UFC On ESPN: Kattar Vs. Ige Predictions

Out of all the cards on Fight Island, this one has without a doubt seen the most changes since it's initial inception.

A bantamweight bout between Frankie Edgar and Pedro Munhoz has been moved to UFC 252 in August following a positive test result, and when a neo-Nazi was discovered on the undercard that bout was swiftly booted from the proceedings.

It's been wild, and though there are those that will see half the card without Wikipedia pages and write it off, fans are still getting a collection of exciting match-ups to view come Wednesday night with a dynamite main event and a slew of rising talent to shine a spotlight on.

The main event is a cracker between top featherweight contenders Ige and Kattar and an important bantamweight match-up throws down between Rivera and Stamann. The always exciting Tim Elliot and Molly McCann are sure to bring must-see TV to the screen while the return of knockout artist Abdul Razak Alhassan is sure to open the main card with a highlight-reel finish.

Here are the predictions for Wednesday night's brawls in Abu Dhabi, with many enticing match-ups and crucial bouts that will shape the divisions they are held in going forward.

Calvin Kattar scored two impressive first-round finishes of Chris Fishgold and Ricardo Lamas, before he blasted his way back into the win column by viscously TKOing Jeremy Stephens back in May. He previously lost a decision to Zabit Magomedsharipov in a thrilling main event slot last November.

Dan Ige has quietly amassed a six-fight win-streak in the division and was last seen winning a controversial split decision against elite striker Edson Barboza.

While Ige has a longer win-streak, his run hasn’t been the greatest, with his last two victories coming via debatable split decision. Kattar, on the other hand, has looked superb, and even in his loss to Zabit was turning the tide heavily in the third round as the Russian's gas tank ran out.

Ige has proven his resilience but is suspect to eating shots and half of Kattar’s record comprises knockout finishes compared to his two. One thing Ige does have is much better cardio so his best way to victory here is dragging Calvin into the later rounds to tire him out and hunt the finish with his underappreciated submission skills.

Calvin is much bigger and stronger than the Hawaiian though and sports excellent takedown defense, so this outcome isn't a factor till much later in the fight.

It should be a highly entertaining scrap for as long as it lasts, but more than likely the more powerful Kattar will manage to muscle his way through Ige’s defense early for another violent finish.

Prediction: Kattar Via TKO