UFC Kansas City Main Card Preview

Published by Paul Browne on April 23, 2025

Welterweight Contenders Clash In Kansas City

This weekend is a treat for MMA enthusiasts, with high-level events happening across the globe. Cage Warriors 188 takes place in Dublin, Ireland, while over in Poland, strongmen-turned-fighters Eddie Hall and Mariusz Pudzianowski will square off at KSW 105—a clash of titans sure to draw attention.

Meanwhile, back in the United States, Kansas City, Missouri, will host the premier MMA event of the weekend: UFC on ESPN 66, held at the T-Mobile Center. The card took a hit with the cancellation of the originally scheduled main event between light heavyweight contenders Khalil Rountree Jr. and Jamahal Hill. However, the new headliner could prove to be even more compelling.

Let’s break down the key matchups set for UFC Fight Night: Prates vs. Machado Garry.

Main Event: Ian Machado Garry vs. Carlos Prates (Welterweight, 170 lbs)

Although losing the Rountree vs. Hill matchup was a setback, fans won’t be disappointed with Ian Machado Garry (15-1, 8-1 UFC) stepping in to face Carlos Prates (21-6, 4-0 UFC). This matchup brings plenty of intrigue, especially as Garry looks to rebound from the first loss of his UFC career.

Prior to losing against Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 in December, “The Future” had won his first 8 fights inside the Octagon, one of only two welterweights in UFC history (the other being Kamaru Usman) to do so.

Garry earned respect for his gritty performance against Rakhmonov, and now he’s aiming to derail another surging contender in Prates. The Brazilian had a breakout year in 2024, racking up four knockout wins and collecting four Performance of the Night bonuses along the way.

Originally slated to face Geoff Neal at UFC 314, Prates now finds himself against a potentially tougher opponent in Garry. If Garry can hand Prates his first UFC loss, it could propel the Irish fighter into serious title contention.

As for Prates, he will be looking to continue his scintillating form since signing with the UFC late in 2023. “The Nightmare” finished all four of his opponents in 2024, picking up four Performance of the Night bonuses along the way, and 19 of his 21 wins as a professional have come inside the distance.

Having broken into the welterweight top 15 after his win over Neil Magny in November, a victory over Garry would surely launch the Brazilian into the title picture.

Co-Main Event: Anthony Smith vs. Mingyang Zhang (Light Heavyweight, 205 lbs)

Veteran light heavyweight Anthony Smith (37-21, 13-11 UFC) is set to make his final walk to the Octagon this Saturday in what will be his 25th UFC appearance. A former title challenger and longtime fan favorite, “Lionheart” will hang up his gloves following this bout.

Facing him is a rising talent in Mingyang Zhang (18-6, 2-0 UFC), who’s coming off a stellar 2024 campaign that saw him secure two first-round finishes and two Performance of the Night bonuses. Unbelievably, all 18 of Zhang’s wins since turning professional have come by way of first-round stoppage. “Mountain Tiger” will be eager to keep his momentum going this weekend and add a big-name win to his resume.

Giga Chikadze vs. David Onama (Featherweight, 145 lbs)

Giga Chikadze (15-4, 8-2 UFC) is looking to get back on track after a tough stretch that saw him drop fights to Calvin Kattar and Arnold Allen, with a victory over Alex Caceres sandwiched in between.

He’ll meet David Onama (13-2, 5-2 UFC), a fighter who’s won five of his last six and continues to evolve as a threat in the featherweight division. This stylistic clash should deliver fireworks.

Michel Pereira vs. Abus Magomedov (Middleweight, 185 lbs)

After transitioning to the middleweight division in 2023, Michel Pereira (31-12, 9-3 UFC) looked unstoppable with three straight first-round finishes. But his momentum was halted by Anthony Hernandez in a grueling fight last October.

Pereira now faces Abus Magomedov (27-6-1, 3-2 UFC), a well-rounded fighter based in Germany who’s coming off a submission win over Brunno Ferreira at UFC 308. Both men are looking to reestablish themselves in the middleweight pecking order.

Randy Brown vs. Nicolas Dalby (Welterweight, 170 lbs)

Randy Brown (19-6, 13-6 UFC) and Nicolas Dalby (23-5-1, 7-4-1 UFC) are both seasoned welterweights with fan-friendly styles. Brown narrowly lost a split decision to Bryan Battle at UFC 310, while Dalby also dropped a close one to Rinat Fakhretdinov last June.

Since returning to the UFC in 2019 for a second stint, 40-year-old Dalby has gone 6-2 with one no contest.

Expect a competitive battle between two fighters determined to bounce back.

Ikram Aliskerov vs. André Muniz (Middleweight, 185 lbs)

After stepping in on short notice and falling to former champ Robert Whittaker last June, Ikram Aliskerov (15-2, 2-1 UFC) is eager to return to winning form. Prior to that setback, he scored impressive first-round finishes over Phil Hawes and Warlley Alves.

He’ll take on submission specialist André Muniz (24-6, 6-2 UFC), in a middleweight bout that’s been postponed twice due to injuries and visa issues. If it finally happens this weekend, it’s a clash that could have implications in the middleweight rankings.

From Europe to the U.S., MMA fans have no shortage of action to tune into this weekend, with UFC Fight Night in Kansas City shaping up to be the standout show. Whether you’re into rising prospects, farewell fights, or potential title eliminators, this card offers a little bit of everything.