Fight night is coming to Kansas City. Here’s what to know about UFC takeover
It’s a homecoming for mixed martial artist David Onama on Saturday, April 26.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to Kansas City as part of a five-day takeover of T-Mobile Center from TKO Group Holdings, a media conglomerate that also includes Professional Bull Riders and World Wrestling Entertainment. The company brings Fight Night to fans as the second event of the weekend, after PBR’s Teams event Thursday, April 24 and before WWE’s Monday Night Raw April 28.
14 fights in total are scheduled for Saturday, with eight preliminary bouts taking place before the main card, headlined by a 5-round welterweight fight between No. 7-ranked Ian Machado Garry and No. 13 Carlos Prates. Onama, who was born in Uganda but fights out of Kansas City, is scheduled to take on Giga Chikadze, the No. 12-ranked featherweight in UFC.
Onama said it’s a big opportunity to fight in his hometown against a ranked opponent and with a win, he hopes to see a number by his name in UFC’s rankings.
“It’s been a long journey for me,” Onama said. “I started out my career out here as an amateur, pro, and now I’m fighting at the T-Mobile Center. It’s been a crazy week. It’s everything that I’ve dreamed of and now it’s all here now. I’m just happy, just to be here.”
Here’s what to know about UFC in KC before it’s time to fight.
How much are tickets to UFC?
Individual tickets are still available for UFC Fight Night in all sections on AXS: the floor, lower bowl and upper bowl inside T-Mobile Center.
The lowest price for floor seats is $300 and the highest is $3,000. Prices range from $125 to $50 in the lower bowl, and $75 to $125 in the upper bowl.
Who’s on the UFC Fight Night card in Kansas City?
The main event is Garry vs. Prates, and the co-main event is a 3-round light heavyweight fight between Zhang Mingyang and Anthony Smith, who announced that Saturday will be his 60th and final professional fight. Smith is from Omaha, Nebraska, and said he fought quite a few battles at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas, before reaching the UFC.
The co-main event is the second-to-last fight of the night.
The eight preliminary fights will be available to watch at 5 p.m. on ESPN+. Each fight will be three rounds:
- Women’s bantamweight fight: No. 14 Chelsea Chandler vs. Joselyne Edwards
- Men’s featherweight fight: Timmy Cuamba vs. Robert Romero
- Women’s strawweight fight: Jaqueline Amorim vs. Polyana Viana
- Men’s bantamweight fight: Malcom Wellmaker vs. Cameron Saaiman
- Men’s bantamweight fight: Da’Mon Blackshear vs. Alatengheilli
- Men’s featherweight fight: Chris Gutierrez vs. John Castaneda
- Men’s lightweight fight: Evan Elder vs. Gauge Young
- Men’s flyweight fight: Matt Schnell vs. Jimmy Flick
The six fights on the main card are available to watch at 8 p.m. on ESPN 2 and ESPN+. Each fight is three rounds except for the main event, which is five rounds:
- Men’s middleweight fight: Ikram Aliskerov vs. Andre Muniz
- Men’s welterweight fight: Randy Brown vs. Nicolas Dalby
- Men’s middleweight fight: No. 14 Michel Pereira vs. Abus Magomedov
- Men’s featherweight fight: No. 12 Giga Chikadze vs. David Onama
- Men’s light heavyweight fight: No. 15 Anthony Smith vs. Zhang Mingyang
- Men’s welterweight fight: No. 7 Ian Machado Garry vs. No. 13 Carlos Prates
What can and can’t I bring to T-Mobile Center?
T-Mobile Center does not have a clear bag policy, but the venue encourages fans to pack lightly when attending. Your bag should not be larger than 12” by 6” by 12”. Don’t bring backpacks or chain wallets.
These other items are not allowed inside:
Artificial noisemakers
Beach balls and balloons
Cameras with detachable lenses
Coolers and containers
Laptop and tablet computers
Outside food and beverages
Pocket knives
Selfie sticks
Spurs
Umbrellas with spike-like points
Any type of weapon, fake weapon or object resembling a weapon
Where can I park in downtown Kansas City?
Downtown Kansas City has plenty of parking available near T-Mobile Center. The arena offers on-site parking in the red lot at 12th and Oak streets and the yellow lot at 13th Street and Grand Boulevard, which is the KC Live! garage.
You will have to purchase passes to these lots in advance online. Both lots cost $20 before online fees. Event parking opens three hours before the concert.
Fans can also purchase parking in the magenta lot on Oak Street in front of the venue for $150.
Other than those options, there are over 40,000 parking spaces in the downtown area. Many are paid lots, and street parking is available, though it may cost up to $40 during events like these.
You can also park farther away and take the free KC Streetcar to the stop 14th and Main streets, the closest to T-Mobile Center.
Where can I be dropped off and picked up for UFC Fight Night?
Grand Boulevard and Oak Street in front of T-Mobile Center will be blocked off for UFC Fight Night.
If you’re being dropped off by a family, friend, Uber or Lyft, they can take you as close to the 13th and Oak Street entrance as possible. They may also drop you off on streets that aren’t blocked off in the Power & Light District or farther away if walking isn’t an issue.
The same is true for picking up fans after the show. Communicate with your driver so they can find you once the fight’s over.
This story was originally published April 23, 2025 at 3:42 PM.
