HOF UFC KC | Expert Picks
Home of Fight Expert Picks: UFC Kansas City
The UFC returns to Kansas City this Saturday, April 26, with a stacked card at the T-Mobile Center, headlined by a pivotal welterweight showdown between Ireland’s Ian Machado Garry and Brazil’s surging Carlos Prates. Garry, ranked No. 7, is looking to rebound from his first professional loss after an impressive 8-1 UFC run, showcasing a well-rounded game honed alongside the Chute Boxe team in Brazil.
His technical striking, high fight IQ, and growing confidence on the ground will be tested against Prates, who has electrified the division with four consecutive knockout wins and performance bonuses in each UFC appearance. Prates’ finishing power and aggressive style make him a genuine threat, and a win would catapult him into title contention.
The co-main event marks the emotional retirement fight for veteran Anthony Smith, who faces China’s rising prospect Zhang Mingyang. Smith, a former title challenger, seeks to end his 17-year career on a high note, while Zhang aims to announce himself as a new force at light heavyweight.Elsewhere, featherweight technician Giga Chikadze meets the explosive David Onama, and fan-favorite Michel Pereira brings his acrobatic striking to a middleweight clash with Abus Magomedov. With a blend of established contenders and hungry prospects, UFC Kansas City promises high-stakes action and potential breakout performances for fight fans.
Prates vs Garry | HOF
Ian Machado Garry vs. Carlos Prates
- HayJive – Carlos Prates
“Garry has the tools/ fight IQ to be competitive with anyone in the division, but at times that can lead to him winning/losing by thin margins. On the other side I like how Dangerous Prates is, if he can keep this a striking battle I see him landing the bigger shots on Garry.”
- Nolan (TheParlay) – Ian Machado Garry
“Garry has shown he can compete with the top of the division, is well rounded, and puts himself in situations to make fights close. There’s still unknowns with Prates, especially in extended fights.”
- JJ (TheOctagonKings) – Carlos Prates
“Skill for skill, Ian Garry is the more skilled fighter, though Prates has a 90% TDD, is efficient with his striking and has one shot KO Power. We have seen Garry tagged by the likes of Song Kenan, Shavkhat and Michael Page. I do believe that Prates could find a few shots to bring this home in the earlier rounds.”
- Corrie – Carlos Prates
“I’m taking Prates by devastating knockout. Gotta ride with the fighting nerds, gotta ride with the guy on a 10-fight knockout streak, and gotta ride with the guy with over a hundred Muay Thai fights under his belt before his pro career. Garry leaves his chin up, backs out straight, and Prates is literally the last guy you want to do that against.”
- The Fight Analyst – Ian Machado Garry
“Prates is the shiny new toy that’s been finishing everyone in his path, but that ends here this weekend. While this is a short notice in retrospect for Garry, he’s shown he can compete against the best with limited time to prepare. As long as Garry doesn’t get bonked inside two rounds, he will start to take over down the stretch utilizing his speed, footwork, and his improved ground game to get the nod on the scorecards when it’s all said and done.”
Smith vs Mingyang | HOF
Anthony Smith vs. Zhang Mingyang
- HayJive – Zhang Mingyang
“Don’t fully count out Smith, as this is a big step up in competition for Zhang. However I do like how dangerous Zhang is in the pocket and I think he’ll be too fast and durable for Smith to handle here.”
- Nolan (TheParlay) – Zhang Mingyang
“The firepower may be too much, and Zhang’s riding tons of momentum. If this fight goes late, look out for smith jumping on submission opportunities though.”
- JJ (TheOctagonKings) – Zhang Mingyang
“Zhang isn’t a counter striker that invites action before engaging. He is much more of an aggressor, and due to Anthony Smith’s durability decline recently, I believe this is a horrible fight for Zhang, who is aggressive and powerful.”
- Corrie – Zhang Mingyang
“Every part of me wants Anthony Smith to survive that first round and find the win, but I gotta go with Zhang Mingyang. That said, his only wins are first round finishes so we’ll see what happens if he gets dragged deep but with Smith taking almost 5 sig strikes a minute while Mingyang’s landing over 8.5, it’s kinda bleak but no way am I laying -500 on someone we’ve never seen well past the first, but I’ll say he gets the W.”
- The Fight Analyst – Zhang Mingyang
“This is typically the fight that Smith tends to pull off against a fairly untested heavy KO artist. However, he is now on the brink of retirement, and a gust of wind can knock him out. As long as Zhang doesn’t get overzealous and gets taken down, he should send Smith into retirement with an early knockout.”
Chikadze vs Onama | HOF
Giga Chikadze vs. David Onama
- HayJive – David Onama
“I think we have seen the decline of Giga ever since the Kattar fight and I expect it to show here. Onama has better cardio, grappling, and has great striking in his own right. I’ll take Onama by KO or Decision.”
- Nolan (TheParlay) – David Onama
“Onama is younger, more powerful, battle tested, and far more active. Giga’s been dealing with injuries, a layoff, and doesn’t have the greatest gas tank.”
- JJ (TheOctagonKings) – Giga Chikadze
“Onama is an athletic and powerful featherweight, but Giga is tremendously skilled and is coming off a reasonably competitive fight with Arnold Allen. Giga has extremely fast kicks that could take the gas off Onama as well.”
- Corrie – David Onama
“I’m picking David Onama here… He’s the younger fresher fighter and while Giga’s still super talented on the feet, he hasn’t looked great since the Kattar fight and my fear is he’s gong to almost try to keep space between Onama and him but I think Onama’s forward pressure will ruin that for him so Onama just needs to mix it up and stay aggressive.”
- The Fight Analyst – David Onama
“This is certainly a step up in competition for Onama, and while he did win against Romero, it wasn’t the best performance; he still has the intangibles to beat an aged Giga Chikadze to get a big statement win. Chikadze looks like a shell of his former self, and at age 36, his best years are behind him. He certainly can get the KO, but seeing as he hasn’t had a finish since 2021, it’s tough to see that happening here. Obama’s aggressiveness and ability to mix it up should overwhelm Chikadze to either a late stoppage victory or the nod on the scorecards.”
Marcel Dorff | X
Michel Pereira vs. Abus Magomedov
- HayJive – Michel Pereira
“Very tough one to call, it’s either Pereira early or a greasy decision that could go either way. I have to give the slight advantage to Pereira though, he’s more dangerous early and I don’t believe Abus can push an Anthony Hernandez pace without gassing out.”
- Nolan (TheParlay) – Abus Magomedov
“Michel Pereira will need a knockout early, or else Abus could show cleaner boxing and mix in the grappling to win minutes in this fight.”
- JJ (TheOctagonKings) – Michel Pereira
“Pereira is the better, more versatile striker when compared to Abus. While he did lose to Fluffy, Pereira is now fighting a fighter with arguably the worst gas tank. I understand Pereira’s gas tank isn’t elite, but his timing is perfect and we have seen Abus make mistakes on the feet.”
- Corrie – Michel Pereira
“Fluffy needed five full rounds to finish him and Abus might have that early knockout power, but he doesn’t push the same kind of pace and just isn’t a cardio freak like Fluffy… Pereira’s only been knocked out twice in like 40+ fights. Periera’s a littl emore unpredictable on the feet overall and I think Periera will take over once this gets out of the first round.”
- The Fight Analyst – Abus Magomedov
“This is a tough fight to call as both fighters are known gassers, and they are both primarily strikers. However, Magomedov has the grappling upside, which could be the deciding factor in this matchup. If Magomedov can utilize his size and get this fight to the mat, he should be able to dominate from there, potentially getting the stoppage and the win.”
Marcel Dorff | X
Randy Brown vs. Nicolas Dalby
- HayJive – Randy Brown
“Dalby always impresses me, even at 40 years of age. His biggest advantage here will be in the clinch where he loves to wear on his opponents. Brown has struggled in the clinch, but he will have a clear edge striking at range. I’ll take Brown here for his possible finishing upside early and the damage he can accrue if the fight goes to decision.”
- Nolan (TheParlay) – Randy Brown
“Dalby has looked good, but he’s older, hittable, and Brown’s reach and length could be a huge problem.”
- JJ (TheOctagonKings) – Randy Brown
“Dalby thrives on exposing younger, up and coming fighters, however Brown has been in there with a ton of higher level oppositions of different styles. Dalby’s age is getting up there where Brown is quite dangerous as well. I could see this dragging into R2/R3 where Brown finds a finish.”
- Corrie – Nicolas Dalby
“I could see this fight going so many ways but Dalby’s gotta be my 40-year old of the week. If there’s a finish, I trust his pressure and chin more, and if it goes the distance, his strong later rounds and nonstop pace could edge it out. Randy’s got the tools and could get the split decision, but Dalby’s never been finished and knows how to break these guys late.”
- The Fight Analyst – Randy Brown
“This is such an odd fight considering Randy Brown, in my opinion, should be fighting someone right on the outside of the top 15 or someone that has a ranking next to his name. While Dalby, even at 40 years old, is still a tough fight for anyone at 170 lbs, Brown has him covered pretty much everywhere. As long as Brown can avoid being held against the cage for long periods of time, he should be the one landing at range and outpointing his way to a wide victory in this fight.”
Marcel Dorff | X
Ikram Aliskerov vs. Andre Muniz
- HayJive – Ikram Aliskerov
“Muniz has struggled with well rounded fighters and that’s exactly who Ikram is. Muniz only path to victory is his grappling and I don’t see him having success. I’ll take Ikram by KO here.”
- Nolan (TheParlay) – Ikram Aliskerov
“Ikram needs a bounce back, he’s going to be faster, better striking, more powerful, and can match the grappling. I believe Ikram wins by finish.”
- JJ (TheOctagonKings) – Ikram Aliskerov
“Ikram’s getting a favorable matchup. The striking differential is large, and while Muniz can submit anyone on the mat, getting it there is a completely different conversation. On the feet, Ikram can pick his shots.”
- Corrie – Ikram Aliskerov
“I’m taking Ikram by finish and leaning TKO, but since the odds are super wide, I’ll probably go for a round prop, most likely the under 1.5, given Ikram’s history of early finishes and Muniz’s tendency to get finished early. Muniz hasn’t fought in forever and was 1-2 in his last three, and with Ikram’s pace and power, I just don’t think he can keep up if it stays standing, which is exactly how I see it playing out.”
- The Fight Analyst – Ikram Aliskerov
“This is a get-right fight for Aliskerov after he had the daunting task of taking on Robert Whittaker on very short notice. He can go in there and do as he pleases, as he is the better striker and the better pure grappler. While Muniz is still a highly-touted BJJ black belt, he will be the one fishing for low percentage submissions off his back that will be voided by Aliskerov’s top pressure and ground-and-pound. Expect Aliskerov to go in there and get the finish inside two rounds to get back in the win column.”
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