Calvin Kattar is an American mixed martial artist in the UFC's featherweight division. Born on March 26, 1988, in Methuen, Massachusetts, he was raised in a Lebanese-American family on a local golf course owned by his parents. Kattar began wrestling in ninth grade at Methuen High School, becoming a top-ranked competitor who placed fifth in the Massachusetts Division I state championships as a senior. After earning an associate degree from Middlesex Community College, he chose to pursue MMA rather than collegiate wrestling. At 19, he trained briefly with Nick and Nate Diaz, an experience he credits with shaping his fighting mentality and discipline.
Mixed Martial Arts Career
Kattar made his professional MMA debut in 2007, competing in regional promotions such as Combat Zone and EliteXC. He compiled a 16–2 record before earning a UFC contract.
He debuted in the UFC in July 2017 at UFC 214, stepping in on short notice to face Andre Fili, and secured a unanimous decision victory.
During his UFC tenure, Kattar has become known for both striking precision and tenacity:
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He earned a TKO win and Fight of the Night bonus over Shane Burgos in early 2018.
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He recorded first-round knockouts against Chris Fishgold and Ricardo Lamas.
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He defeated Jeremy Stephens via technical knockout in May 2020.
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He rebounded with a five-round unanimous decision win over Dan Ige in July 2020.
Kattar has headlined multiple UFC events and earned additional post-fight bonuses, reflecting his blend of durability, refined boxing, and elite-level competition.