*Carlos Prates walks off after brutally knocking out Neil Magny. Credit: MMA Fighting.*

The UFC heads to the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, with a fantastic Fight Night card. Throughout, the card is filled with exciting matchups, rising stars, and established names all looking for a landmark victory. In the co-main event, we’ll see former title contender Anthony Smith square off against red-hot knockout artist Zhang Mingyang. In the main event, two of the hottest prospects in the Welterweight division go toe-to-toe when Ian Machado Garry takes on Carlos Prates. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Ikram Aliskerov vs. André Muniz

*Ikram Aliskerov unloads punches onto Warlley Alves. Credit: MMA Fighting.*

Middleweight Bout

Ikram Aliskerov: 15-2-0, 6 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

André Muniz: 24-6-0, 4 KO/TKO, 15 Sub.

Aliskerov has won four of his last five fights, with UFC victories over Phil Hawes (12-6-0) and Warlley Alves (15-8-0). He’s a well-rounded, technical fighter who pushes a consistent pace and is always dangerous. He never telegraphs his attacks, fights behind his jab, and throws everything in combination. Training with the KHK MMA Team, Aliskerov is a former world champion in Sambo and has excellent top control, typically holding half guard and landing brutal ground and pound. He passes quickly and has impressive reversals, often denying takedowns and ending up on top. He does most of his damage on the inside with his punches, but has heavy kicks and well-timed knees. Aliskerov has one-shot knockout power and has finished six of his last seven wins.

*André Muniz locks in a sneaky armbar on Jacaré Souza. Credit: Essentially Sports.*

Muniz has won three of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over JunYong Park (18-6-0), Uriah Hall (18-11-0), and Jacaré Souza (26-10-0). He’s a dominant grappler with outstanding submissions and top control. He’s patient on the feet, mostly throwing straight punches and 1-2 combinations before pursuing takedowns. Muniz is landing, on average, over four takedowns per fifteen minutes and will shoot early on. He has excellent sweeps and reversals as well as smothering top control, making it very tough to get away from him on the mat. Training with the Tata Fight Team, he’s a lengthy fighter who utilizes his size effectively, typically looking to wear down and control his opponent through grappling. Muniz will constantly look to take his opponent’s back and has secured eleven of his fifteen submission victories via choke.

Randy Brown vs. Nicolas Dalby

*Randy Brown fires a powerful kick at Khaos Williams. Credit: MMA Mania.*

Welterweight Bout

Randy Brown: 19-6-0, 7 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Nicolas Dalby: 23-5-1, 7 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Brown has won three of his last five outings, and has UFC wins over Khaos Williams (15-4-0), Francisco Trinaldo (28-9-0), and Muslim Salikhov (21-5-0). He’s a lengthy fighter, constantly throwing combinations at range and adding body kicks at the end of his combinations. He’ll often string together long, technical punch combinations without getting wild. Brown has solid power in both hands and particularly devastating clinch striking. Averaging just under a takedown landed per fifteen minutes, he does an excellent job mixing grappling into his striking, often using his length in the clinch to get his opponent to the mat. He has solid control and a slick submission game on the ground, especially his chokes. Training at Budokan Martial Arts, Brown is more than willing to eat a shot to land one and can be drawn into a brawl.

*Nicolas Dalby prepares to unload ground and pound onto Gabriel Bonfim. Credit: MMA Junkie.*

Dalby has won four of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Gabriel Bonfim (17-1-0), Muslim Salikhov (21-5-0), and Daniel Rodriguez (18-5-0). He is a cardio monster, in perpetual motion and constantly pushing the pace. Favoring volume to power, he throws everything in combination and continuously switches stances, always entering the pocket from different angles. Dalby varies his shots well, attacking the head and body evenly, never telegraphing anything. He is averaging just over one takedown landed per fifteen minutes and has excellent clinch control, often wearing his opponent down against the fence with knees and elbows. Training at Rumble Sports, he’s never been finished and never stops coming at his opponent, constantly moving forward and unloading punches. Dalby has solid takedown defense to back up his offensive grappling and is comfortable wherever the fight goes.

#14 Michel Pereira vs. Abus Magomedov

*Michel Pereira lands a crushing knee to the body of Santiago Ponzinibbio. Credit: MMA Fighting.*

Middleweight Bout

Michel Pereira: 31-12-0, 11 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Abus Magomedov: 27-6-1, 14 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Pereira has won four of his last five bouts, with UFC wins over Santiago Ponzinibbio (31-8-0), Khaos Williams (15-4-0), and Michael Oleksiejczuk (20-9-0). One of the most unique fighters in the UFC, he’s known for his wild antics within the cage. Training at Overcome Academy, he’s always willing to get wild, throwing open-hand slaps, jumping knees and kicks, and even attempting backflips. Pereira’s unorthodox style makes him both elusive and impossible to predict. He has refined his style in recent fights, adopting a more measured and accurate approach, fighting much more efficiently with improved cardiovascular endurance. He’s averaging over one takedown landed per fifteen minutes, has heavy ground and pound, and a dangerous submission game, particularly chokes. Pereira always pushes a heavy pace and constantly pursues a finish wherever the fight lands.

*Abus Magomedov controls Warlley Alves in mount position while raining down punches. Credit: MMA Fighting.*

Magomedov has won three of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Dustin Stoltzfus (16-6-0), Bruno Ferreira (13-2-0), and Warlley Alves (15-8-0). He is a lengthy striker who prefers power over volume, typically blasting his opponents with a barrage of kicks. He throws everything with fight-ending intentions and is at his most dangerous early, with 15 of his 21 finishes coming in round one. Magomedov is always pressuring forward and constantly switching stances, damaging his opponent's body and head evenly. He’s willing to grapple and is a solid wrestler, able to land his takedowns and often reverse those attempted on him to secure a top position. Training at UFD Gym, he transitions quickly on the ground and remains active on top, consistently throwing ground-and-pound strikes or pursuing a choke. Magomedov has secured six of his seven submissions via choke and is dangerous if he can get hold of his opponent’s neck.

#12 Giga Chikadze vs. David Onama

*Giga Chikadze blasts Edson Barboza with a series of strikes. Credit: MMA Mania.*

Featherweight Bout

Giga Chikadze: 15-4-0, 9 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

David Onama: 13-2-0, 7 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Chikadze has won three of his last five fights, with UFC victories coming over Edson Barboza (24-12-0), Cub Swanson (30-14-0), and Alex Caceres (21-15-0). He’s an excellent kickboxer with heavy hands and devastating body kicks. Training at Kings MMA, Chikadze is a former professional kickboxer with a record of 38-8-0 with 22 knockouts. He’s unlikely to take the fight to the mat but has excellent takedown defense and is strong inside the clinch, able to land significant damage without much space. Holding a third Dan black belt in Goju-ryu karate, he has exceptionally educated feet and never telegraphs his attacks. He’s proven to possess one-shot knockout power in both his hands and kicks, capable of finishing opponents with kicks to the body. He’s outlanded his opponents in all his UFC victories and is capable of throwing both with volume and power.

*David Onama tags Nate Landwehr with a damaging right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.*

Onama has won four of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over Gabriel Benitez (23-11-0), Jonathan Pearce (14-7-0), and Gabriel Santos (12-2-0). He is in perpetual motion on his feet and constantly switches stances. He’s always coming forward, fights behind his jab, and throws every shot with fight-ending intentions. Onama has finished all but two of his wins, with six of those finishes coming in round one. He manages distances well and will land damage from the outside, but is more than willing to bang inside the pocket. Training at FactoryX Muay Thai, he’s a solid grappler with great clinch control, decent takedowns, and advances position quickly on the ground. Onama is likelier to pursue a submission than a ground-and-pound finish and has excellent chokes, with all his submission wins coming via some form of strangulation.

#15 Anthony Smith vs. Zhang Mingyang

*Anthony Smith fires ground and pound punches at Ryan Spann. Credit: MMA Mania.*

Light Heavyweight Bout

Anthony Smith: 38-21-0, 20 KO/TKO, 15 Sub.

Zhang Mingyang: 18-6-0, 12 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Smith has won two of his last five outings, holding UFC victories over #9 ranked Light Heavyweight Volkan Oezdemir (20-8-0), Ryan Spann (22-11-0), and Alexander Gustafsson (18-8-0). A well-rounded veteran, he’s highly durable and always pushes a consistent pace. He throws everything with power but remains technical throughout, always keeping his hands high and his shots straight. Smith fights behind his jab, never telegraphs or loads up, and constantly looks to close the distance and let his hands go. He holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and has solid takedowns and top control. Training at FactoryX Muay Thai, he’s patient on top, looking for submission openings without putting himself in dangerous positions. Smith is rarely in a boring fight and always leaves everything in the cage, having been awarded six Performance of the Night bonuses and one Fight of the Night bonus.

*Zhang Mingyang uncorks a lethal right hand on Ozzy Diaz. Credit: MMA Fighting.*

Zhang is on an eleven-fight win streak and has UFC victories over Brendson Ribeiro (17-7-0) and Ozzy Diaz (10-3-0). He is a prolific finisher with dangerous power in his hands. He comes out guns blazing, constantly pressuring forward and looking to close the distance to let his hands go. Zhang is always seeking a knockout and willing to brawl, but remains technical, keeping his shots tight and straight without telegraphing them. He’s strong in the clinch and has a strong takedown game, regularly looking to posture up and land brutal ground and pound when in top position. Training at Xtreme Couture, he has excellent chokes and will pursue them even when standing, and he has secured five of his six submissions via rear-naked choke. Zhang has produced all of his finish victories in the first round and has only been to a decision once.

#7 Ian Machado Garry vs. #13 Carlos Prates

*Ian Machado Garry lands a head kick flush on the chin of Daniel Rodriguez. Credit: MMA Fighting.*

Welterweight Bout

Ian Machado Garry: 15-1-0, 7 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Carlos Prates: 21-6-0, 16 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Garry has won four of his last five fights, with UFC wins over #10 ranked Welterweight Geoff Neal (16-6-0), #15 ranked Welterweight Michael Page (23-3-0), and Neil Magny (29-14-0). He’s an excellent striker with a very fluid style, constantly moving and bouncing on his feet with an almost karate-like stance. He’s highly accurate, having landed 54% of the significant strikes he has attempted in the UFC, and remains patient, always looking for openings. Garry fights behind his jab and has excellent distance management, typically controlling the center of the cage and forcing his opponent to the outside. He possesses a deadly kicking arsenal and utilizes it to inflict significant damage at range, never telegraphing his strikes and constantly mixing kicks into punch combinations. Training at Chute Boxe, he holds a black belt in Judo and has solid takedown defense but rarely initiates grappling exchanges. Garry benefits from a slower, more technical fight, not looking to be pulled into a knockdown, drag-out brawl.

*Carlos Prates lands a devastating left hand on Li Jingliang. Credit: FightTV.*

Prates is on an eleven-fight win streak and has UFC victories over Trevin Giles (16-6-0), Neil Magny (29-14-0), and Li Jingliang (19-9-0). He’s a destructive, technical striker with serious power in his hands. He favors power to volume, throwing every shot with fight-ending intentions, and can produce a flash knockout at any time. Prates varies his shots well, attacking the head and body evenly and constantly looking to land knees to the body. Training with Fighting Nerds, he has excellent distance management and continuously presses forward, remaining patient and composed, never telegraphing his attacks. He’s unlikely to take the fight to the mat but has solid takedown defense, capable of defending shots both in open space and against the cage. Prates has only been to a single decision during his win streak, earning a finish in the first or second round of all his other victories.

Best Bets

Ikram Aliskerov by KO/TKO: An intriguing matchup of two highly-skilled fighters, this will be a good one. Aliskerov is a well-rounded fighter, typically favoring to stay on his feet but fully capable of denying takedowns or pursuing them himself. Muniz is a more specialized fighter, constantly looking to land takedowns, take the fight to the ground, and seek submissions. This type of matchup typically benefits the more well-rounded fighter, in this case, Aliskerov. Although Aliskerov lost a lot of his hype after his devastating loss to Robert Whittaker, he's still an outstanding fighter with plenty of potential. Muniz has struggled against powerful strikers throughout his career, with five knockout losses on his record. Now coming off a brief hiatus following the Whittaker loss, I anticipate Aliskerov returning in top form. I expect him to push a high pace and apply pressure early, while denying Muniz's grappling threats and takedowns. Ultimately, I expect him to find the chin of Muniz, knock him out, and re-enter the win column.

Zhang Mingyang by KO/TKO: This is a matchup of an established veteran and a quickly rising star that’s sure to have some fireworks. Smith has fought a who’s who of the Light Heavyweight division in his nearly 20-year MMA career, with plenty of impressive victories and finishes. Mingyang has been on an absolute tear, earning two straight first-round knockouts in the UFC, and has not seen the second round in his last fifteen fights. Despite having an outstanding resume, Smith has experienced a downturn in his recent career, losing five of his last seven fights, including two knockout losses since 2022. While he certainly possesses the skills to win fights at a high level, he may lack the motivation, as evidenced by his sluggish and disinterested performance in his most recent loss to Dominick Reyes. If he has an at all similar performance in this bout, it’s practically a foregone conclusion. I expect Mingyang to come out guns blazing, applying constant forward pressure and throwing heavy combinations. I anticipate that Mingyang will, sooner rather than later, land the knockout blow and finish Smith.

Carlos Prates Moneyline: Per usual, I will immediately admit my own bias: I cannot stand Ian Garry. Garry is a talented fighter, possessing underrated grappling skills and lethal striking, but his game plan tends to be very risk-averse. In recent fights, he will mostly look to get hold of his opponent, keeping them in the clinch along the cage while picking his shots. Prates, on the other hand, is almost the exact opposite: he’s always pursuing a finish and throwing caution to the wind. Although not known for his grappling, Prates holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and has successfully defended 91% of the takedowns attempted against him in the UFC. While I have no way of knowing how Garry will approach this matchup, considering the power and danger Prates presents, it’s reasonable to believe he’ll have a similar approach to what he’s done recently. I expect some spirited striking exchanges to start the fight before Garry looks to slow the pace. I anticipate Prates denying Garry’s attempts to clinch up or land takedowns, make it his fight at his pace, and continue his winning streak.

UFC Fight Night: Machado Garry vs. Prates