The UFC returns to Kansas City this weekend, headlined by a Featherweight matchup between Max Holloway and Arnold Allen. Read our preview of the entire UFC Kansas City main card below.
Find all the results from UFC Kansas City: Holloway vs. Allen here.
Former UFC Featherweight Champion and one of the greatest fighters in UFC history, Max Holloway, looks to add to his stacked resume with another win over a rising prospect.
Arnold Allen enters his second straight UFC main event with the most significant opportunity of his career against Holloway, with a UFC Featherweight Championship shot likely on the line.
Read our breakdown of the UFC Kansas City main event between Max Holloway and Arnold Allen here.
UFC Kansas City also brings a stacked undercard to ESPN, with the main card and prelims featuring several high-level bouts. The prelims feature a Flyweight contender bout between Brandon Royval and Matheus Nicolau, as well as Bill Algeo, Gillian Robertson, Lando Vannata and the UFC debut of Gaston Bolanos.
Find the entire UFC on ESPN 44: Holloway vs. Allen fight card and start times here.
Read our preview of the entire UFC Kansas City main card below.
Edson Barboza vs. Billy Quarantillo
In the UFC on ESPN 44 co-main event, perennial contender Edson Barboza takes on the always-exciting Billy Quarantillo in a ranked-Featherweight bout.
Edson Barboza enters his 28th UFC bout as one of the greatest strikers in UFC history, with over a decade in the UFC competing in both the Lightweight and Featherweight divisions. After a successful career at Lightweight, where he only lost to the best of the best, Barboza moved down to the Featherweight division in 2020.
Find the entire UFC on ESPN 44: Holloway vs. Allen fight card and start times here.
Currently 2-3-0 at Featherweight, Barboza has suffered difficult losses to Giga Chikadze and Bryce Mitchell in his past two bouts. But with two of the best knockouts in UFC history, the spinning wheel kick against Terry Etim and the flying knee knockout of Beneil Dariush, Barboza can turn the lights out at any second.
Quarantillo enters the most prominent spot of his career after a come-from-behind TKO victory over Alexander Hernandez in December. In a coveted co-main event feature, Quarantillo has a chance to enter the mainstream and establish himself as a UFC star.
With a Featherweight ranking on the line, the stakes are significant for both men. Surprisingly, Barboza is only three years older than Quarantillo, but he has had a long career, with his UFC debut in 2010 coming before Quarantillo even began his MMA career.
A win at UFC Kansas City for either man will line up a ranked matchup next with a chance to continue their rise in the Featherweight division, with the loser having to go back to the drawing board and, if Barboza is to lose, potentially retire.
Read our breakdown of the UFC Kansas City main event between Max Holloway and Arnold Allen here.
Dustin Jacoby vs. Azamat Murzakanov
Also on the UFC Kansas City main card is a Light Heavyweight matchup between two of the division’s highly touted future contenders, Dustin Jacoby and Azamat Murzakanov.
Jacoby, the former Glory Kickboxer, looks to bounce back from his first loss since returning to MMA in 2019. Despite MMA bouts in the UFC and Bellator from 2011-2015, Jacoby focused on his Kickboxing career until making the complete transition back to MMA in 2019.
Find all the results from UFC Kansas City: Holloway vs. Allen here.
After a victory over Cody East on the regional scene, Jacoby earnt his UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2020. Since then, Jacoby has fought eight times in the UFC, with six victories, a split draw against Ion Cutelaba and a controversial split decision loss to Khalil Rountree Jr. in his last outing.
Across from him will be undefeated Russian finisher Azamat Murzakanov, who makes his third Octagon appearance as the #15 ranked Light Heavyweight. From 12 career bouts, Murzakanov has ten finishes with nine victories via knockout. In his last fight, he scored a ground-and-pound finish of Devin Clark in the third round.
With both men being seen as potential contenders but also in their mid-30s, this fight is vital for both men to continue their rise up the UFC Light Heavyweight rankings.
Ion Cutelaba vs. Tanner Boser
In another Light Heavyweight matchup, UFC veteran Ion Cutelaba meets Tanner Boser, who is moving down to the Light Heavyweight division for the first time in his UFC career.
Cutelaba, who has been in the UFC for seven years at only 29 years old, enters UFC Kansas City riding the longest losing streak of his career, with three defeats on the bounce. Significantly, he has been finished in each bout with two submissions and a TKO defeat in his latest outing. However, Cutelaba is always dangerous, with all but two of his career victories by way of a finish.
Boser makes the move down to the Light Heavyweight division after going 4-4-0 in the Heavyweight division. Still only 31 years old, Boser has not been finished since 2015, and at his natural weight class, he has a solid opportunity to surge into the Light Heavyweight rankings with a win at UFC Kansas City.
Read our breakdown of the UFC Kansas City main event between Max Holloway and Arnold Allen here.
Pedro Munhoz vs. Chris Gutierrez
Also on the UFC Kansas City main card is a ranked Bantamweight matchup between UFC veteran Pedro Munhoz and streaking prospect Chris Gutierrez.
Find the entire UFC on ESPN 44: Holloway vs. Allen fight card and start times here.
Munhoz, who will recapture the record for most bouts in UFC Bantamweight history (19) this weekend, has been a perennial contender since entering the UFC, with his only losses against championship-calibre fighters. His last bout was a no-contest against Sean O’Malley due to an accidental eye poke.
Gutierrez enters UFC Kansas City on an eight-fight unbeaten streak, with his last bout being a highlight-reel knockout of Frankie Edgar in Madison Square Garden. In another main card spot, Gutierrez can continue his rapid rise and enter the top 10 of the stacked Bantamweight division with a win this weekend.
Clay Guida vs. Rafa Garcia
In the UFC Kansas City main card opener, UFC Hall of Famer Clay Guida makes his 35th walk to the UFC Octagon against the always-tough Rafa Garcia.
Guida, the former Strikeforce Lightweight Champion, has been in the UFC since 2006, and at 41 years old, continues to get it done inside the Octagon, with only two losses via knockout in his 60-fight career. In his last bout, Guida defeated Scott Holtzman via split decision.
Garcia, the former Combates Americas Lightweight Champion, enters the biggest fight of his young career with the opportunity to establish himself as a prospect to watch. Currently 3-3-0 in his UFC career, Garcia’s last bout came in December against Hayisaer Maheshate, which Garcia won via unanimous decision.
Whenever a legend like Clay Guida fights, all fans of MMA should tune in to enjoy watching a legend while they are still competing and celebrate the incredible career Guida continues to have in his 40s.
Find all the results from UFC Kansas City: Holloway vs. Allen here.
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