This is the UFC 223 live blog for Renato Moicano vs. Calvin Kattar, a featherweight bout at Saturday night’s UFC event at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Moicano, who owns a recent split decision won over Jeremy Stephens, fights Kattar, a Massachusetts native who has won 10 straight bouts dating back to 2010, on the main card.
Check out the UFC 223 live blog below.
Round 1: Referee Todd Anderson overseeing this one. Both fighters tentative to start. Moicano taking the slight edge on the scorecards with a leg kick and a jab. Kattar lands a solid overhand right and he has Moicano on the defensive for a moment. Back to the leg kicks for Moicano. Right hand over the top again scores for Kattar. Right hand-body kick combo by Moicano. Jab from Kattar backs Moicano up momentarily. Close fight through the first three minutes. Counter left from Moicano connects. Moicano chopping away at Kattar’s left leg with kicks. Kattar eats a right hand and another leg kick as he tries to chase Moicano.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Moicano.
Round 2: Kattar pushing forward, but Moicano is punishing that lead leg and scoring with counter punches. Stance switch by Kattar, so Moicano kicks his right leg instead. Kattar cannot get through Moicano’s defenses. Moicano landing kicks to the body as well. More leg kicks from Moicano and it looks like Kattar is lost out there. Kattar gets tagged as he steps in to throw a punch. More leg kicks from Moicano.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Moicano. Overall 20-18, Moicano.
Round 3: Kattar sticking with the same strategy, coming forward, and Moicano lands a short 1-2 combo capped off by a kick to the body. He’s still lighting up Kattar’s leg and then he successfully repeats the same combo, Uppercut lands for Moicano. He’s opening up a lot more, teeing off on Kattar with punches up top, to the body, pretty much wherever he wants. Blood running down the left side of Kattar’s face now. Big uppercut by Moicano and he briefly flurries before resetting in the middle of the cage. He clinches up and slices Kattar up with elbows.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Moicano. Overall 30-27, Moicano.
Official result: Renato Moicano def. Calvin Kattar via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)