On Saturday, Calvin Kattar and Steve Garcia will clash on the main card at UFC on Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom provides a concise breakdown of this featherweight matchup. Last event’s picks went 2-3, with a 2025 UFC main card record of 64-48-1.
Fighter Breakdown
Calvin Kattar (23-9 MMA, 7-7 UFC), aged 37, is desperate to break a four-fight losing streak, the worst skid of his career. His last win was against Giga Chikadze in January 2022, followed by losses to Josh Emmett, Arnold Allen, Aljamain Sterling, and Youssef Zalal—a formidable lineup. Kattar, a New England Cartel member, is known for his durability and boxing-heavy style but has shown signs of wear in recent performances.
Steve Garcia (17-5 MMA, 6-2 UFC), meanwhile, is riding a scorching five-fight winning streak, all by stoppage. His victims include Chase Hooper, Shaylian Nuerdanbieke, Melquizael Costa, Seung Woo Choi, and Kyle Nelson, earning him MMA Junkie’s Under the Radar Fighter of the Year. Garcia, a dangerous southpaw, matches Kattar’s prowess in close-quarters elbow exchanges.
Expert Pick and Prediction
Despite UFC’s inconsistent card structuring, this Kattar-Garcia bout is a highlight of the main card. Kattar’s recent losses come with caveats, but his decline in speed and sharpness is evident. Garcia, however, is on a historic knockout run, showcasing devastating finishing ability.
Both fighters boast seasoned regional backgrounds and thrive in high-intensity fights. However, Kattar’s extensive fight mileage and age could be liabilities against the younger, surging Garcia. Kattar’s boxing-centric stance has historically struggled against southpaws, particularly with kicks and crosses, as seen in his 0-1 UFC record against lefties (loss to Arnold Allen).
Garcia faces a significant step-up in competition, but his momentum and southpaw striking give him the edge. The pick is Garcia to secure a stoppage via strikes by Round 2, capitalizing on Kattar’s vulnerabilities in this potential career-defining fight.
Betting Odds
Oddsmakers lean toward Garcia at -150, with Kattar as the underdog at +118, per FanDuel, reflecting public confidence in the younger fighter’s knockout streak.