UFC Kansas City Fallout
UFC Kansas City delivered a full slate of significant moments and talking points. The event saw Ian Machado Garry secure a key victory, Anthony Smith announce his retirement from active competition, and several athletes capitalize on the opportunity to perform outside the familiar, smaller setting of the APEX facility.
Ian Machado Garry`s triumph followed a competitive loss to the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov. While he got the win, his performance against Carlos Prates didn`t universally impress. Garry started strong, controlling the initial three rounds against a seemingly struggling opponent. However, he ran into serious trouble late in the fourth round when Prates unleashed his renowned knockout power, significantly rocking Garry. Despite being moments from a potential finish in the fifth round, Garry survived the late surge and secured the decision victory. Following the event, UFC CEO Dana White confirmed that Garry has been officially named the backup fighter for the upcoming UFC 315 welterweight title clash between champion Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena. However, based on audience feedback, many fans remain unconvinced about Garry`s immediate readiness for a title challenge.
Dricus du Plessis Addresses Rumors
Amidst recent speculation, middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis directly confronted widespread rumors about his fighting status. Reports had been circulating, incorrectly suggesting that DDP would not only be unavailable to defend his title against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 317 but might potentially be sidelined until 2026. Du Plessis took to social media to publicly dismiss these claims, calling them “fake news.” His message was reportedly well-received.
Chael Sonnen`s Conflicting Reports
In related news, the often-controversial Chael Sonnen once again provided contradictory commentary. Within a mere 24-hour period, Sonnen initially claimed certainty regarding a specific date being set for a heavyweight championship unification bout between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall. Shortly thereafter, he effectively fact-checked himself, stating instead that Aspinall would actually be facing a different opponent. As is frequently the case with Sonnen`s pronouncements, they should be approached with considerable skepticism.
Lightweight Title Picture Debate
Belal Muhammad predictably voiced support for his teammate Islam Makhachev`s position regarding Ilia Topuria`s standing as a lightweight title contender. Makhachev does not consider Topuria the immediate number one contender for the lightweight belt, and Muhammad echoed this sentiment. It`s worth noting that fan opinions appear divided on whether “La Leyenda” truly warrants an immediate shot at the lightweight title.
