Arnold Allen (18-1, 10 finishes) will step into the octagon for the UFC Fight Night featherweight main event on Saturday (7 p.m., ESPN+) at UFC Apex in Las Vegas when he takes on Calvin Kattar (23-6, 13 finishes). The Englishman, who trains out of Canada’s Tristar Gym, caught up with The Post’s Scott Fontana via Zoom for this week’s Post Fight Interview.

Q: You debuted in the UFC at 21, and you’re 28 now. Are you happy with the pace of your build-up to get to this, your first UFC main event?
A: If you asked me a few years ago, I would have said no. But I’m quite happy with how it’s going at the minute and the position I’m in. I feel it all happens for a reason, and it’s working out. So, yeah, I’m happy with it.

Q: Were you getting a little restless a few years ago?
A: Previous to the UFC, I think there was a year I had [four] fights. I like to fight. I like to be active. But since [signing with] the UFC, it’s kind of been one, maybe two, if I’m lucky. It is frustrating. But like I said, it all happens for a reason, I guess.

Q: This is only the second time in your UFC career in which you’ll compete twice in a year. How do you feel about this being a more active year than usual and earning two paychecks this year?
A: Yeah, definitely. And it’s the opportunity I want against the guy I want to fight. He’s No. 5 in the [UFC rankings] for a reason, and I want to put myself in that elite caliber.

Q: How long have you had your eye on Kattar in particular?
A: Once I got into rankings, I was around the rankings in the same sort of spot. The only reason I asked for this fight was just ’cause he was above me. He was the one above me, and it was the one that made the most sense.

Q: Have you interacted with each other over the years? Is everything OK between you two?
A: I never spoke to him personally. I don’t think I’ve ever had an interaction with him. Nothing positive or negative.

Q: Kattar is always in barnburner fights. What do you think of his style?
A: That was one of the reasons I liked the fight. I like his style. He’s fun to watch. He’s predominantly a stand-up fighter, more of a boxer and kind of similar to myself. He uses more elbows than I do. But that’s what I liked about it. Two stand-up guys, more boxers, and sort of a clash of styles. It should make for a good fight.

Q: You’ve got Calvin Kattar in front of you, and he’s coming off that loss to Josh Emmett in a fight a lot of people believe he won. Do you have any thoughts on who won that fight?
A: I thought it was a close fight. But yeah, I did feel like he won it; Calvin won it. I didn’t feel like it was a robbery. It was real close.

Q: You stopped Dan Hooker in half a round in March to set up this fight in what was your biggest career win and your first finish in four years. Do you feel like your striking power has improved now or is the knockout just a sign of what was already there?
A: It’s definitely improved. But it’s more the styles of the opponents I’ve been fighting. Everything gets stuck in a counter-wrestler sort of thing, trying to avoid getting taken down, can’t let my hands go as much. When you get someone you know is gonna stand with you and not really looking to wrestle you, it’s a bit nicer.

Q: What’s the greatest challenge Kattar presents to you in the cage?
A: Probably his experience. He’s a veteran. He’s got more five-rounders than me. He’s been in there more than me. He’s fought elite competition. But that’s a plus and a negative because it comes with all the damage of competing against those elite guys in those long fights.

Q: If you win this fight, that would be 10-0 in the UFC. There seems to be a pretty open field to get the next chance to fight for the featherweight title. Do you look at this fight as the winner ought to get the championship opportunity?
A: I mean, yeah, especially considering the razor-thin decision Emmett got over Calvin — controversial and then they’re putting [Emmett] in for an interim [title fight] possibly. Yeah, this should be it, really

Q: The world lost Elias Theodorou last month after he passed away of cancer. You two had trained together. Do you have any favorite memories you’d like to share?
A: I wouldn’t say we were best friends or anything but definitely a friend. He’s one of those guys, he was always, like, annoying because he was always happy (laughs). Whatever was going on, he was always smiling. You’d be stressed out, you’d see him, and he’d always be the same happy guy. He was never down. It was, like, annoyingly happy (laughs). I went out partying with him once. He’s a crazy guy. He was a crazy guy, a fun guy to be around. He was never in a bad mood, never negative. You’re in the middle of the camp,.and everyone’s sort of stressed out, feeling the burn sort of thing, and he’s still smiling, happy. Always a happy guy.

Q: Do you recall your first experience watching MMA?
A: My dad competed in MMA, and he used to have the old DVDs, the UFC ones, all the originals. Before he fought, we [were] watching those. He was a fan, and then we started watching those fights. I can’t remember who the first one was, but I do remember one of my first coaches gave me a DVD of [Jose] Aldo. It was Aldo in the old fights he had in Brazil, I can’t remember, the Vale Tudo fights and the short-shorts and all that. He was soccer kicking everyone (laughs). That was kind of my introduction to MMA. 

Q: And that would be your future weight class too: 145 pounds.
A: That was probably one of my favorite fighters. Watching him growing up, that was the guy.

Q: Typical walkaround weight between fights?
A: Eighty-four, 85 [kilograms or 185-187 pounds]. 

Q: Typical weight on fight night?
A: Not that heavy (laughs). I don’t know.

Q: Favorite post-weight cut meal?
A: It’s always pretty boring after the weight cut. Usually start off with some, like, baby snacks to build my stomach back (laughs). And then, like, chicken and potatoes. It’s boring until after the fight. And then it’s burgers and pizza. … I always have Mexican food too: burritos.

Q: Favorite fight of yours from your regional days?
A: Probably my professional debut. I fought a guy who was a highly-touted prospect in my first fight, and everyone thought I was gonna lose it. Everyone said I was gonna lose it (laughs). And yeah, I came out with a knockout win after a shaky first round, back and forward. That was probably one of my favorite pre-UFC memories.

Q: Who in MMA do you most admire?
A: Georges St-Pierre.

Q: I thought you might say your father.
A: (Laughs). He’s over there [in the room]. As a fighter: Georges St-Pierre. Sorry, Dad.

Q: What’s the coolest technique in combat sports?
A: A jumping knee; Aldo’s jumping knee.