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Tag: UFC Kansas City

  • Anthony Smith Explains Angry Gesture At Fan After Dominant Loss In UFC Kansas City Retirement Fight

    Anthony Smith Explains Angry Gesture At Fan After Dominant Loss In UFC Kansas City Retirement Fight

    UFC light heavyweight veteran Anthony Smith has revealed the actions that resulted in him flipping off a fan moments after a crushing loss in his retirement fight.

    Smith made the walk to the Octagon for the final time at this weekend’s UFC Fight Night in Kansas City. While “Lionheart” had no doubt hoped to exit the sport on a high, Zhang Mingyang provided a hurdle too tall in that regard.

    The Chinese standout maintained his 100 percent first-round finishing rate with a dominant performance in Missouri. But his emphatic display and the conclusion of Smith’s career weren’t the only talking points.

    In the immediate aftermath of the TKO stoppage, a bloodied Smith could be seen angrily gesturing toward a fan in the crowd. During the UFC Kansas City Post Show, the 36-year-old explained what got him so riled up.

    “There was a guy in a Nebraska shirt and he was like booing me and flipping me off and kind of talking trash before the fight,” Anthony Smith said. “But I was really focused on what I had to do. Then after the fight, his friend is cheering and he’s still flipping me off and saying some pretty disrespectful things.

    “I was so mad. He was wearing a Nebraska shirt! We’re supposed to be family here. It’s not a very big community of people here,” Smith continued. “Mingyang is like, ‘Don’t do this brother, you’ve got to quit that.’ Listen, I was emotional. The fight didn’t go the way I wanted it to go. That is what it is. That’s just part of the game. … If you’re sitting in the crowd, you’re definitely not doing what I’m doing, especially wearing a Nebraska shirt. You can’t talk trash wearing a Nebraska shirt! Like, come on now!”

  • Carlos Prates Breaks Silence On First UFC Loss To Ian Garry in Kansas City

    Carlos Prates Breaks Silence On First UFC Loss To Ian Garry in Kansas City

    Carlos Prates is promising to bounce back stronger after tasting defeat for the first time in the UFC.

    Prates collided with Ian Garry in the UFC Kansas City headliner this past Saturday at T-Mobile Center in Missouri. Over five rounds, the Brazilian was largely on the back foot, as Garry’s exceptional footwork and high-volume striking kept him guessing and a step behind.

    “The Nightmare” had difficulty establishing his game plan throughout the fight, as he repeatedly faced takedown attempts from the Irishman. It wasn’t until the final round that Prates seemed to find a burst of energy, landing some powerful shots, including a vicious ground and pound.

    However, his late push wasn’t enough to turn the tide, as Prates couldn’t sway the judges, who scored the fight 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46, awarding “The Future” the unanimous decision victory.

    Gutted by the defeat, Prates turned to Instagram Stories to concisely share his disappointment about not being able to finish the fight the way he had envisioned.

    “Unfortunately I couldn’t end the fight and that wasn’t enough. Sorry family, I’ll come back stronger!,” Carlos Prates wrote.

    With his defeat at UFC Kansas City, “The Nightmare” saw his impressive four-fight win streak inside the Octagon come to a halt. Prates’ professional record now stands at 21-7, with 16 of those victories coming by knockout.

    Meanwhile, Garry has rebounded from the first loss of his professional career, which came at the hands of Shavkat Rakhmonov in a title eliminator at UFC 310 this past December. “The Future” has since improved his record to 16-1, including seven knockout wins.

  • ‘Send Fighting Nerds 2-3 Years Dagestan’ – Fans React As Ian Garry Hands Carlos Prates His First UFC Defeat In Kansas City

    ‘Send Fighting Nerds 2-3 Years Dagestan’ – Fans React As Ian Garry Hands Carlos Prates His First UFC Defeat In Kansas City

    After suffering his first career defeat in a short-notice outing, Ian Machado Garry, in another fairly short-planned fight, scored a unanimous decision win over Carlos Prates, potentially rebounding as he seeks a title opportunity.

    Garry started things off with plenty of low kicks, working his range well. While Prates got in a bit of leg kicking late in the round, he slipped in the closing seconds. Garry landed some hard ground-and-pound, though Prates seemed to take it well. Garry and Prates had several exchanges during the second round, but Garry seemed to get the better of Prates again — courtesy of more distance management and combinations, including one involving a kick that caught Prates’s attention.

    Prates seemed to lack urgency, which continued into the third round. Garry landed a combination ending with an uppercut that backed Prates up. Garry would score a takedown not long after, becoming the first fighter to earn one against the Brazilian.

    Garry continued to work his game — at one point having landed more than Prates had thrown in terms of strikes — but Prates began to push things by the end of the fourth. This continued into the fifth, with Prates landing a number of combinations and being the fighter coming forward. Garry tried to tie things up, mixing in striking all the while, but Prates ended up landing on top in a takedown attempt.

    There, Prates landed serious ground-and-pound that did damage. Prates continued to land powerful shots, but not at a pace that it was enough to finish the fight. Garry survived the round and earned a decision.

    Ian Garry Outworks Carlos Prates For Decision Win In UFC Kansas City Headliner

    Garry came into this bout off of his first professional loss at UFC 310, taking a short-notice bout and losing to Shavkat Rakhmonov. Prior to this, the former Cage Warriors welterweight champion had scored victories over the likes of Michael “Venom” Page, Geoff Neal, Neil Magny and Daniel Rodriguez.

    Prates’s previous four UFC fights have all been Performance of the Night bonus earning, scoring knockouts against Magny, Li Jingliang, Charles Radtke and Trevin Giles.

  • UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Ian Garry Decisions Carlos Prates

    UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Ian Garry Decisions Carlos Prates

    UFC Fight Night took place tonight from the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights! 

    In the main event, welterweights Ian Garry and Carlos Prates clashed. While in the co-main event, Anthony Smith and Zhang Mingyang faced off in a light heavyweight matchup. 

    UFC Fight Night Results: Main Card

    • Ian Garry def. Carlos Prates via unanimous decision (48-47×2, 49-46)
    • Zhang Mingyang def. Anthony Smith via TKO: R1, 4.03
    • David Onama def. Giga Chikadze via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
    • Abus Magomedov def. Michel Pereira via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
    • Randy Brown def. Nicolas Dalby via KO: R2, 1.39
    • Ikram Aliskerov def. Andre Muniz via TKO: R1, 4.54  

    Preliminary Card

    • Matt Schnell def. Jimmy Flick via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
    • Evan Elder def. Gauge Young via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
    • Chris Gutierrez def. John Castaneda via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29)
    • Da’Mon Blackshear def. Alatengheili via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 29-28)
    • Malcolm Wellmaker def. Cameron Saaiman via KO: R1, 1.59
    • Jacqueline Amorim def. Polyana Viana via submission: R2, 1.49
    • Timothy Cuamba def. Roberto Romero via TKO: R2, 3.55
    • Joselyne Edwards def. Chelsea Chandler via TKO: R1, 2.31

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Joselyne Edwards def. Chelsea Chandler

    Joselyne Edwards earned a first-round TKO of Chelsea Chandler.

    Timothy Cuamba def. Roberto Romero

    Timothy Cuamba got it done with a TKO in the second round.

    Jacqueline Amorim def. Polyana Viana

    Jacqueline Amorim locked in a rear-naked choke to submit Polyana Viana in the second round.

    Malcolm Wellmaker def. Cameron Saaiman

    Malcolm Wellmaker earned a first-round KO of Cameron Saaiman.

    Main Card Highlights

    Ikram Aliskerov def. Andre Muniz

    In this middleweight bout, Ikram Aliskerov stopped Andre Muniz in the first round.

    Randy Brown def. Nicolas Dalby

    In this welterweight bout, Randy Brown stopped Nicolas Dalby in the second round.

    Abus Magomedov def. Michel Pereira

    Abus Magomedov got it done on the scorecards against Michel Pereira.

    David Onama def. Giga Chikadze

    In this featherweight bout, David Onama earned a unanimous decision against Giga Chikadze.

    Zhang Mingyang def. Anthony Smith

    In the co-main event, Zhang Mingyang stopped Anthony Smith in their light heavyweight bout.

    Ian Garry def. Carlos Prates

    In the main event, Ian Garry survived a late onslaught from Carlos Prates to earn a unanimous decision win.

  • ‘Not How You Wanna Go Out’ – Fans React As Zhang Mingyang Retires Anthony Smith With Brutal Beating At UFC Kansas City

    ‘Not How You Wanna Go Out’ – Fans React As Zhang Mingyang Retires Anthony Smith With Brutal Beating At UFC Kansas City

    After a lengthy career in Mixed Martial Arts, “Lionheart” tells the sport thank you and goodbye.

    Anthony Smith retired from active MMA competition following his loss against Zhang Mingyang in the co-main event of UFC Kansas City. Mingyang’s streak of consecutive first-round finishes remains as a result.

    “Every single one of you made an impact on my life,” Smith said. “When I started this game, I was homeless. I had nothing going for me. And now this platform has allowed me to raise my family, my four beautiful daughters, and give them a life that I’ve never been able to have. From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much.”

    Zhang started things off with leg kicks before catching Smith trying to come in. Though Smith tried to pressure, Zhang was ready with his striking, mixing together punches and low kicks. Zhang soon changed things up to nasty elbows, cutting Smith open on his head. Smith was a bloody mess not long after and shot for a takedown to try and change things.

    It was unsuccessful, however, and a battered Smith continued to take a beating with elbows and ground-and-pound until the referee stepped in.

    Anthony Smith Falls To Zhang Mingyang In Retirement Fight At UFC Kansas City

    Smith began his professional MMA venture in 2008, going to compete for numerous promotions, including Strikeforce, Bellator, and Cage Fury FC before arriving to the UFC in 2016. After a 4-2 run at middleweight in the Octagon, Smith moved up to light heavyweight and made a name for himself with sub-90-second finishes of both Rashad Evans and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in 2018.

    Smith would follow that up with a submission of Volkan Oezdemir to earn a shot at Jon Jones and the light heavyweight championship at UFC 235. Jones was in control for most of the fight, but the moment of the fight came when Smith was hit with an illegal knee in the fourth round. Rather than take the disqualification loss and title like Aljamain Sterling would do three years later against Petr Yan, Smith elected to continue the fight. Though Jones was deducted two points for the foul, he still won a unanimous decision.

    Smith would go on to be a streaky fighter following the fight, ending his career 6-8 (7-7 with win) since the loss to Jones.

    Mingyang, meanwhile, entered tonight’s bout 2-0 in the UFC after a first-round knockout on Road to UFC in 2022. In 2024, Mingyang scored first-round finishes of Brendson Ribiero and Ozzy Diaz.

  • Watch Ikram Aliskerov Crush Andre Muniz With Left Hook In First-Round Finish At UFC Kansas City

    Watch Ikram Aliskerov Crush Andre Muniz With Left Hook In First-Round Finish At UFC Kansas City

    Ikram Aliskerov has gotten back in the win column in a notable way, putting out Andre Muniz with a strong finish to open the main card of UFC Kansas City.

    After some leg kick trading, Aliskerov took control with pressure, landing several left hands on Muniz. Muniz looked for a takedown but got stuffed, with Aliskerov continuing to have the upper hand with striking. Entering the final minute, Aliskerov had gotten the better of Muniz with leg kicks and the left hand.

    And that left hand helped nab him the win. A left hook wobbled Muniz and backed him into the cage, falling to the mat. Aliskerov jumped on him and ground-and-pounded away until the referee stepped in with just seconds to go in the round.

    Ikram Aliskerov Scores Finish With Seconds To Go In Round One At UFC Kansas City

    This marked Aliskerov’s first fight since his short-notice fight and loss to former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in Saudi Arabia last June.

    Muniz, who entered this fight off a split decision over Park Jun-yong in December 2023, has now lost three of his last four.

  • ‘Just Gaethje’d Him’ – Fans React To Randy Brown Flooring Nicolas Dalby In UFC Kansas City Slugfest

    ‘Just Gaethje’d Him’ – Fans React To Randy Brown Flooring Nicolas Dalby In UFC Kansas City Slugfest

    A fight with great intensity ended appropriately — with one of the most vicious knockouts we have seen in 2025 thus far.

    That KO came courtesy of Randy Brown, who became the first man to put away Nicolas Dalby as they threw down at UFC Kansas City.

    Brown looked to get the fight off at a fast pace, and it was a pace that stuck for most of the fight. As Brown looked to get the upper hand in striking, Dalby sought to return pressure. Brown notable shattered Dalby’s nose with a nasty combination during the first round. But just before the end of the round, Dalby shook things up and stole momentum by dropping Brown with a monster hook.

    Dalby looked to take the fight to Brown at the start of round two, but Brown was prepared with his striking, which kept Dalby at bay. Brown continued to lay shots in on Dalby until he landed a massive overhand right that floored Dalby. It was a walk-off knockout that could very well earn Knockout of the Year honors.

    Randy Brown Lays Out Nicolas Dalby With Potential KO Of The Year At UFC Kansas City

    https://twitter.com/thefightbubble/status/1916309936574701946

    Brown has now four of his last five and rebounds from a split decision loss he suffered against Bryan Battle at UFC 310.

    After a four-fight win streak, Dalby has now dropped two straight. He entered tonight off his own split decision defeat, falling to Rinat Fakhretdinov at UFC Saudi Arabia last June.

  • VIDEO: Dricus Du Plessis’ Teammate Brutally KO’d In Third Straight Loss At UFC Kansas City

    VIDEO: Dricus Du Plessis’ Teammate Brutally KO’d In Third Straight Loss At UFC Kansas City

    Coming in to his UFC debut off his appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series, Malcolm Wellmaker rose to the occasion at UFC Kansas City, while Cameron Saaiman’s losing skid has only worsened.

    Wellmaker scored a finish of Saaiman in under two minutes during the preliminary card for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night event..

    At just under the two-minute mark of the first round, Wellmaker landed a solid counter right that dropped the South African fighter. The referee immediately stepped in to stop the match.

    Malcolm Wellmaker Drops Cameron Saaiman Out Cold In UFC Debut At UFC Kansas City

    https://twitter.com/HaduuckenIII/status/1916269342330585301

    Wellmaker now moves to 9-0 in his young career. He scored a first-round knockout of Adam Bramhald to earn his UFC contract.

    Saaiman, a teammate of UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis and himself also a DWCS alum, has now lost three straight after starting his own career 9-0. In addition to this loss, he has also been defeated by Christian Rodriguez and Payton Talbott.

  • UFC Kansas City Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Ian Garry vs. Carlos Prates Card

    UFC Kansas City Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Ian Garry vs. Carlos Prates Card

    UFC Kansas City is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for this weekend’s lineup.

    The upcoming event takes place Saturday, April 26, at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri. The main card begins at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6 PM ET/3 PM PT.

    Topping the lineup will be a pair of top 15 welterweight contenders in Ireland’s Ian Garry and charging Fighting Nerds standout Carlos Prates.

    And also making the walk on Saturday will be the likes of Anthony Smith, Giga Chikadze, Michel Pereira, Randy Brown, and Ikram Aliskerov.

    UFC Kansas City: Garry vs. Prates Betting Odds

    Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC Kansas City (as of 4/21), courtesy of DraftKings.

    Main Card:

    • Ian Garry (-130) vs. Carlos Prates (+110)
    • Anthony Smith (+380) vs. Zhang Mingyang (-500)
    • Giga Chikadze (+145) vs. David Onama (-175)
    • Michel Pereira (-155) vs. Abus Magomedov (+130)
    • Randy Brown (-238) vs. Nicolas Dalby (+195)
    • Ikram Aliskerov (-650) vs. Andre Muniz (+470)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Matt Schnell (-278) vs. Jimmy Flick (+225)
    • Evan Elder (-258) vs. Gauge Young (+210)
    • Chris Gutierrez (-130) vs. John Castaneda (+110)
    • Da’Mon Blackshear (-395) vs. Alatengheili (+310)
    • Malcolm Wellmaker (-110) vs. Cameron Saaiman (-110)
    • Jacqueline Amorim (-550) vs. Polyana Viana (+410)
    • Timothy Cuamba (-105) vs. Roberto Romero (-115)
    • Chelsea Chandler (+240) vs. Joselyne Edwards (-298)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jo3W91E-M5s
  • Ian Garry Finds Evidence Of ‘Quit’ In Carlos Prates Ahead Of UFC Kansas City Main Event

    Ian Garry Finds Evidence Of ‘Quit’ In Carlos Prates Ahead Of UFC Kansas City Main Event

    Ian Garry’s confidence ahead of UFC Kansas City has only risen after watching one of opponent Carlos Prates’ past losses.

    The promotion’s trip to Missouri to stage a UFC Fight Night inside T-Mobile Center on April 26 was originally set to feature a main event between hard-hitting light heavyweights Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree.

    But following speculation of an injury to the former champion, UFC CEO Dana White confirmed at the start of this month that a new matchup will top the lineup.

    The stakes will be similarly high, though, with both Ian Garry and Carlos Prates looking to ascend into the championship conversation at each other’s expense.

    And when it comes to his chances of doing so, the Irishman seemingly got a boost in self-belief after seeing the manner with which Prates once suffered defeat on the regional scene.

    “Here, look at this. This is a video of Carlos Prates and his true fighting spirit,” Ian Garry said. “It’s called being a quitter. He had just been beaten up all the rounds prior, puts his hand up, shakes his head, says, ‘I’m done,’ and then just drops to the ground. … Deep down he knows, he’s not a fighter.”

    While the April 26 headliner marks Garry’s first outing since a narrow defeat to Shavkat Rakhmonov last December, Prates will enter it with his undefeated UFC record still intact, having most recently moved to 4-0 in the Octagon with a knockout of Neil Magny.

  • Ian Garry Reacts To Short-Notice UFC Main Event Against Carlos Prates: ‘I’m A Real Fighter!’

    Ian Garry Reacts To Short-Notice UFC Main Event Against Carlos Prates: ‘I’m A Real Fighter!’

    A late switch-up means UFC welterweight contenders Ian Garry and Carlos Prates will headline in Missouri later this month.

    The promotion’s trip to Kansas City to stage a UFC Fight Night inside T-Mobile Center on April 26 was originally set to feature a main event between hard-hitting light heavyweights Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree.

    But following speculation of an injury to the former champion, UFC CEO Dana White confirmed Tuesday that a new matchup will now top the lineup.

    The stakes will be similarly high, however, with both Garry and Prates looking to ascend into the championship conversation at each other’s expense.

    An excited Garry expressed as much while giving his first public reaction to the news on social media. “The Future” encouraged his supporters to attend the event and vowed to put on a show.

    “It’s official…me versus Carlos Prates, April 26. I’m excited,” Ian Garry said. “The UFC go, ‘Ah, we need someone. Who do we need? Who do we call?’ You call me. Why? ‘Cause I’m a real fighter who wants to fight the best in the world.

    “I’m going to show everybody how good I am,” Garry continued. “Carlos Prates is awesome, but this is my world. I love to fight! There’s nothing more I love in this world than fighting. … Ireland, get your tickets, get your flights. Brazil, get your tickets, get your flights.”

    The Irishman most recently fell short in another late-notice contest opposite Shavkat Rakhmonov last December. The result marked his first defeat in the UFC and professional MMA as a whole.

    Prates, meanwhile, has been on a charge since breaking through on MMA’s biggest stage. The Brazilian Fighting Nerds standout has won four straight, most recently knocking out Neil Magny.

  • Ian Garry Gets First UFC Main Event Against Carlos Prates In Kansas City

    Ian Garry Gets First UFC Main Event Against Carlos Prates In Kansas City

    The UFC’s return to Kansas City now features an electrifying new main event.

    On Tuesday, the UFC confirmed a high-stakes welterweight showdown between Ian Garry and Carlos Prates as the headline bout for the Fight Night card set to take place on April 26 at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

    The announcement comes in the wake of the previously scheduled main event between top-ranked light heavyweight Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree Jr. being scrapped for undisclosed reasons.

    “The Future” is set to make his comeback after suffering the first loss of his career, a hard-fought unanimous decision to undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 this past December. Prior to that, Garry had been riding the momentum of an eight-fight winning streak in the UFC, building on his flawless record through 15 professional bouts.

    Meanwhile, Prates was last seen in November, where he secured a first-round knockout over Neil Magny at a Fight Night event. “The Nightmare” is riding a wave of momentum, holding a perfect 4-0 record in the UFC. He enters this matchup on a ten-fight win streak, with every victory coming by knockout.

    The Brazilian was initially set to square off against Geoff Neal at UFC 314 on April 12, but “Handz of Steel” was forced to withdraw from the fight due to an injury.

    With the addition of this matchup, the UFC Kansas City lineup now includes:

    • Ian Machado Garry vs. Carlos Prates: welterweight
    • Anthony Smith vs. Zhang Mingyang: light heavyweight
    • Giga Chikadze vs. David Onama: featherweight
    • Michel Pereira vs. Abus Magomedov: middleweight
    • Ikram Aliskerov vs. Andre Muniz: middleweight
    • Randy Brown vs. Nicolas Dalby: welterweight
    • Jimmy Flick vs. Matt Schnell: flyweight
    • Evan Elder vs. Ahmad Hassanzada: lightweight
    • Jaqueline Amorim vs. Polyana Viana: strawweight
    • Cameron Saaiman vs. Malcolm Wellmaker: bantamweight
    • Chelsea Chandler vs. Joselyne Edwards: women’s bantamweight

  • UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: New Fights For Rosas Jr., Cutelaba, And More

    MMA News has you covered with this week’s UFC matchmaking bulletin, featuring all the additions to upcoming fight cards.

    With events being held most weekends, Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby have their matchmaking work cut out if they’re to fill them, meaning new bouts are confirmed each and every week.

    Between Monday, March 3, and Sunday, March 9, a small number of fights were made official by the UFC or reported as being in the works by reputable sources.

    For those matchups, check out the list below:

  • Jamahal Hill vs. Khalil Rountree Headlines UFC Kansas City On April 26

    Jamahal Hill vs. Khalil Rountree Headlines UFC Kansas City On April 26

    Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill and ex-title challenger Khalil Rountree are set to collide in the final main event of the promotion’s April schedule.

    The mixed martial arts leader is heading to Missouri later this year to stage a UFC Fight Night from inside Kansas City’s T-Mobile Center on April 26.

    This week saw the UFC confirm a number of high-profile bouts for the lineup, including the retirement fight for Anthony Smith, the next bout for entertaining middleweight Michel Pereira, and returns for the likes of Ikram Aliskerov and Giga Chikadze. And on Wednesday, a headline contest was revealed.

    Off the back of consecutive defeats to Alex Pereira and Jiří Procházka, the #4-ranked Hill (12-3, 1 NC) will look to get his ball rolling again at 205 pounds against a fellow contender who also recently tasted defeat at the hands of “Poatan” in the #7-ranked Rountree (13-6, 1 NC)

    With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at the UFC Fight Night in Kansas City are as follows:

    • Jamahal Hill vs. Khalil Rountree (light heavyweight main event)
    • Giga Chikadze vs. David Onama (featherweight)
    • Ikram Aliskerov vs. Andre Muniz (middleweight)
    • Anthony Smith vs. Zhang Mingyang (light heavyweight)
    • Michel Pereira vs. Abus Magomedov (middleweight)
    • Polyana Viana vs. Jaqueline Amorim (women’s strawweight)
    • Cameron Saaiman vs. Malcolm Wellmaker (bantamweight)
    • Ahmed Hassanzada vs. Mitch Ramirez (lightweight)
    • Matt Schnell vs. Jimmy Flick (flyweight)
    • Chelsea Chandler vs. Joselyne Edwards (women’s bantamweight)
  • Anthony Smith On Retirement Fight Coming Against Unranked KO Artist: ‘I Was Very Shocked’

    Anthony Smith On Retirement Fight Coming Against Unranked KO Artist: ‘I Was Very Shocked’

    While initially surprised by the matchup chosen to be his last, UFC light heavyweight Anthony Smith says he now understands it.

    Smith announced his plans for one final farewell fight on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage after falling to a third loss in his last four fights in December 2024. He was knocked out by Dominick Reyes at UFC 310, a result that came five months on from another setback to middleweight contender Roman Dolidze.

    With that, 2025 will mark the year in which “Lionheart” retires. And he’ll do so opposite a curious choice of opposition.

    It was recently announced that Smith will hang up the gloves at UFC Kansas City this coming April, where he’ll meet an opponent who rides a streak of 11 first-round finishes in the form of Chinese prospect Zhang Mingyang.

    During the latest episode of his On Paper podcast, Smith admitted to being “shocked” at first when the bout was presented to him. But while many see him as the UFC’s sacrificial lamb as the promotion looks to build the “Mountain Tiger,” the 36-year-old former title challenger doesn’t see it that way.

    “I didn’t have any suggestions, but I was very shocked with the matchup, for sure,” Smith said. “That wasn’t a bad thing, I just was not expecting that one, but once I kind of looked into him a little bit and sat on it, it makes a lot of sense why they would go in that direction.

    “I have a lot of conversations with these guys — and if they did (book the fight for Zhang to win), they’re probably not going to tell me — but Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby have always told me that they don’t care who wins. They want good fights. They want interesting matchups. And they put people in positions and it’s up to you to do what you what you do with it,” Smith continued. “Of course, we can think of people that were favorably matched and put in some better positions than others, but I’ve known Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby and those guys a really long time and they’ve always been pretty straight-up with me, even in times that I don’t like it.”

    UFC Kansas City remains without a main event as of now, but names like Giga Chikadze, Michel Pereira, and Ikram Aliskerov are among those slated to join Smith’s retirement fight on the April 26 lineup.

  • UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: UFC Seattle Card Undergoes Major Changes

    UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: UFC Seattle Card Undergoes Major Changes

    MMA News has you covered with this week’s UFC matchmaking bulletin, featuring all the additions to upcoming fight cards.

    With events being held most weekends, Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby have their matchmaking work cut out if they’re to fill them, meaning new bouts are confirmed each and every week.

    Between Monday, February 10, and Sunday, February 16, a number of fights were made official by the UFC or reported as being in the works by reputable sources.

    For those matchups, including the planned main event for the Apex on April 5, check out the list below:

    But it wasn’t all positive, with four fights falling through or being adjusted:

  • Anthony Smith Expected To Face Knockout Artist With 11 Straight First-Round Finishes In UFC Retirement Fight

    Anthony Smith Expected To Face Knockout Artist With 11 Straight First-Round Finishes In UFC Retirement Fight

    Anthony Smith’s final walk to the Octagon is targeted for UFC Kansas City in April.

    Multiple sources familiar with the UFC’s plans confirmed to MMA Fighting that Smith is expected to face Zhang Mingyang at the event. The matchup was initially reported by @Kangzif on X.

    This fight will mark the end of Smith’s career, serving as his 59th professional bout and 25th UFC appearance. He started 2024 on a high note with a submission victory over Vitor Petrino at UFC 301 last May. But the former light heavyweight title challenger is now coming off back-to-back losses to Roman Dolidze and Dominick Reyes.

    Following his loss to the latter, “Lionheart” hinted at possible retirement, a sentiment echoed by UFC CEO Dana White, who suggested it might be time for him to step away.

    Mingyang, on the other hand, enters this high-profile matchup riding an impressive 11-fight win streak, with every victory coming via finish in the first round. The bout presents a major opportunity for the rising Chinese fighter to break into the UFC light heavyweight rankings. Mingyang earned his contract with a highlight-reel knockout on Road to UFC in 2022.

    His official UFC debut came at UFC 298, where he delivered a first-round knockout of Bendson Ribeiro. In November, he followed up that performance with another quick first-round finish over Ozzy Diaz at UFC Macau. Now, the 26-year-old looks to extend his momentum and make a statement against the veteran Smith.

    UFC Kansas City is scheduled for April 26, at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri. This marks the promotion’s third visit to Kansas City and its first since UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Allen in April 2023.

  • UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: Potential No. 1 Contender Fight For Zhang Weili’s Title Booked

    UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: Potential No. 1 Contender Fight For Zhang Weili’s Title Booked

    MMA News has you covered with this week’s UFC matchmaking bulletin, featuring all the additions to upcoming fight cards.

    With events being held most weekends, Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby have their matchmaking work cut out if they’re to fill them, meaning new bouts are confirmed each and every week.

    Between Monday, February 3, and Sunday, February 9, a number of fights were made official by the UFC or reported as being in the works by reputable sources.

    For those matchups, including one that could determine the next challenger to UFC 312 winner Zhang Weili’s strawweight title, check out the list below:

    But it wasn’t all positive, with two fights falling through or being adjusted: