After two years away, the UFC is back in one of America’s great Midwestern cities
After two years away, the UFC is back in one of America’s great Midwestern cities Saturday with UFC on ESPN 66 in Kansas City.
Here’s how to watch UFC on ESPN 66 with rising welterweight stars in the headlining spot.
Broadcast and streaming info
UFC on ESPN 66 has a main card that starts at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN2. The preliminary card streams on ESPN+ at 9 p.m. ET.
Stay tuned to MMA Junkie later this week for more broadcast details.
Main event: Ian Machado Garry
Record: 15-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC
Opponent: Carlos Prates (21-6 MMA, 4-0 UFC)
Division: Welterweight
Key wins: Michael Page, Geoff Neal, Neil Magny, Daniel Rodriguez
Misc.: The 27-year-old Irish prospect is looking to rebound from the first loss of his career, which came against Shavkat Rakhmonov this past December at UFC 310.
Main event: Carlos Prates
Record: 21-6 MMA, 4-0 UFCOpponent: Ian Machado Garry (15-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC)Division: WelterweightKey wins: Neil Magny, Jingliang LiMisc.: Prates was set to bring his 11-fight winning streak to a bout against Geoff Neal until Neal pulled out. Now he gets his second straight main event, instead. In his first this past November, he knocked out Nail Magny in the first round. It was his fourth straight finish to start his UFC career and fourth straight post-fight bonus. His past 10 wins have all been knockouts in the first or second round in his native Brazil, the LFA and now the UFC.
Co-main event: Zhang Mingyang
Record: 18-6 MMA, 2-0 UFCOpponent: Anthony Smith (38-21 MMA, 13-11 UFC)Division: Light heavyweightKey wins: Ozzy Diaz, Brendson RibeiroMisc.: After his Road to UFC win, the 26-year-old Chinese fighter blasted through his first two UFC opponents for first-round knockouts and bonuses. He’s more than a 5-1 favorite to give Smith a disappointing end to his career in front of his home fans.
Co-main event: Anthony Smith
Record: 38-21 MMA, 13-11 UFCOpponent: Zhang Mingyang (18-6 MMA, 2-0 UFC)Division: Light heavyweightKey wins: Vitor Petrino, Ryan Spann (twice), Devin Clark, Alexander Gustafsson, Volkan Oezdemir, Mauricio Rua, Rashad Evans, Hector LombardMisc.: Somehow, it’s been more than six years since Smith’s title shot against then-champ Jon Jones. It’s been more down than up at 6-7 for Smith since then, and he’s teased, then gone back on retirement. But this time, he says it’s for good.
UFC debut: Gauge Young
Record: 9-2Opponent: Evan Elder (9-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC)Division: Light heavyweightMisc.: The UFC got its first look at Young this past fall on DWCS, but he dropped a decision. He picked up a knockout win three months later, though, to stay on the radar and now will try to take advantage of a short-notice opportunity.
UFC debut: Malcolm Wellmaker
Record: 8-0Opponent: Cameron Saaiman (9-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC)Division: BantamweightMisc.: 30-year-old had a first-round knockout win on DWCS this past August. Now the Georgian (the state, not the country) has his UFC debut.
UFC on ESPN 66 main card betting odds
MAIN CARD (ESPN2/ESPN+, 9 p.m. ET)
- Ian Machado Garry -135 vs. Carlos Prates +115
- Zhang Mingyang -550 vs. Anthony Smith +375
- Giga Chikadze +150 vs. David Onama -180
- Abus Magomedov +130 vs. Michel Pereira -155
- Randy Brown -235 vs. Nicolas Dalby +190
- Ikram Aliskerov -725 vs. Andre Muniz +450
UFC on ESPN 66 prelim betting odds
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)
- Jimmy Flick +235 vs. Matt Schnell -290
- John Castaneda +110 vs. Chris Gutierrez -130
- Heili Alateng +290 vs. Da’Mon Blackshear -390
- Cameron Saaiman -110 vs. Malcolm Wellmaker -110
- Jaqueline Amorim -650 vs. Polyana Viana +425
- Timmy Cuamba +100 vs. Roberto Romero -120
- Chelsea Chandler +225 vs. Joselyne Edwards -275
- Evan Elder -260 vs. Gauge Young +210
UFC on ESPN 66 preview videos
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