UFC Fight Island 1: Dan Ige says he likes the ‘underdog role’
By Ben Coate
Dan Ige says he likes the underdog role heading into UFC Fight Island 1 main event.
Just over two years ago, UFC featherweight Dan Ige found himself in a precarious position, career-wise. After an impressive performance on Dana White’s Contender Series, Ige had lost his UFC debut at UFC 220, and when he was booked to face Mike Santiago about five months later, Ige was looking at the possibility of starting his UFC career, one for which he naturally had high expectations, on two straight losses.
But at UFC 225, Ige finished Santiago in under a minute. Several months later, Ige beat Jordan Griffin. A few months after that, he choked out Danny Henry. Ige has continued to rack up wins in one of the UFC’s most competitive divisions to the tune of a six-fight win streak topped off with a hard-fought win over longtime lightweight contender Edson Barboza in May 2020.
In each of his last three fights, Ige has overcome underdog odds. On July 15, Ige again finds himself as an underdog, this time in the main event of UFC Fight Island 1 across from the no. 6-ranked featherweight Calvin Kattar.
For Ige, the underdog role is one he embraces, happily admitting that he’s fighting with a chip on his shoulder.
Dan Ige likes to prove people wrong
“I like the underdog role,” Ige told FanSided. “It gives me fire. I think I’d be more nervous if I was the guy that was expected to win… I like being the guy to go out there and shut people up and prove people wrong.”
Against Kattar, Ige will have another opportunity to prove the oddsmakers wrong; he is more than a 2-to-1 underdog against Kattar, who has experience and success against elite featherweights. Ige is careful to not dwell the odds and his detractors, but that doesn’t mean he’s deaf to those that doubt his abilities.
“It can really eat you up, and I’ve seen it happen to people, I’ve seen it happen to fighters,” Ige said about listening to negative talk. “I’m just gonna keep doing my thing. I just put my head down and keep working hard. Six wins in a row is not easy in this division and I’m looking to make it seven…
“People better start respecting me. I’ve never been given or handed anything in my life. I’m not the talker. I don’t go out there and trash talk… After this fight, I’m gonna demand some respect for sure, but it’s not gonna make or break me.”
Ige recognizes that while a win over Barboza represents a notable name on his record, a win over the highly-regarded Kattar would do wonders for his march toward the featherweight title.
“It’s not as big of a name as someone like Edson but, as far as caliber-wise, Calvin Kattar is top-notch. He’s one of the best guys in the world and that’s what I asked for.”
Short of sharing his specific gameplan for the talented boxer that is Kattar, Ige did give some insight as to how he could once again beat the odds. The key to victory for Ige, it seems, is relying on his diversity of skill.
“I have a great pressure game. I’m well-rounded,” Ige said. “I think I could go out there and I can strike with him. I think we’re even on the feet. People might say different, but I think we’re even on the feet and I have a lot more tools. I have wrestling, I have grappling, I have clinch and cage control… I know how to manage my distance well. This is gonna be a huge test for me but I think I’m gonna prove to a lot of people what I’m capable of. It’s not an easy fight but it’s not gonna be an easy fight for Kattar, either.”
Indeed, in his last two fights against Barboza and, prior to that, Mirsad Bektic, Ige overcame underdog odds against fighters that are viewed as specialists — Barboza in striking and Bektic in wrestling — by leaning on his ability to fight in all areas. He’ll likely need to repeat that approach against Kattar, who is one of the sport’s cleanest boxers.
“I really think the way I can mix things up, and it being a five-round fight gives me a lot more time to work. I’ve always thought of myself as a five-round fighter and I get stronger toward the end of the fight.
“I’ve fought guys like Kattar, even outside of the UFC. Even as an amateur I fought great boxers, great strikers. He’s a great striker, super high-caliber, but it’s nothing I haven’t seen.”
Speaking with Ige, it’s clear he understands the position he’s in. He understands he’s not expected to beat Kattar, just as he wasn’t expected to beat Barboza or Bektic. He understands that he’s still fighting for respect, and fighting with a chip on his shoulder. It makes perfect sense, then, that even in his own picture of the fight, Ige envisions himself overcoming adversity, but ultimately, he’s trusting in his skill and mindset to once again upset the odds.
“I just see myself persevering, being able to walk through his best shots,” Ige said about the fight with Kattar. “I don’t know if he’s able to take my best shots, but I’m gonna try, I’m gonna try to knock him out. I’m gonna go out there and paint a pretty picture. Who knows what’s gonna happen? That’s the beauty of this sport.”
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