Welcome to The Weekly Takedown, Sports Illustrated’s in-depth look at MMA. Every week, this column offers insight and information on the most noteworthy stories in the fight world.
Calvin Kattar has sat and watched as the featherweight has taken shape since undisputed champ Alexander Volkanovski temporarily left his post to challenge Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title. Nearly every detail unfolded just as Kattar anticipated, with one monumental difference: he is entirely removed from it.
Recovering from a torn ACL suffered last October in a headline Fight Night bout against Arnold Allen, Kattar also lost in excruciating fashion in his prior fight against Josh Emmett. That took place last June, and judges surprisingly awarded the fight to Emmett, robbing Kattar of a shot at the interim title against Yair Rodriguez.