UFC on ABC: Holloway vs. Kattar
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Mixed martial arts promotion |
| Founded | November 12, 1993 |
| Founder | Art Davie, Rorion Gracie |
| Headquarters | Las Vegas , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Dana White (President) |
| Products | Mixed martial arts events and promotions |
| Owner | Endeavor Group Holdings |
| Website | www |
UFC on ABC: Holloway vs. Kattar—also referred to as UFC on ABC 1 and UFC Fight Island 7, was a mixed martial arts event organized by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on January 16, 2021, at the Etihad Arena located on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Background
This occasion represented the UFC's inaugural broadcast on ABC, marking its first network television appearance since December 2018. Following nine consecutive events held without spectators at the Yas Island du Forum due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the promotion transitioned to the newly constructed Etihad Arena, permitting a limited crowd of roughly 2,000 attendees. This move signified an important advancement toward reinstating live event revenue streams.
The main event showcased a featherweight clash between former UFC Featherweight Champion Max Holloway and Calvin Kattar, underscoring the UFC’s intent to present elite fighters to a broader network television audience.
Numerous fights underwent rescheduling attributed to COVID-19 complications and other circumstances, illustrating persistent operational hurdles amid the pandemic. For instance, a bantamweight match initially set between Ricky Simon and Brian Kelleher was postponed multiple times before newcomer Gaetano Pirrello stepped in as a replacement. Likewise, visa difficulties and health-related withdrawals affected women's bantamweight contests, including the exit of Bethe Correia who was substituted by Joselyne Edwards.
Additional significant alterations involved Muslim Salikhov withdrawing due to COVID-19 infection, with Li Jingliang filling in against Santiago Ponzinibbio. The bout between Tim Elliott and Jordan Espinosa was deferred following Espinosa’s positive COVID-19 diagnosis, subsequently rescheduled for UFC 259. Other welterweight and middleweight fights featuring athletes such as Carlos Condit, Matt Brown, Warlley Alves, and Rodolfo Vieira were also rearranged owing to injuries or health concerns.
To preserve card quality amid disruptions, several matchups were pushed to later UFC events. For example, Omari Akhmedov versus Tom Breese was relocated to UFC on ESPN: Chiesa vs. Magny because of COVID-19-related issues.
A middleweight encounter between Phil Hawes and Nassourdine Imavov was canceled mere hours before the event for undisclosed reasons, highlighting ongoing logistical challenges.
During this timeframe, a significant business announcement occurred when UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov declared his retirement following the passing of his father due to COVID-19 complications. Although the lightweight title was not formally vacated, UFC President Dana White suggested Nurmagomedov could return depending on forthcoming performances within the division. A high-profile meeting between White and Nurmagomedov took place during Fight Island week, with White revealing that the champion left open the possibility of returning if certain fighters excel at UFC 257.
This event illustrated the UFC’s flexible approach amid pandemic-related obstacles, balancing limited live audience participation with expanded broadcast reach and fighter roster adjustments to maintain market relevance and revenue growth.
Bonus Awards
The following competitors were awarded $50,000 bonuses:
- Fight of the Night: Max Holloway vs. Calvin Kattar
- Performance of the Night: Li Jingliang and Alessio Di Chirico