Rising welterweights clash in the octagon this weekend as the UFC heads to Kansas City for a fight night with big implications for the division.
The welterweight belt will be on the line in just three weeks when current champion Belal Muhammad takes on Aussie Jack Della which is why the main event in Kansas City holds so much weight.
There are plenty more quality fights taking place on the card and our best bets can be found below.
Ian Garry vs Carlos Prates
Irish born Ian Garry had a perfect record of 7-0 when entering the UFC in 2021 including a Cage Warriors championship at welterweight in his home country.
He quickly asserted himself within the biggest promotion in the world, rising up the ranks and putting together an unbeaten eight fight win streak in the UFC.
That run came to an end in his last outing when he took on Shavkat Rakhmonov to close out 2024, a fight in which he lost by unanimous decision.
Carlos Prates is a 31 year old Brazilian who entered the UFC through Dana White’s Contender Series in 2023 but he had plenty of experience in MMA before joining the company.
His record was 16-6 before the UFC but he had a couple of wins in One Championship as well as LFA.
He earns a fight against one of the biggest names in the sport off the back of 11 straight wins including four in the year 2024 and victories over Li Jingliang and Neil Magny.
Incredibly his last 10 straight wins have been via KO/TKO and he hasn’t seen a third round during that streak.
He has brutal knockout power and an awkward striking style but his opponent is a very competent wrestler and grappler.
2 Units Double Chance 2: Prates By KO/TKO OR Garry By Submission @ $2.05
Anthony Smith vs Zhang Mingyang
Anthony Smith could have been the Light Heavyweight champion of the world if he had of refused to fight on after an illegal knee by Jon Jones in their title fight back in 2019.
That wasn’t his style and while he has never received another title chance, he has forged a successful living out of being a UFC fighter.
He has wins over Alexander Gustaffson, Jimmy Crute and Ryan Spann but comes into this co main event having lost three of his last four.
Zhang Mingyang is one of the most exciting fighters to come out of China in recent years and has made a bright start to his UFC career.
The ‘Mountain Tiger’ won a UFC contract through the Road To The UFC series and he has won all three of his fights by first round knockout.
Every time Anthony Smith enters the octagon there is speculation that he may retire but he may have no choice after this one.
2 Units Mingyang Zhang By KO/TKO
Giga Chikadze vs David Onama
There is always one fight on the card that is a sneaky banger and I’m pinpointing this fight as just that.
There have been many talented fighters come out of Georgia in recent times but Giga Chigadze pathed the way for his countrymen by making his UFC debut back in 2019.
He won his first nine fights in the UFC and was on the cusp of a title fight before losing two of his last three.
The ‘Silent Assassin’ David Onama has proven himself to be a very dangerous fighter since entering the UFC in 2021.
His record is 5-2 in the promotion and he has wins by KO, submission and decision.
He is a well rounded mixed martial artist that is capable of ending this fight but this is a whole other level against a seasoned and experienced campaigner in Chikadze.
1 Unit Giga Chikadze To Win @ $2.40