Main Card Results | UFC Kansas City (2025)

Over the first three rounds, Machado Garry was the more active of the two, dictating the terms of engagement while mixing up his attacks and timing his level changes expertly. He kept Prates off balance and unable to really initiate any offence throughout the first 15 minutes, but from there, Prates started to take control, seemingly winning the fourth while busting up his Irish foe and trying to chase down a finish in the fifth, coming up empty handed.

They went the full 25 minutes, but the verdict was never in question. All three judges saw the fight for “The Future,” who put himself right back into the win column and cemented his standing as a contender in the welterweight division with this victory. This was a strong showing by both men — Machado Garry early, Prates late — and a reminder of just how competitive the welterweight division is at the moment.

Prelim Results | Official Scorecards | Watch on ESPN+

Smith tried to go toe-to-toe with a menacing Chinese prospect, but just didn’t have the firepower to run with Zhang, who busted him up with sharp elbows in the clinch early in the fight. When Smith tried to wrestle, Zhang sprawled and went on the offensive, punishing the departing veteran with more elbows, forcing referee Jason Herzog to step in and halt that contest.

The surging Zhang has now won each of his first three UFC appearances inside the opening round, and will find himself stationed inside the Top 15 following this one. He is unquestionably one to watch in the 205-pound ranks, and it will be interesting to see who he gets matched up with next.

For Smith, this marks the end of his mixed martial arts journey, as “Lionheart” announced before the bout that it would be the last of his career. The veteran was a staple in the rankings throughout his light heavyweight run, working his way to a championship opportunity against Jon Jones in 2019. He moves on to the next stage of his life having amassed a 38-22 record overall.

Prelim Results | Official Scorecards | Watch on ESPN+

Chikadze won the first despite getting touched early in the frame after clocking Onama late in the round, forcing the Factory X man to wrestle. Onama wrestled more in the second to draw level before the two began the third trading once again. Onama used a collision to work to top position with two minutes left in the third, and rode out the round in top position, keeping Chikadze pinned to the canvas.

The judges were called upon to determine the victor, and when the tens and nines were added up, it was Onama that came out ahead. That’s now four straight for the talented fighter from Uganda, who may have just punched his ticket to the Top 15 by turning back the veteran.

Prelim Results | Official Scorecards | Watch on ESPN+

After Pereira did a dance routine coming out of the back, Magomedov started the fight fast, taking the action to the usually high-energy Brazilian. Pereira warmed up in the second, throwing and landing much more than he did in the previous frame, maintaining that into the early part of the third before Magomedov landed a couple thudding blows to put some distance between them once again.

They went the distance, much to the chagrin of the surprisingly displeased fans in Kansas City, with Magomedov coming away on the happy side of the verdict. That’s now three straight wins for the 34-year-old middleweight, who could find himself sporting a number next to his name when the rankings update next week.

Prelim Results | Official Scorecards | Watch on ESPN+

Brown used his range and slick boxing early in the contest, keeping Dalby at the end of his punches and twisting his nose into a full Arlovski with a sweeping right hook before the Danish veteran put a right hand on his temple late in the frame that sent Brown to the canvas. Both men came out firing in the second, and when they planted their feet and began swinging mercilessly with one another just over a minute into the frame, Brown connected with a right hook amidst the chaos that caught Dalby clean and turned off his lights.

“Rudeboy” has been a stalwart in the welterweight division for a number of years and for the second straight year, he’s begun his campaign with a hellacious knockout. The 34-year-old called for a date with a ranked opponent and given his tenure and this performance, such a matchup would make a great deal of sense.

Prelim Results | Official Scorecards | Watch on ESPN+

For much of the frame, the two ran fairly level, with neither man landing anything of great substance. Late in the frame, Aliskerov landed a left hand that wobbled Muniz, with the Brazilian having a delayed fall to the canvas. Once he toppled, Aliskerov pounced and pounded out the finish.

Aliskerov was a popular dark horse in the middleweight division last year, but lost some momentum when he accepted a short-notice, main event assignment against Robert Whittaker and suffered a first-round loss. But this was the kind of effort that should rekindle much of that enthusiasm and earn the Russian an opportunity to face someone with a number next to their name next time out.

Prelim Results | Official Scorecards | Watch on ESPN+