UFC Fight Night 213: Arnold Allen vs Calvin Kattar Picks, Predictions, Odds

Calvin Kattar and Arnold Allen fight Saturday in UFC Fight Night 213 at the UFC Apex. Kattar enters this fight with a 23-6 record and has won 48 percent of his fights by knockout. Allen enters this fight with a 18-1 record and has won 44 percent of his fights by decision.

Kattar has won 8 of his last 12 fights and is coming off a June loss to Josh Emmett. Kattar is averaging 5.19 significant strikes per minute, with an accuracy percentage of 39 percent. Kattar is averaging 0.44 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 29 percent. Kattar is coming off a decision loss at UFC on ESPN 37 where he landed 131 total strikes ate 107 total strikes. It was a controversial split decision that earned fight of the night honors. Kattar has earned fight of the night honors in 3 straight bouts. Kattar has now seen 13 of his last 17 fights go the distance. Kattar has a high school wrestling background and is a blue belt in BJJ, and he’s seen 15 career decisions. Kattar is polished with his boxing, as he sets his punches up well and throws with a purpose, and he has the power to end things with one shot. Kattar stuffs takedowns well, throws haymakers, and has 11 career knockouts. Kattar has never been knocked out in his career and has been finished just once overall, which was his fourth career fight. This will be Kattar’s second career fight in Nevada.

Allen has won each of his last 11 fights and is coming off a March win over Dan Hooker. Allen is averaging 3.31 significant strikes per minute, with an accuracy percentage of 42 percent. Allen is averaging 1.41 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 50 percent. Allen is coming off a knockout win at UFC Fight Night 204 where he landed 50 total strikes. The bout earned performance of the night honors. Allen is now 9-0 under the UFC banner and hasn’t lost a fight since CWFC 69 over 8 years ago. Allen has seen 4 of his last 5 fights end in decisions. Allen is a balanced fighter with a background in kickboxing and wrestling, and he’s a purple belt in BJJ. Allen has some underrated pop in his strikes, and all 4 of his submission victories have come by different techniques. This will be Allen’s third career fight in Nevada. 

You can make a case for either of these fighters, as they’re both in good form and are pretty much in the primes of their careers. Allen has a tricky southpaw stance and has the edge on the canvas if the fight gets to that point. With that said, I still lean toward Kattar in this fight. He’s the much busier fighter on the feet, has the reach advantage, and just never gets out worked in the cage. Win, lose or draw, Kattar is going to be the aggressor and that’s encouraging when betting on a fighter. 

Toss up fight. Give me The Boston Finisher.