UFC Kansas City: Garry vs Prates Full Card Analysis

UFC Kansas City: Garry vs Prates – 4.26.2025 – Fight Predictions and Analysis

Welcome to our collaborative coverage of UFC Fight Night Kansas City: Garry vs Prates. The T-Mobile Center will play host for this exciting fight card on Saturday. Be sure to check out our full reasoning for every pick as our records will not reflect confidence in each selection. We will be picking every fight, but likely only recommend betting on a select few.

Current Record

• Anthony: 100-56-1 (Last Year 321-191-0, 63%)
• Nick: 100-56-1 (Last Year 316-196-0, 62%)

*Fight odds were last updated from Bet99 on 4-25-2025 at 11pm EST

Preliminary Card- Starts 6:00pm EST

Joselyne Edwards -280 vs Chelsea Chandler +220

• Anthony: The card begins at bantamweight with Joselyne Edwards set to face Chelsea Chandler. Edwards has become a staple of this division as she now makes her tenth appearance in the cage. She is a very well-rounded fighter after recently addressing some deficiencies that she had on the ground in the past. Edwards is now very proficient when it comes to timing her own takedowns and controlling opponents on the mat. She is strong and generally does well timing her double-leg attempts. She strikes with good technique and often pressures opponents into moving backward with her kickboxing output. Chandler is a tough out at bantamweight, but she is not nearly as skilled as Joselyne when comparing their technique. Her boxing is fine, but Chandler has poor takedown defense and little motivation to get up. She is too reliant on her offensive jiu jitsu to reverse position and threaten with subs. At the UFC level, Chandler is not going to find any success fighting off of her back. Edwards should win in this fight today, outlanding Chandler and controlling this matchup on the mat. Joselyne Edwards by Decision
• Nick: Joselyne Edwards is a Muay Thai style striker who finds most of her success striking both at range and in the clinch. She has decent offensive grappling ability, but she has trouble getting back to her feet if she’s taken down by her opponent. She’s almost always in very close fights, and this is likely to be another one here against Chelsea Chandler. Chelsea Chandler is just 6-3 professionally. Her record suggests she’s inexperienced, but she shows a well rounded game when you watch her on film, at least against lower level competition. She has powerful striking, dangerous BJJ, and her cardio seems solid as well. That all being said, she has struggled to find sustained success at the UFC level. While dangerous, she’s predictable in her attacks and one of the slower fighters in the division. This fight is likely to come down to whether or not Chandler can take Edwards down. If she can’t, Edwards speed and length is likely to present a difficult puzzle for her to solve on the feet. While the line feels wide, this does seem to be the most likely outcome. I expect Edwards to keep her distance here as she secures another win at striking range. Joselyne Edwards by Decision

Timothy Cuamba -110 vs Roberto Romero -110

• Anthony: Next is a fight at featherweight between Roberto Romero and Timothy Cuamba. Romero was scheduled to face Alberto Montes at UFC 314 but that matchup did not materialize. I am expecting a great scrap here between these two talented strikers. Romero has crisp boxing, but sometimes he can be a bit over aggressive. He will likely be swinging big shots here early against Cuamba in an attempt to find the fight’s first knockdown. Cuamba can see red and throw away caution too, but he tends to be a bit more measured than his opponents even when his fights become hectic. Cuamba does well eating shots and staying composed. He has a great motor and more important than anything else is his willingness to grit out tough fights. I favor Cuamba in this matchup as the bout gets into rounds two and three. Cuamba has fought the tougher competition overall and proven he is capable of taking a punch. He showcased grappling skills in his last appearance and did his best work against in round three. Both athletes could elapse 100 significant strikes thrown in this matchup. It has sneaky potential to earn credit for Fight of the Night. Timothy Cuamba by Decision
• Nick: Timothy Cuamba is 8-3 professionally and only 26-years old. He fights well at range and he has solid durability and cardio, but he’s coming off back-to-back losses for the first time in his career and he is 0-2 in the UFC. He has decent defensive grappling ability, but he certainly prefers to stand and strike at range. He’s technically sound both offensively and defensively, but he has yet to really show one shot KO power at-or-near the UFC level. Romero 8-4-1 professionally, having primarily fought for the Mexican regional promotion in Combate Global. At just 24-years old, Romero does have a decent regional resume. Three of his wins have come via KO and two have come via submission. He is coming off a loss in his UFC debut, but that fight came on short notice and up a weight class against a tough out in David Onama. While Romero lost that fight, he was competitive and went to a decision against a tough opponent in spite of the fact several circumstances were stacked against him. This is a tough fight to call as each of these fighters are still somewhat unproven. I do prefer the Romero side as he seems to be making more improvements than Cuamba is from fight to fight, but no outcome would really surprise me in this one. Roberto Romero by Decision

Jacqueline Amorim -850 vs Polyana Viana +575

• Anthony: This is a women’s strawweight matchup between Polyana Viana and Jacqueline Amorim. This appears to be an easy draw for Amorim who has thus far been a problem since joining the UFC. Amorim is a second-degree BJJ black belt under Faustino Neto. Her dominant grappling has produced back to back wins via first round submission, beating Cory McKenna and Vanessa Demopoulous by armbar. She is very quick to close distance against opponents and cause grappling exchanges to take place on the mat. Amorim should have no problem executing her BJJ here against Viana. Her fellow Brazilian is not nearly as credentialed with her own grappling skills. Viana has been finished on the ground in both previous matchups. Her striking may be slightly better than that of Amorim but I have to think the younger fighter gets by with a victory today. Amorim is too talented to slip up in this spot against an opponent that poses a very minimal finishing threat. Jacqueline Amorim by Round One Submission
• Nick: Jaqueline Amorim is 9-1 professionally, coming off an impressive win via submission over a tough out in Vanessa Demopoulos. As a former LFA Strawweight Champion Amorim is fairly well-rounded, but her greatest strength is certainly her offensive grappling ability. Seven of her nine professional wins have come via submission. She’s excellent on the mat, but she’s small for the division. Her wrestling entries leave a lot to be desired and while her striking has continued to improve, it’s still far from a strength for her at the UFC level. Polyana Viana has outstanding BJJ, but she’s had trouble closing distance and getting her opponents to the mat. She strikes aggressively and she puts out a lot of volume, but she’s far from technical on the feet. On the mat, Amorim should have a considerable technical advantage here. Viana has dangerous BJJ offensively, but she only seems to score submissions against low level grapplers. The line feels wide here, but I see Amorim as the more well-rounded fighter. She should stay a step ahead no matter where this one goes and she should have a cardio advantage as well. Jacqueline Amorim by Round Two Submission

Malcolm Wellmaker -130 vs Cameron Saaiman +110

• Anthony: This is a fight at bantamweight between Malcolm Wellmaker and Cameron Saaiman. It is the promotional debut for Wellmaker who earned his contract on Dana White’s Contender Series. Wellmaker is an intriguing prospect with a professional record of 8-0. He seems to have good athletic talent, but I am skeptical of exactly how high his ceiling may be. Wellmaker is already 30 years old and while now debuting in the promotion, Wellmaker is still working full time as a pipefitter. While I am sure he is training as often as possible I do not think he is quite as committed as Saaiman. He has also not fought very tough competition on his way into this matchup. Saaiman conversely had some very tough fights, including a loss to Payton Talbott in his last appearance. I think a year away from action could yield dividends for Saaiman who continues to develop his skill set. He is just 24 years old and very well-rounded already. Wellmaker will struggle to connect with his boxing without eating return shots from Saaiman. I expect this to be a fight largely contested at kickboxing range, so Saaiman should hold the slight advantage. I side with him here as the short betting underdog. Cameron Saaiman by Decision
• Nick: Malcolm Wellmaker will be making his UFC debut here, coming off an impressive win on Contender Series which came by KO over a decent opponent in Adam Bramhald. Wellmaker is 30 years-old, and he enters this fight with an undefeated 8-0 professional record. He’s getting a late break into the promotion, but he spent the early part of his career on the amateur circuit so he really is more experienced than his record might suggest. He’s relatively well rounded, but his greatest strength is certainly his striking ability at range. He is quick in and out of breaks, and he can land power shots from a variety of unconventional angles. Cameron Saaiman is a highly regarded prospect in spite of his 3-2 record in the UFC. He’s only 24-years old, he’s gifted athletically and surprisingly well-rounded for his age. He does a good job moving in and out of his opponents striking range. He wears damage well, has decent power, and it’s expected he’ll continue to show considerable improvement every time we see him fight. He’s an effective wrestler who controls his weight well. It seems he mostly favors grappling for position, but it can be expected as his BJJ develops he’ll become more of a submission threat. As talented as he is, he’s coming off back to back losses and he was brutalized his last time out against another rising prospect in Payton Talbott. These are two talented prospects and this fight could go either way. I do slightly prefer the Saaiman side as I expect his grappling advantage here will be slightly more significant than Wellmaker’s will on the feet. Cameron Saaiman by Decision

Da’Mon Blackshear -500 vs Alatengheili +380

• Anthony: This is a men’s bantamweight matchup between Da’Mon Blackshear and Alatengheili. It is likely to be a matchup between striker and grappler with Alatengheili eager to stand and trade. Blackshear is aggressive when it comes to pursuing takedowns and looking to wrap up opponents. Generally in this weight class it is difficult to keep fighters grounded for very long but Blackshear has found success before when it comes to his grappling. He is coming off a win by submission against Cody Gibson in March. Not only can Blackshear burn clock well, he has a knack for ending his fights by submission. I believe that Alatengheili lacks the skill needed to roll with Blackshear and stay safe. I am not convinced that he will find a way to win this one without a flash knockout. Alatengheili had 75 percent takedown defense. He will likely be forced onto the defensive for a large portion of this fight. Training at Fight Ready has yielded good results for Alatengheili but I still consider his wrestling to be a work in progress. Nonetheless, please do not bet on Blackshear as such a large favorite. This is a volatile matchup and judge’s have cost Blackshear several close decisions before. I think he will convert a submission here if he does pursue it. Da’Mon Blackshear by Round Two Submission
• Nick: Da’Mon Blackshear is a former Cage Fury FC Bantamweight Champion. He’s 4-3-1 in the UFC, most recently coming off an impressive submission win over Cody Gibson just over a month ago. He is fairly well-rounded, but primarily a grappler. He’s dangerous on the mat offensively with a BJJ black belt, and eleven of his sixteen professional wins have come via submission. He does a decent job striking at range, but his ability to string together combinations is fairly limited. Additionally, his durability has to be in some degree of question as he was brutally KO’d by Montel Jackson in July of 2024. Alatengheili is 5-2-1 in the UFC, fighting out of an excellent camp in Fight Ready under Santino Defranco and Eddie Cha. He’s well-rounded with surprising power for his frame, and he continues to show improvement in his grappling abilities everytime we see him fight. Alatengheili should be able to keep this fight close early, but his cardio has been an issue at times. Alatengheili can be competitive on the feet here, but I expect Blackshear to lean on his grappling as he works his opponent for an eventual submission. The line feels wide given the questionable durability of Blackshear, but he certainly appears to be the rightful favorite. Da’Mon Blackshear by Round Two Submission

Chris Gutierrez -145 vs John Castaneda +120

• Anthony: Next is a matchup between Chris Gutierrez and John Castaneda. This fight was originally booked to take place on short notice at UFC 313. An illness forced Castaneda out of the contest, postponing it until today. These two will compete at 145 pounds as was the case originally. Castaneda would be smart to utilize his grappling skills here against a more talented striker. Often we see Castaneda primarily engaging opponents with his boxing, but that is not going to be the best gameplan as he now draws into Gutierrez. We have seen much better performances from Gutierrez on the feet. He possesses more power than Castaneda and mixes his attacks better, going more often to the body and using his kicks. Gutierrez has had problems when it comes to defending takedowns and getting back up. Castaneda could lean on his grappling to win this fight but I would rather put my money on Gutierrez. I expect a large portion of the bout to take place on the feet where Gutierrez is faster and more dangerous. Castaneda will absorb a lot of low leg kicks here as he establishes position as the fighter moving forward. Chris Gutierrez by Decision
• Nick: John Castenada does a good job switching stances. He’s a technical striker that manages distance well. He’s a competent grappler, but he’s certainly most content to stand and exchange on the feet. He’s coming off a hard fought decision loss to a tough out in Daniel Marcos, and he is 4-3 in the UFC. Castenada is dangerous offensively, but his aggressive style makes him vulnerable to counters and it often compromises his gas tank. Chris Gutierrez’s greatest strength is certainly his ability to throw devastating leg kicks. More than 50% of the strikes he’s thrown in the UFC are leg kicks and he’s shown he can utilize this attack effectively against a wide range of opponents. He is 9-2-1 across his last twelve fights, most recently securing a narrow decision win over a short notice opponent in Quan Le. Castenada averages 1.79 takedowns per fifteen minutes, so I expect he will try to lean on his grappling here. That being said, I expect Gutierrez can keep this fight standing long enough to edge out a decision on damage. Guiterrez’s leg kicks make him dangerous against anyone. Chris Gutierrez by Decision

Evan Elder -200 vs Gauge Young +160

• Anthony: Next is a matchup at lightweight between Gauge Young and Evan Elder. This is a short notice appearance for Young who steps in to replace Ahmad Hassanzada. Young is from Sedalia, Missouri and making his UFC debut here in front of a home crowd in Kansas City. He should be comfortable in this environment, but on short notice there is a question of if Young is in the best shape to be competing. He has largely fought very low-level opponents in the Fighting Alliance Championship. On Dana White’s Contender Series last fall, Young put up a competitive fight against Quillan Salkilld. He can probably stand and box against Elder but I think he lacks good striking defense. I think he will also struggle in this matchup against Elder who appears to be the stronger grappler. Elder can rely on his wrestling as needed here, wearing on Young and keeping his offensive attacks limited. Young will struggle to keep pace with Elder if he is faced with defending a high number of takedowns. I also think he is a step slower than Elder. I prefer the more durable and experienced athlete in this matchup. I am surprised Elder is not favored by even more here as this booking comes on short notice. He was a -350 favorite when booked against Hassanzada. Evan Elder by Round Three KO
• Nick: Evan Elder took his debut fight on very short notice, fighting up a weight class as a means to gain entry to the promotion. He was man-handled for three rounds in that spot, but he showed solid durability and a willingness to go out on his shield. He’s most recently coming off a dominant win over Darrius Flowers, which came in another fight that he took on short notice. He enters this fight on a two fight win streak and he is now 2-2 in the UFC. Elder is decent everywhere as an intelligent striker and an explosive athlete. He’s still raw in his abilities as he’s only 28 years-old, but he continues to show considerable improvements everytime we see him in the cage. He fights out of an excellent camp via Kill Cliff FC. Gauge Young will be making his UFC debut here, coming off a win via KO over Eric Grant at FAC 27. Prior to that win, he lost a hard fought decision on the Contender Series to a rising young prospect in Quillan Salkilld. Young is primarily a striker, with six of his nine professional wins coming via KO. He is 9-3 professionally, generally athletic, but his defensive grappling does seem to be more of a weakness than a strength. This fight may be competitive on the feet, but Elder’s ability to mix in his grappling is what makes him a rightful favorite. Evan Elder by Round Two Submission

Matt Schnell -175 vs Jimmy Flick +140

• Anthony: Closing out the prelims is this exciting flyweight matchup between Jimmy Flick and Matt Schnell. I am expecting this to be a good clash of styles with the boxer Schnell taking on a talented grappler. Flick has a very basic approach to his fights, reliant on the takedown and threat of submissions. He does not have the hand speed or accuracy to match Schnell’s firepower on the feet. Schnell has a big frame for this weight class and a reach advantage here against Flick. He should be able to work behind his jab and keep safe from Flick’s attacks when standing. Schnell has had his chin cracked a few times but he is the rightful favorite here against an opponent with very little power. I think Schnell will need to prioritize takedown defense and protecting his neck here today. Schnell has lost three fights in a row without surviving past early round two. He is 35 years old and at flyweight that means he will likely retire soon. Flick fought well early in his last performance. He at least appeared live as the +400 underdog. It is tougher to pick him here on Saturday compared to earlier this week when he was available at +250. Schnell is a tough stylistic matchup but I think Flick can find a win by finish. Jimmy Flick by Round One Submission 
• Nick: Matt Schnell is sometimes considered a slow starter, but he has underrated power on the feet. His striking is decent, but his offensive grappling is his greatest strength as a BJJ black belt with ten of his sixteen professional wins coming by way of submission. His durability is of major concern, and he enters this fight on a three-fight losing streak. In spite of these recent results, he matches up well here against an aggressive grappler in Jimmy Flick. Jimmy Flick has extremely advanced BJJ ability, and is a former LFA flyweight champion. His striking isn’t terrible, but he has a questionable chin and durability, as six of his nine professional losses have come via KO. He has been out of action since he fell via decision to Nate Maness back in June of 2024. Flick will be very dangerous if he can take this fight to the mat, but Schnell has the ability to keep things on the feet as he is the much better striker at range. Additionally, he’s decent enough in terms of his own BJJ to likely stay safe if and when he needs to. These are two inconsistent and relatively low level flyweights at this point in their respective careers. I slightly prefer the Schnell side. Matt Schnell by Decision

Main Card- Starts 9:00pm EST

Ikram Aliskerov -500 vs Andre Muniz +380

• Anthony: The main card opens with this fight at middleweight between Andre Muniz and Ikram Aliskerov. Aliskerov has not competed since a main event loss last June against Robert Whittaker. Aliskerov lost by round one knockout in that matchup after winning all seven fights prior. He could bounce back here against a talented grappler in Muniz, but I think this is another difficult matchup for him. The Russian is skilled in terms of his grappling and takedown defense but Ikram’s best work is really done with his striking. He is a legitimate power threat with good combinations and knees. One issue with Aliskerov is his striking defense and a bad habit of ignoring shots coming at him up the middle. However, Muniz is not a real threat with his hands to hurt or stun Aliskerov. Muniz will need to rely on his high-level grappling to earn this victory. Muniz will always be dangerous against others grappling in this division. He is a 3rd degree black belt in jiu jitsu with 15 career wins by way of submission. This fight could hinge on his ability to secure a takedown early in round one. I am sure that Aliskerov will settle in the longer that this fight goes. His striking advantage is just as prominent as the advantage Muniz has on the mat. Muniz is not a bad bet at these odds or perhaps by just taking the submission prop. I do not recommend betting on Aliskerov at -500 or any higher. Ikram Aliskerov by Round Two KO
• Nick: Ikram Aliskerov is 15-2 professionally, with his only losses coming to Khamzat Chimaev back in 2019 and Robert Whittaker his last time out, in June of 2024. He’s primarily a grappler but often described as well-rounded, with five wins coming via submission and six coming via KO. He carries decent power on the feet, but his striking is far from technical as he throws mostly hooks and chases knockouts without much concern for defense. He’s one of the better wrestlers in the division, but he seems to prefer to stand and trade as a means to conserve cardio. Andre Muniz has extremely advanced BJJ and he’s one of the better grapplers there are in the division. Fifteen of Muniz’ twenty-four professional victories have come by way of submission. His striking continues to show improvements, but he telegraphs his more powerful shots. He is coming off a win over a tough out in Jung Young Park, but many felt he was gifted a decision in that fight as he didn’t cause much damage. Muniz will be live for an early submission here, but it seems more likely than not we will see the well-rounded Aliskerov outclass him as this fight wears on. Ikram Aliskerov by Round Two KO

Randy Brown -280 vs Nicolas Dalby +220

• Anthony: Next is a bout at welterweight between Randy Brown and Nicolas Dalby. This should be a competitive matchup likely trending toward a fifteen minute decision. Both men lost by close split decision in their last fight after certainly having a lot of key moments go their way. Dalby certainly performed well against Rinat Fakhretdinov, taking over late in that fight as he often does. Dalby really is consistent with his offensive attacks, throwing volume for the whole fight and seemingly never getting tired. His pace is not very crazy but over the course of three rounds it is tough for opponents to stand and trade with him. Brown does have some physical advantages that give him the lead in this matchup. He has a four-inch reach advantage over Dalby while also standing four inches taller. His jab should find a home very early as Dalby looks to establish his own offensive range. Brown also has long legs that are used to great effect when kicking at range. He should be able to beat up Dalby here while staying away from wild exchanges in the pocket. Brown is 34 years old but Dalby is already on the wrong side of 40. It will be tough for him to continue finding success against strong and athletic opponents like this one. Brown should score enough throughout this fight to earn a convincing win by decision. Randy Brown by Decision
• Nick: Randy Brown is extremely well-rounded with KO power and underrated BJJ ability. He’s very light on his feet, with excellent head movement and solid overall striking defense. He works well behind his jab, and he uses his length more effectively than most other fighters with his frame. Brown is coming off a hard fought decision loss to a rising prospect in Bryan Battle, but prior to that he had strung together an impressive three-fight winning streak. Nicolas Dalby is fairly well rounded, but most of his success has come through his strong wrestling base. He’s decent on the feet, but doesn’t throw much volume. He can be dangerous offensively, but defensively he is often there to be countered as he throws looping power shots rather than tight compact combinations. Dalby has never been finished and I do expect he’ll have a cardio advantage in this match-up. He’s coming off a controversial decision loss to Rinat Fakhretdinov, a fight in which the majority of the public felt he was robbed of a decision. The line feels wide here as Dalby is very difficult to finish. He’s going to have a cardio and durability advantage as an underdog, so there is a chance he can pull off another upset. That being said, Brown’s cardio has also held up at this level and he should be able to use his length here to mostly pick Dalby apart at range. I’m siding with the favorite. Randy Brown by Decision

Michel Pereira -145 vs Abus Magomedov +120

• Anthony: This is a good bout at middleweight between Michel Pereira and Abus Magomedov. Pereira suffered a loss in his last matchup, a main event against Anthony Hernandez last fall. That defeat ended a streak of eight straight wins for the Brazilian. I think Pereira will continue to find success in this weight class where his power translates and his cardio seems to never run out. This is a matchup that should allow Pereira to again threaten an early finish. Some pundits are high on Magomedov and his striking but I do not see anything special out of him. A vast majority of his attacks come without much set-up, simply looking to connect with one or two big shots. Magomedov is more steady in his approach to boxing but Pereira poses a much more immediate threat with his high volume. He is not afraid to explode into the pocket and challenge his opponents with dirty boxing and attacks in the clinch. Pereira is also the more confident grappler with eight career wins coming via submission. He will be looking to score takedowns against Magomedov if he does need some reprieve from absorbing strikes. I think he is the rightful favorite in this spot as his skillset is much further developed. Pereira has also fought much stiffer competition than the names Magomedov has seen so far. Michel Pereira by Round Two Submission
• Nick: Michel Pereira is like a video game character in the way he flips around the ring. He’s one of the most entertaining fighters to watch, but his Fight IQ is always in question. He likes to throw ridiculous looking spinning kicks and he’s been known to backflip onto his opponents for pretty much no reason. This can put an unnecessary dent in his gas tank, but he does have strong striking ability and he has shown a solid chin against decent competition. Prior to a recent loss to a rising contender in Anthony Hernandez, he managed to string together an impressive eight-fight win streak. It seems he’s growing more intelligent in the cage from fight to fight. He’s pulled back on the wild antics in favor of a more conservative approach, and as a result he’s as dangerous as he’s ever been. Abus Magomedov is a rangy striker with a decent wrestling base and dangerous BJJ. He throws extremely powerful strikes, but he struggles if opponents can close distance on him and force him to fight off his back foot. He’s coming off a solid win via submission over a tough out in Brunno Ferreira. He is now on a two fight win streak and 3-2 in the UFC. He’s a competent grappler, but his questionable cardio forces him to play out most of his fights at striking range. Magomedov is capable of pulling off an upset here, but it seems unlikely. Pereira is the much quicker and more well-rounded fighter in this matchup. He’s also more likely to be the aggressor, which to me should help secure him another win by finish. Michel Pereira by Round One KO

David Onama -200 vs Giga Chikadze +160

• Anthony: The featured bout is a good scrap at featherweight between David Onama and Giga Chikadze. It has been a year since Chikadze last competed but I am of course excited to see him back in action. Chikadze has elite kickboxing skills and when opponents do oblige him in a fight standing, it is generally very aesthetically pleasing. Chikadze has a great feel for the pocket and quickly makes his way into and out of range. His kicks are a great weapon early in fights, connecting with accuracy and power. Onama would get picked apart for three rounds here if he allows Chikadze to dictate this fight’s pace. I expect to see a more measured approach from Onama, timing some level changes and fighting a more intelligent gameplan. He has matured a lot while accruing a 5-2 record since joining the promotion. His striking volume is higher than Chikadze and Onama has proven to have the cardio to go a hard fifteen minutes. Onama seems to be in better shape heading into this encounter. He is on a three fight winning streak. The weight miss is also a bit concerning for Chikadze after another year out of action. Onama also trains locally at Glory MMA and Fitness and should have the home crowd behind him. I think he can stay slightly ahead of Chikadze to earn the judge’s decision. David Onama by Decision
• Nick: David Onama is a dangerous striker with explosive combinations and excellent footwork. He does a good job mixing in shots to the body to slow his opponents down, he works well at range and he’s shown continued improvements in his grappling abilities as well. He is entering this fight on a three fight win-streak, most recently securing a decision over Roberto Romero back at UFC 309 in November of 2024. Giga Chikadze is a high-level kickboxer who is excellent when striking at range. He throws extremely powerful kicks and his countering ability is extremely advanced. His defensive grappling ability is certainly the most exploitable part of his game, but his ability to strike at range makes him a difficult opponent to close the distance against. Chikadze is the better technical striker at range, but Onama does a good job at closing distance and forcing his opponents to brawl. I expect he can lean on his grappling as he works his way back into the win column. David Onama by Decision

Zhang Mingyang -500 vs Anthony Smith +380

• Anthony: The co-main event is a light heavyweight matchup between Zhang Mingyang and Anthony Smith. I am expecting this to be a quick fight here as Smith goes to take on the rising Chinese star. All 18 of Mingyang’s professional victories have ended in the first round, showcasing his power and great finishing instincts. Both of his first two promotional appearances were impressive knockouts coming early in round one. His power should translate well here against a fighter in Smith that is at the end of his career. This will be the 59th fight in Smith’s long career and he has taken quite a beating throughout. The previous few appearances from Smith have really shown his age and his striking was never really that high quality. Mingyang is going to hit much harder and connect with accurate, straight shots against Smith. I think the best chance for Smith to pull off the upset would be scoring a takedown and grounding Mingyang early. Smith is a jiu jitsu black belt with 15 career wins by submission. He is often very quick to engage his opponents and I think he will waste no time trying to wrap up Mingyang here. This fight should certainly be over in less than five minutes. I am betting the time props on this fight expecting to easily cash the under. I think Mingyang finds another highlight win by knockout here. Zhang Mingyang by Round One KO
• Nick: Zhang is 18-6 professionally and on an eleven-fight win streak, with all eleven of those wins coming via first round finish. He’s dangerous offensively, but his open stance leaves him there to be countered in exchanges. He carries a lot of momentum into this match-up as he’s coming off back to back wins under the UFC banner, but he’s taking a dramatic step up in level of competition here in the retirement fight for seasoned vet, Anthony Smith. Anthony Smith is 37-21 professionally, with one of the more extensive resumes in the world at light heavyweight. Smith has shown outstanding cardio, and even in his losses he has shown respectable durability. He has declared this to be his retirement fight as he’s been on a dramatic decline in terms of athleticism, but he’s still one of the more well-rounded fighters in the light heavyweight division. The line is far too wide here even with Smith heading towards retirement. He’s the better grappler in this match-up and if he can extend the fight one would expect he has a considerable advantage in cardio. That being said, Zhang is extremely aggressive and Smith’s durability seems to have quickly declined. Zhang Mingyang by Round One KO

Ian Machado Garry -150 vs Carlos Prates +125

• Anthony: The main event comes at welterweight with Ian Garry set to face Carlos Prates. The Fighting Nerds are the hottest camp right now in MMA. Prates looks to continue a streak of 20 straight wins for his team since the four athletes emerged from Dana White’s Contender Series. Prates himself is 4-0 in the UFC with all of his victories coming by way of knockout. He is a very aggressive striker, blending great attacks from the southpaw stance with thudding muay thai combinations in close. This is the first time we are seeing Prates tested over the course of five rounds. There are a lot of questions surrounding his cardio as Prates smokes frequently and cuts a lot of weight to make the 170 pound limit. Garry should be in position to dictate where this bout takes place. He is coming off a loss in his last octagon appearance, fighting Shavkat Rakhmonov in a five round co-main event. Garry did very well in that matchup, winning rounds and looking much more live than +300 would suggest. I expect this to be a bad night for Prates as he finally meets a striker that can match his speed and precision. Garry should be much more defensively sound. Garry is also the faster and more fluid striker, landing better boxing combinations and attacks from range. Prates is a very dangerous fighter in the clinch but I do not expect Garry to oblige him there for very long. Garry is also a solid grappler who can lean on his wrestling as needed tonight. Prates’ takedown defense has not been tested yet at this level and a grappling heavy approach could prove fruitful in tiring Prates and wearing out his arms. Garry is the rightful favorite tonight and I think he finds a way to win this matchup. He should follow a strict gameplan here tonight and I would be very surprised to see him knocked out by The Nightmare. Ian Machado Garry by Round Four KO
• Nick: Ian Machado Garry enters this fight as a heavily hyped prospect and a former Cage Warriors Welterweight Champion. He’s still developing his skills in general, but he already shows an impressive professional resume with a 15-1 professional record. His striking continues to improve dramatically, he has a solid wrestling base, and enough power standing and ability on the mat to find finishes against a wide range of opponents. He’s coming off a hard fought decision loss to a top contender in Shavkat Rakhmonov, which marked the first loss of his professional career. Carlos Prates is 31-years old with a 21-6 professional record. He hasn’t lost a fight since 2019, and he’s fought against a decent level of competition even before he made it to the UFC debut. He’s coming off impressive KO wins over Charles Radke, Trevin Giles, Li Jingliang, and most recently Neil Magny. He starts slow in most of his fights, but he’s extremely accurate and generally does a good job landing for timely KOs. Prates fights very loosely in his approach. He throws a lot of kicks, and his long frame can make it difficult for opponents to take him down. His striking defense seems solid, but he does move straight back at times which can leave him open to be damaged in exchanges. When he’s at his best he works well behind his jab. He fights at a torrid pace and his cardio and durability both seem quality as well. Prates carries a lot of momentum into this fight, but there’s no denying he’s taking a major step up in competition here against a more proven commodity in Garry. Prates will be live to find a finish via knockout here, but I expect Garry to lean on his grappling as he edges out another narrow decision win. Ian Garry by Decision

-Nick Marro

Twitter: @NickMarroDFS

-Anthony Marro

Twitter: @AnthonyMarro_

Photo: UFC.com