The first UFC event of 2022 did not disappoint in the main event. Top featherweights went to war as Calvin Kattar (23-5) took on Giga Chikadze (14-3). Chikadze had been unbeaten inside the octagon and many thought he would run away with the main event at UFC Vegas 46.
However, Calvin Kattar set out to prove that he wasn’t going to be easily defeated. In the opening minutes, Chikadze looked very strong. He was much faster than Kattar and he was hitting him with brutal kicks. However, you could see Kattar’s game plan from the jump.
Kattar wanted to pressure Chikadze and constantly make him move backwards which would drain his energy. He also landed a takedown in the first round. Starting in the second round, Kattar really started to take over and brutalize Chikadze.
The pressure that Kattar fought with at UFC Vegas 46 was something to behold. He sliced up Chikadze with lead elbows and constantly was touching him with jabs and straight punches. That said, Chikadze didn’t give up and he kept firing back big power shots back at Kattar.
Despite his best shots, Chikadze couldn’t get Kattar out of there at UFC Vegas 46. In the end, it was a dominant shutout for the Boston Finisher.
What’s next after UFC Vegas 46?
Before this past weekend, everyone was talking about Giga Chikadze and a potential UFC title shot. Nobody was talking about Calvin Kattar and it looked like he took that personally. He bounced back in a big way after his brutal loss to Max Holloway last year.
Now, Kattar is not in a position to challenge for the title, but this puts him right back in the mix. Before he can get a title shot, he’s going to need another big win or two. With that, who should the UFC pair Kattar up with next?
In looking at the featherweight division, there’s one name that stands out to me. That name is Brian Ortega (15-2). To me, T-City would be the perfect next opponent for Kattar. Ortega has only been bested by Volkanovski and Holloway during his run in the UFC. If Kattar could get passed Ortega, it would prove that he’s ready for a title shot.