Calvin Kattar laments slow start at UFC 249, but hopes Stephens KO leads to bigger things

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Calvin Kattar beat Jeremy Stephens with a xxx Saturday on the main card at UFC 249 in Jacksonville, Fla.

Take a look inside the fight with Kattar, who got back in the win column and handed Stephens his fourth straight loss.

Result: Calvin Kattar def. Jeremy Stephens via knockout (strikes) – Round 2, 2:42
Updated records: Kattar (21-4 MMA, 5-2 UFC), Stephens (28-18 MMA, 15-17 UFC)
Key stat: Stephens won a close striking battle, 57-52, but Kattar landed the big ones that counted to put him out.

Kattar on the fight’s key moment

“Once I started finding my range, I capitalized on a big shot. I looked down, he was facing up, and I finished the job.”

Kattar on starting a little slow

“I feel like I let one go with Zabit (Magomedsharipov) in Russia. I just feel like I ran out of time, and I wasn’t going to let that happen here. My coach told me to let it go, and I felt like did that (Saturday). It was adding up out there. It takes me a couple of hits to get going out there. I wish that wasn’t the case, but it is.”

Kattar on what he wants next

“New England cartel is here to stay! Hopefully I climb up to that top five. I’d like a shot at an ‘Ultimate Fighter’ (winner) or someone big.”

To hear more from Kattar, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.