UFC on ABC: Holloway vs. Kattar explained

UFC on ABC: Holloway vs. Kattar
Promotion:Ultimate Fighting Championship
Venue:Etihad Arena
City:Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Attendance:2,000[1]

UFC on ABC: Holloway vs. Kattar (also known as UFC on ABC 1 and UFC Fight Island 7) was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on January 16, 2021, at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.[2]

Background

The main card marked the first time a mixed martial arts event was broadcast on ABC. It also meant the UFC's first return to network television since was broadcast on Fox in December 2018.[3]

After hosting nine events behind closed doors at the du Forum amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the UFC made its debut at the newly built Etihad Arena. A limited number of fans were allowed inside the venue, marking the first time since UFC 248 in March 2020 that non-essential event personnel were in attendance.[4] The venue has maximum capacity of over 18,000, but the UFC is expecting to have closer to 2,000 fans for each of the Fight Island's events during the week.[5]

A featherweight bout between former UFC Featherweight Champion Max Holloway and Calvin Kattar served as the event headliner.[6]

A bantamweight bout between Ricky Simon and Brian Kelleher was initially scheduled to take place at, but Simon's cornerman tested positive for COVID-19 and he was forced to withdraw from the event.[7] The pairing was then rescheduled for this event.[8] In turn, Kelleher also tested positive on January 1 and was pulled from the bout.[9] He was replaced by newcomer Gaetano Pirrello and the bout took place four days later at .[10]

A women's bantamweight bout between former UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship challenger Bethe Correia and Wu Yanan was expected to take place at .[11] However, due to visa issues, they were rescheduled for this event.[12] In turn, Correia had to pull out on January 5 due to appendicitis, which required an appendectomy.[13] She was replaced by promotional newcomer Joselyne Edwards.[14]

Muslim Salikhov was scheduled to face Santiago Ponzinibbio in a welterweight bout at the event.[15] However, Salikhov pulled out of the bout in mid-December citing health issues after contracting COVID-19.[16] He was replaced by Li Jingliang.[17]

A flyweight bout between former UFC Flyweight Championship challenger Tim Elliott (also flyweight winner) and Jordan Espinosa was expected to take place at this event.[18] However, Espinosa tested positive for COVID-19 in late December and the pairing was moved to UFC 259.[19]

A women's bantamweight bout between bantamweight winner Julianna Peña and former title challenger Sara McMann (also 2004 Olympic silver medalist in wrestling) was originally scheduled for this event before being pushed back a week later to UFC 257.[20] [21]

middleweight winner Warlley Alves and Christian Aguilera were expected to meet in a welterweight bout.[22] However, Aguilera pulled out in late December due to an injury.[23] He was replaced by Mounir Lazzez and the pairing took place at UFC on ESPN: Chiesa vs. Magny.[24]

A middleweight bout between five-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu World Champion Rodolfo Vieira and Anthony Hernandez was expected to take place at this event.[25] However, Hernandez pulled out due to a positive COVID-19 test and they were rescheduled for UFC 258.[26]

A welterweight bout between former WEC Welterweight Champion and former interim UFC Welterweight Champion Carlos Condit and Matt Brown was originally booked for a planned January 30 event.[27] After the UFC opted against holding a card on that date, they were then briefly rescheduled for UFC on ESPN: Chiesa vs. Magny.[28] At last, they were booked for this event.[29] The pairing has been previously cancelled as they were initially scheduled to meet at in December 2013, but Brown pulled out due to an undisclosed injury.[30] They were booked once again in April 2018 for, but Brown had to pull out a second time as he injured his anterior cruciate ligament.[31]

Sarah Moras was initially scheduled to face Vanessa Melo in a bantamweight bout at in November 2020, but it was eventually postponed to take place at this event due to Moras contracting COVID-19.[32] [33]

A featherweight bout between Nik Lentz and Mike Grundy was scheduled for this event.[34] However, a member of Grundy's team tested positive for COVID-19, hence Lentz was given a new opponent off Movsar Evloev who he will face at UFC 257 in a catchweight bout of 150 pounds.[35] [36]

During fight week, the UFC opted to move a middleweight bout between Omari Akhmedov and Tom Breese to UFC on ESPN: Chiesa vs. Magny due to "COVID-19 related issues".[37]

A few hours before the event, a middleweight bout between Phil Hawes and Nassourdine Imavov was scrapped due to undisclosed reasons.[38]

After defending his UFC Lightweight Championship at UFC 254 in October, Khabib Nurmagomedov immediately announced his retirement, citing his father's death from complications related to COVID-19 in last July as the main reason behind it.[39] Despite his announcement, the title was never officially vacated as UFC President Dana White said several times that he believed Nurmagomedov would still fight again.[40] [41] [42] A meeting between both of them to discuss the champion's future was then expected to happen this week during the organization's stint at Fight Island, eventually taking place on January 15.[43] [44] The following day, White made an appearance live on ABC during the main card of this event and revealed the outcome of the meeting: the Russian left the door open to a potential return, depending on how the main and co-main event lightweights perform at UFC 257, while also praising Charles Oliveira's performance at UFC 256.[45] [46]

Results

[47]

Bonus awards

The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.[48]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: UFC on ABC 1 post-event facts: Max Holloway's masterclass shatters all striking records. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Mike Bohn. 2021-01-17. 2021-01-17.
  2. Web site: Dana White announces UFC 257, first three events of 2021 to take place on Fight Island. mmafighting.com. Alexander K. Lee. 2020-12-22. 2020-12-22.
  3. Web site: UFC Fight Night: Max Holloway vs. Calvin Kattar main card to air on ABC network television. espn.com. Marc Raimondi. 2021-01-04. 2021-01-04.
  4. Web site: Fans are back: UFC will have 'limited' attendance at three-card 'Fight Island' stint at Etihad Arena. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Staff. 2021-01-07. 2021-01-07.
  5. Web site: Etihad Arena lists official COVID-19 safety measures for fans at January UFC Fight Island shows. mmafighting.com. Newswire. 2021-01-10. 2021-01-11.
  6. Web site: Max Holloway vs. Calvin Kattar headlines UFC Fight Night on Jan. 16. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Mike Bohn. 2020-11-17. 2020-11-17.
  7. Web site: Ricky Simon says he's out of Brian Kelleher fight after cornerman's positive COVID-19 test. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Staff. 2020-08-29. 2020-10-13.
  8. Web site: UFC rebooks Brian Kelleher vs. Ricky Simon for Jan. 16 event. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Farah Hannoun. 2020-10-12. 2020-10-13.
  9. Web site: Positive COVID-19 test scratches Brian Kelleher from UFC Fight Island 7 bout with Ricky Simon. mmafighting.com. Mike Heck and Guilherme Cruz. 2021-01-01. 2021-01-02.
  10. Web site: Ricky Simon now faces newcomer Gaetano Pirello at UFC Fight Island 8. mmafighting.com. Guilherme Cruz, Mike Heck and Steven Marrocco. 2021-01-07. 2021-01-07.
  11. Web site: Wu Yanan set to face Bethe Correia at UFC Fight Night 186. asianmma.com. Staff. 2020-09-08. 2020-11-29.
  12. Web site: UFC: Bethe Correia's retirement bout is postponed to January 16. espn.com.br. Staff. 2020-11-23. 2020-11-29.
  13. Web site: Bethe Correia to undergo surgery, withdraws from UFC Fight Island 7. mmafighting.com. Guilherme Cruz. 2021-01-05. 2021-01-06.
  14. Web site: Joselyne Edwards to face Wu Yanan at UFC Fight Island 7 with Bethe Correia out. mmafighting.com. Alexander K. Lee. 2021-01-07. 2021-01-07.
  15. Web site: Santiago Ponzinibbio set for UFC return in 2021 against Muslim Salikhov. sportskeeda.com. Santino Honasan. 2020-11-04. 2020-12-15.
  16. Web site: Muslim Salikhov says he's out of Jan. 16 fight with Santiago Ponzinibbio due to COVID-related health issues. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Farah Hannoun. 2020-12-15. 2020-12-15.
  17. Web site: Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Li Jingliang targeted for Jan. 16 UFC card in Abu Dhabi. mmafighting.com. Guilherme Cruz and Damon Martin. 2020-12-21. 2020-12-21.
  18. Web site: UFC books Tim Elliott vs. Jordan Espinosa for Jan. 16 event. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Farah Hannoun. 2020-10-15. 2020-10-15.
  19. Web site: Jordan Espinosa tests positive for COVID-19; Tim Elliott fight rescheduled for UFC 259. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Staff and Nolan King. 2020-12-22. 2020-12-22.
  20. Web site: Sara McMann vs. Julianna Pena added to UFC Fight Night on Jan. 16. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Farah Hannoun. 2020-11-19. 2020-12-26.
  21. Web site: UFC 257 gets Julianna Pena vs. Sara McMann after fight pushed back one week. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Nolan King and Mike Bohn. 2020-12-26. 2020-12-26.
  22. Web site: Warlley Alves vs. Christian Aguilera booked for Jan. 16 UFC show. mmafighting.com. Guilherme Cruz and Mike Heck. 2020-12-01. 2020-12-01.
  23. Web site: Exclusive: Christian Aguilera out of January 16th fight due to injury. mymmanews.com. Blaine Henry. 2020-12-29. 2020-12-30.
  24. Web site: With Christian Aguilera out, Warlley Alves vs. Mounir Lazzez targeted for UFC Fight Night on Jan. 20. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Farah Hannoun and Nolan King. 2021-01-04. 2021-01-04.
  25. Web site: BJJ specialist Rodolfo Vieira meets Anthony Hernandez at UFC event on January 16. mmadna.nl. Staff. 2020-11-20. 2020-11-21.
  26. Web site: Positive COVID-19 test for Anthony Hernandez pushes Rodolfo Vieira match to Feb. 13. sherdog.com. Jay Pettry. 2021-01-01. 2021-01-02.
  27. Web site: Third time's the charm? Carlos Condit vs. Matt Brown booked for UFC Fight Night on Jan. 30. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Staff. 2020-11-12. 2020-11-12.
  28. Web site: Carlos Condit vs. Matt Brown scheduled for the third time, this time on January 20, 2021. mmadna.nl. Redactie. 2020-12-22. 2020-12-22.
  29. Web site: UFC returns to UFC Fight Island. ufc.com. Staff. 2021-01-07. 2021-01-07.
  30. Web site: Matt Brown injured, fight vs. Carlos Condit scrapped from UFC on FOX 9. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Staff. 2013-12-07. 2020-11-12.
  31. Web site: Injury forces Matt Brown out of UFC on FOX 29 bout with Carlos Condit. mmafighting.com. Dave Doyle. 2018-04-02. 2020-11-12.
  32. Web site: Sarah Moras vs. Vanessa Melo set for Nov. 7 UFC event. mmafighting.com. Guilherme Cruz and Mike Heck. 2020-08-13. 2021-01-15.
  33. Web site: UFC Fight Island 7's Sarah Moras: homesick and ready to hurt someone. cagesidepress.com. Daniel Vreeland. 2021-01-14. 2021-01-15.
  34. Web site: Nik Lentz vs. Mike Grundy added to UFC event on January 16, 2021. mmadna.nl. Staff. 2020-11-22. 2020-11-23.
  35. Web site: With Mike Grundy out Saturday, Nik Lentz moves to UFC 257 vs. Movsar Evloev. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Staff. 2021-01-10. 2021-01-10.
  36. Web site: Updates to UFC Fight Island events. ufc.com. Staff. 2021-01-12. 2021-01-12.
  37. Web site: UFC on ESPN 20 gets Omari Akhmedov vs. Tom Breese after four-day COVID-19 delay. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Nolan King. 2021-01-12. 2021-01-13.
  38. Web site: UFC on ABC 1: Phil Hawes vs. Nassourdine Imavov bout scratched from preliminary card. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Staff. 2021-01-16. 2021-01-16.
  39. Web site: Khabib Nurmagomedov dominates Justin Gaethje, retires after UFC 254 submission win. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Dave Doyle. 2020-10-24. 2021-01-16.
  40. Web site: Dana White has 'a feeling' Khabib Nurmagomedov won't stay retired after talking to him. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Simon Samano. 2020-10-29. 2021-01-16.
  41. Web site: Dana White leaves door open for Khabib Nurmagomedov to return: 'He's still the champ'. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Simon Head and Ken Hathaway. 2020-11-01. 2021-01-16.
  42. Web site: Dana White insists Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier won't be for title: 'Khabib's going to fight'. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Farah Hannoun and John Morgan. 2020-11-18. 2021-01-16.
  43. Web site: Dana White anticipates Khabib Nurmagomedov meeting will be five minutes: 'It's yes or no'. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Nolan King and John Morgan. 2021-01-13. 2021-01-16.
  44. Web site: Video: Dana White and Khabib Nurmagomedov finally meet face to face in Abu Dhabi. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Nolan King. 2021-01-15. 2021-01-16.
  45. Web site: What's happening with Khabib Nurmagomedov? Dana White will reveal all at UFC on ABC 1. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Simon Head, The Blue Corner. 2021-01-16. 2021-01-16.
  46. Web site: Dana White announces that Khabib Nurmagomedov could return if UFC 257 lightweights, Charles Oliveira ‘can do something special’. mmafighting.com. Alexander K. Lee. 2021-01-16. 2021-01-16.
  47. Web site: UFC on ABC: Holloway vs. Kattar. Ultimate Fighting Championship. 2020-11-19.
  48. Web site: UFC on ABC 1 bonuses: Of course Max Holloway earned an extra $50K. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Dave Doyle. 2021-01-16. 2021-01-17.

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