The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to Kansas City, Missouri, on April 26, 2025, with UFC on ESPN: Machado Garry vs. Prates, also known as UFC on ESPN 66. This marks the promotion’s third visit to the T-Mobile Center and the first since UFC on ESPN: Holloway vs. Allen electrified the arena in April 2023.
A New Main Event Emerges
Originally, the card was set to be headlined by a highly anticipated light heavyweight clash between former champion Jamahal Hill and perennial contender Khalil Rountree Jr. However, history repeated itself when Hill was forced out due to a lingering leg injury—just weeks after Rountree had previously withdrawn from their UFC 303 meeting due to a tainted supplement incident involving DHEA. With both fighters sidelined, the promotion swiftly turned to the welterweight division.
Ian Machado Garry, the undefeated Irish rising star, now headlines the card against Brazilian knockout artist Carlos Prates. Garry (14-0) has steadily climbed the welterweight ranks with slick striking and growing maturity inside the Octagon, while Prates rides a wave of violent momentum with an impressive finishing rate and fearless forward pressure. This bout promises fireworks and has serious implications in the division.
Notable Main Card Matchups
Also featured on the ESPN-broadcast main card:
- Anthony Smith vs. Zhang Mingyang – A classic veteran-versus-prospect storyline plays out in the light heavyweight division as former title challenger Smith tries to hold off China’s surging Zhang, who looks to break into the rankings with a statement win.
- Giga Chikadze vs. David Onama – Originally slated for UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs. Murphy, this featherweight bout now gets a bigger spotlight. Chikadze, a striking maestro, returns after a layoff to meet Onama, a dynamic finisher eager to climb the ladder.
- Michel Pereira vs. Abusupiyan Magomedov – Pereira continues his middleweight experiment against Magomedov, who’s seeking to bounce back from an inconsistent stretch. Expect flashy techniques and unpredictability from both.
- Randy Brown vs. Nicolas Dalby – This welterweight tilt pits two grizzled vets with contrasting styles. Brown’s rangy striking meets Dalby’s relentless pace in what should be a competitive bout.
- Ikram Aliskerov vs. André Muniz – After two cancellations, this middleweight matchup finally materializes. Both are dangerous grapplers, with Muniz known for his armbar prowess and Aliskerov bringing Dagestani dominance to the cage.
Prelims Feature Promising Newcomers and Grizzled Veterans
The undercard is stacked with intrigue:
- Evan Elder vs. Gauge Young replaces the original lightweight pairing of Mitch Ramirez vs. Ahmad Sohail Hassanzada, after a wild string of changes stemming from Ramirez’s injury and Hassanzada’s arrest on serious legal charges.
- Chris Gutiérrez vs. John Castañeda finally gets rebooked after their UFC 313 meeting was scrapped last minute due to illness. Both are slick strikers in a stacked featherweight field.
- Bantamweights Da’Mon Blackshear and Alateng Heili square off in a fast-paced stylistic clash.
- Malcolm Wellmaker and Cameron Saaiman both look to make a name for themselves in another bantamweight banger.
- Women’s strawweight action sees Jaqueline Amorim take on Polyana Viana, and Chelsea Chandler battles Joselyne Edwards in the women’s bantamweight division.
- Matt Schnell vs. Jimmy Flick at flyweight and Timothy Cuamba vs. Roberto Romero at featherweight round out a deep and diverse card.
Final Thoughts
Though the original headliner fell apart, UFC on ESPN 66 remains a compelling night of fights with rising stars, veteran matchups, and divisional shakeups from top to bottom. With Ian Machado Garry vs. Carlos Prates now anchoring the card, Kansas City fight fans are in for a night of hard-hitting action and breakout performances.
Stay tuned to MMA Fight Coverage for full results, live updates, and post-fight analysis.
