutive knockout wins in the Octagon. Garcia’s boxing has taken centre stage during this run and he’ll be looking to take a veteran scalp in Kattar this Saturday night.

Tale of the Tape

Calvin Kattar – Odds 2.00 (Ladbrokes)

Record: 23-9

Age: 37

Height: 5ft11

Reach: 72”

Weight: Featherweight 

Stance: Orthodox

Steve Garcia – Odds 1.83 (Ladbrokes)

Record: 17-5

Age: 33

Height: 6ft

Reach: 75”

Weight: Featherweight 

Stance: Southpaw

Calvin Kattar vs Steve Garcia: Analysis

Kattar’s game is built on sharp technical striking, superb defensive positioning, and a granite chin. His 77% takedown defence has held up well over the years, and he most recently shut down all 8 of Youssef Zalal’s takedown attempts, proving he’s still difficult to ground. His punches may not carry one-shot knockout power, but his timing and accuracy have historically worn down opponents.

Garcia will come forward relentlessly, looking to break his opponent’s rhythm with flurries or use feints to force inaccurate counters. What makes Garcia particularly dangerous is that he possesses the ability to keep opponents guessing with level changes, and this opens up windows to land his brutal knockout power punches.

However, Garcia has yet to face someone with Kattar’s experience or technical prowess, making this a litmus test for his potential in the top 15. But for Kattar, a defeat here could potentially spell the end of his UFC career due to his age and poor form.

Kattar vs Garcia: Prediction & Betting Tips

Kattar is tough, but the wear and tear from a string of grueling fights may finally be catching up to him. Garcia’s power and heavy pressure style could overwhelm Kattar if the veteran can’t keep him at bay.

Kattar has always been known for his great jab and straight right, as well as elbows. But these weapons are usually effective due to the reach advantage that he has over his opponents. However, Garcia is the one with the reach advantage in this one, and I think that can pay dividends in this striking battle.

“Mean Machine” is the fresher man, and I’m willing to bet on the fresher, more powerful, and physically bigger man. I’m taking Steve Garcia moneyline at odds of 1.83 (Ladbrokes). Garcia has the power to shut anyone’s lights off, but Kattar has always had a good chin, though at 37, durability may start to become an issue. Garcia moneyline is the safer play.

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