Disable the_category Link
<?php
foreach((get_the_category()) as $category) {
echo $category->cat_name . ' ';
}
?>
<!-- Blog Category -->
<div class="blog-category">
<ul class="clearfix">
<li>
<i class="fa fa-user"></i>
<!-- <a rel="author" href="<?php echo esc_url( get_author_posts_url( get_the_author_meta( 'ID' ) ) ); ?>"> -->
<?php echo get_the_author(); ?>
<!-- </a> -->
</li>
<li>
<i class="fa fa-folder-open"></i> <?php
foreach((get_the_category()) as $category) {
echo $category->cat_name . ' ';
}
?>
</li>
</ul>
</div>