UFC Vegas 46 will begin the UFC’s 2022 schedule and end a month-long holiday hiatus for the MMA world leader. The event takes place on Jan. 15 from inside the organization’s home base, the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nev.
The UFC’s return will be headlined by a clash of top-10 featherweights and talented strikers. Fifth-ranked Calvin Kattar will be competing for the first time following his UFC on ABC 1 loss to Max Holloway a year ago. Welcoming the New England cartel lieutenant back to the Octagon for his third straight main event matchup will be red hot Georgian Giga Chikadze. The eighth-ranked 145-pounder is in the midst of a nine-fight win streak and has scored fight-ending finishes in the last three.
The night’s co-main event will also showcase a battle of top-five women’s flyweights when former title challengers Katlyn Chookagian and Jennifer Maia face each other in a rematch as they look to work their way back towards a second crack at division queen Valentina Shevchenko in the new year.
How to watch UFC Vegas 46 on Jan. 15
- UFC Vegas 46 goes down on Jan. 15 inside the UFC APEX in Las Vegas
- The ESPN+ exclusive event kicks off at 3 pm ET with preliminary action and is then followed by the main card at 5 pm ET
- You can purchase “VIP Experience” tickets to UFC APEX events directly from the promotion here
UFC Vegas 46 fight card
Main Card
Calvin Kattar (+175) vs. Giga Chikadze (-210)
Katlyn Chookagian (-160) vs. Jennifer Maia (+140)
Joaquin Buckley (-145) vs. Abdul Razak Alhassan (+125)
Michel Pereira (-125) vs. Muslim Salikhov (+105)
Kleydson Rodrigues (-250) vs. Zarrukh Adashev (+200)
Brandon Royval (-170) vs. Rogério Bontorin (+150)
Preliminary Card
Joanderson Brito (-120) vs. Bill Algeo (+100)
Brian Kelleher (+135) vs. Saidyokub Kakhramonov (-155)
Ramiz Brahimaj (-110) vs. Court McGee (-110)
Chase Sherman (+105) vs. Jake Collier (-125)
Dakota Bush (+175) vs. Viacheslav Borshchev (-200)
Vanessa Demopoulos (+100) vs. Silvana Gomez Juárez (-120)
Caio Borralho (-255) vs. Jamie Pickett (+205)
TJ Brown (+175) vs. Gabriel Benítez (-210)
betting odds via draft kings
UFC Vegas 46 appointment television fights
Calvin Kattar (22-5) vs Giga Chikadze (14-2)
UFC Vegas 46 is a big night for both Kattar and Chikadze. Each needs a win, and “Ninja” could be a legitimate title contender in 2022 with another victory. However, following a historic beating where he was hit with 445 significant strikes by Max Holloway, Kattar needs to prove that the Hawaiian did not forever change the trajectory of his career on that night. Plus, it is a booking between two of the best strikers in the division and is sure to deliver fireworks.
Prediction: Kattar by unanimous decision
Katlyn Chookagian (16-4) vs Jennifer Maia (19-7-1)
Maia will be looking for revenge on Jan. 15. Her 2019 loss to “Blonde Fighter” pushed her title fight aspirations back a year, and another defeat would do the same in 2022. Following her 2020 loss to the current women’s flyweight champion, Chookagian has won three of her last four. And another win over Maia could possibly land her a second title opportunity in a division desperate to find the next challenger to Shevchenko.
Prediction: Chookagian by split-decision
Joaquin Buckley (13-4) vs Abdul Razak Alhassan (11-4)
Joaquin Buckley versus Abdul Razak Alhassan has all the potential to be the fight of the night at UFC Vegas 46, score the knockout of the night, or do both all in one. It is a battle of fighters with a combined 21 knockouts in 24 victories. Someone is getting lamped in this fight, and you should be watching to find out who.
Prediction: Alhassan by TKO, round 3
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