UFC 220 main-card breakdown: Three non-title bouts provide close matchups

MMAjunkie Radio co-host and MMAjunkie contributor Dan Tom provides an in-depth breakdown of all of UFC 220’s main-card bouts. Today, we look at the rest of the main card.

UFC 220 takes place Saturday at TD Garden in Boston. The main card, which includes two title fights, airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass.

Also see:

• UFC 220 main-event breakdown: Can Stipe Miocic upset Francis Ngannou to set title record?
• UFC 220 co-main-event breakdown: Oddsmakers correct with Daniel Cormier vs. Volkan Oezdemir?

Calvin Kattar (17-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC)

Calvin Kattar.

Staple info:

• Height: 5’11” Age: 29 Weight: 145 lbs. Reach: 72?
• Last fight: Decision win over Andre Fili (Jul. 29, 2017)
• Camp: Carlos Netto BJJ (Boston, MA)
• Stance/striking style: Orthodox/muay Thai
• Risk management: Good

Supplemental info:
+ Regional MMA title
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu blue belt
+ 7 KO victories
+ 2 submission wins
+ 8 first-round finishes
+ Good feints and footwork
^ Switches stances, changes levels
+ Accurate shot selection
^ Works well off left hand
+ Solid wrestling ability
^ Defensively and offensively
+ Shows serviceable grappling
^ Positional awareness and fundamentals
+ Active ground striker

Shane Burgos (10-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC)

Shane Burgos.

Staple info:

• Height: 5’11” Age: 26 Weight: 145 lbs. Reach: 75?
• Last fight: Decision win over Godofredo Castro (July 22, 2017)
• Camp: Team Tiger Schulmann (New York)
• Stance/striking style: Orthodox/kickboxing
• Risk management: Fair

Supplemental info:
+ Team Tiger Schulmann black belt
+ Amateur MMA accolades
+ 4 KO victories
+ 4 submission wins
+ 5 first-round finishes
+ KO power
+ Consistent pace and pressure
+ Excellent awareness inside of the pocket
^ Moves head well
+ Accurate shot selection
^ Favors left hook
+ Solid wrestling ability
+ Shows well-rounded ground game
^ Good fundamentals and positional awareness

Summary:

In a fun featherweight matchup, Calvin Kattar will square off with Shane Burgos.

Coming off of an impressive win over Andre Fili last summer, Kattar will now get a showcase spot in his home state of Massachusetts. Looking to crash the party is Burgos, an undefeated talent who is seeking his fourth straight win under the UFC banner.

Starting off on the feet, we have a battle between two skilled strikers.

Quietly crafting his skills on the regional scene for the last 11 years, Kattar enters with some fundamentally sound striking. Whether he is coming forward or sticking and moving, Kattar keeps his feet underneath him, occasionally shifting when he finds his groove.

Usually working behind a high standing guard, Kattar maintains solid shoulder and head position, protecting his chin from the majority of harsh weather coming his way.

Kattar also does well at diversifying his shot selection. From slipping offline to changing his level, he offers options to both the body and head. In this case, however, he may be better served in going to the legs of his opponent, who tends to operate out of a more boxing-centric stance.

Regardless of the offensive approach Kattar ends up taking, he will need to be careful in not letting his guard down for the counters that will likely come.

Burgos, a Team Tiger Schulmann product, shows more skills than perhaps his resume suggests. As mentioned above, Burgos will conduct business from more of a boxing-style stance.

Working behind solid fakes and feints, Burgos will typically come forward with almost an unnerving low-handed guard. And though it may seem questionable to most, there is a method to Burgos’ madness.

Possessing an excellent awareness inside of the pocket, Burgos will pressure his way forward persistently with the goal of drawing out his opponent’s offense. When fighters take this bait, their attacks usually act as flint lighters that fuel the firestorm that is Bugros’ layered counter-striking game.

Leaning heavily on his head movement, Burgos does a deceptively good job at keeping his eyes open and rolling with punches. Showing off his sharp triggers, the 5-year pro slips and rips with impunity, punctuating his presence with cleanup hitting left hooks.

Although hooking with a fellow hooker can be dangerous, I don’t suspect to see Burgos throw many kicks given Kattar’s knack for catching and countering them. And if this fight plays out as tightly as it reads on paper, then grappling efforts could play a role in deciding a victor.

Both men show the base, balance, and fundamentals that tell me that their wrestling is better than their resumes or style stereotypes represent.

Offensively, I believe that Kattar may be more likely to engage in grappling, as the 29-year-old displays a propensity for late-round takedowns. And once he hits the floor, Kattar shows a solid positional game that he uses to get off strikes whenever possible.

That said, taking down Burgos likely won’t be easy considering that defense seems to be his strong suit wrestling-wise. Whether he is sprawling in the open or defending from the fence, Burgos demonstrates an impressive awareness in small spaces, smartly using levers and frames to escape bad spots or reverse fortunes.

The oddsmakers and public both seem to agree that we have a competitive fight on our hands, listing Burgos -190 and Kattar +165.

Anyone who has followed these fighters’ careers knows this will likely come down to a tooth-and -ail effort from each party. Though I could see Kattar exercising a slightly deeper skill set to edge out close rounds, I ultimately believe that Burgos’ pressure and more layered ability to counter will make the difference, leaving the lasting impressions on a tight 29-28 scorecard.

Official pick: Burgos by decision