Calvin Kattar has an important fight Saturday night at UFC 249 in Jacksonville, Florida. He has been training for months to compete against Jeremy Stephens -- a key bout in the featherweight division.
Once that's done, though, Kattar will turn his focus to how he can watch the main event: Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje for the UFC interim lightweight title.
"It's gonna be a war," Kattar said. "Two real killers, man. Flip a coin on that one. They're both game fighters. I'm a fan of both. I can't wait to watch the fight. I think this one is bound to deliver."
Ferguson (25-3) has won 12 in a row -- a UFC lightweight record -- with nine finishes over that span, which stretches back to 2012. The 36-year-old California native has won the fight of the night bonus in five of his past six fights. Ferguson is ESPN's No. 6-ranked pound-for-pound fighter.
Gaethje (21-2) is stepping in for lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov, who said when UFC 249 was originally scheduled for April 18 that he was unable to compete due to coronavirus-related travel restrictions. Gaethje, 31, has won three straight with three finishes. He has won seven fight-night bonuses in six UFC fights, including two in his UFC debut in 2017.
Very few are doubting how action-packed this bout will be. But what about who will win? ESPN asked several fighters and coaches -- including those who have fought Ferguson, such as Kevin Lee, Josh Thomson, Lando Vannata and Yves Edwards -- who they see emerging victorious from the highly anticipated battle.
Kevin Lee, UFC lightweight; lost to Ferguson in 2017
"I actually think
