The UFC is returning to network television.
The UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Kattar main card will air Jan. 16 on ABC, ESPN announced Monday. Former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway and Calvin Kattar will headline the event in a pivotal 145-pound contender clash from Abu Dhabi.
The main card on ABC will begin at 3 p.m. ET from “Fight Island” and it will also stream on ESPN+. The ESPN+ prelims will start at 12 p.m. ET. UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Kattar marks the first time since Dec. 15, 2018 that the promotion will be on network TV. That event was on FOX.
“We are excited to collaborate with ABC to televise the first UFC event of 2021, and the first-ever live UFC event on the ABC network,” ESPN executive vice president of programming and original content Burke Magnus said in a statement. “Fight Island has captured the excitement and imagination of sports fans worldwide and what better way to start the year than by simulcasting the main card of UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Kattar on ESPN+ and ABC.”
ESPN has Holloway ranked No. 2 in the world at featherweight and Kattar coming in at No. 6.
Holloway (21-6) has lost twice in a row to Alexander Volkanovski in very close UFC featherweight title fights and is looking to rebound to get back into the title picture. The Hawaii native is one of the most decorated featherweight fighters in MMA history. Holloway, 29, owns the longest winning streak (14), the most wins (16) and the most finishes (8) ever in the UFC featherweight division.
Kattar (22-4) has won two in a row and four of his last five. The Massachusetts native is coming off a unanimous-decision win over Dan Ige last July. Kattar, 32, has four finishes in six UFC wins.