It will be an emotional Saturday farewell for this Kansas City UFC fighter. Here’s why

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to Kansas City on Saturday for the first time in exactly six years with UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Allen at T-Mobile Center.

For local mixed martial artist Zak Cummings, the layoff has been shorter but felt just as long. He hasn’t competed in a UFC octagon in nearly three years, since August 2020, primarily due to a severe back injury he suffered during training.

But spring is here. Cummings is healthy. And with the world’s most well-known MMA promotion in his fighting hometown for just the second time ever, Cummings figures it’s time to complete his comeback — and 17-bout pro career — with one more fight in front of his friends, family and supporters.

That is to say, Cummings definitely thinks this light-heavyweight match against Ed Herman will be his last.

Probably.

“I have had all intentions on making this my retirement fight. I’ll probably leave it a little open ended, but this will most likely be it,” Cummings said. “I’ve got two fights left on my UFC contract and I could potentially fight one more time. But it’s the last time in KC for sure, and it’s the last time I can say goodbye to everybody locally who’s supported me. I’m a little on the fence, but most likely it’s my last fight.”

Cummings was a wrestler and football player in college and only migrated to MMA training as a way to scratch a competitive itch while studying physical therapy.

It’s now a way of life.

Cummings has amassed a 24-7 professional record, fighting in places like Dublin, Belfast, Croatia, Chile, Canada and countless venues across the U.S. He’s appeared on the cast of The Ultimate Fighter, an opportunity that gave him the chance to commit to MMA full-time for the first time.

And whenever he hangs up his gloves, Cummings has a gym and his own MMA promotion to keep himself busy.

Cummings fought on that 2017 card in Kansas City, winning by submission in the first round. Saturday presents an opportunity to bring everything back full circle.

“When you make it to the largest organization in the world, you spend a lot of time in Vegas, the mecca of combat sports,” he said. “You’re traveling all over the world. Very rarely do you get them to show up in your back yard.

“The support I received (in 2017) was special, and one of best nights of my life and career. I don’t expect anything less coming up this Saturday.”

Cummings has had 14 fights and nine wins in his UFC career. If he can win one more, he’ll also have the distinction of winning a UFC bout in three weight classes: welterweight, middleweight and light-heavyweight.

“I didn’t mean for it to be a full-blown career and couldn’t imagine life being any other way, for sure,” he said.

Doors at T-Mobile Center open at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, with preliminary bouts starting an hour later. UFC Fight Night will go live on ESPN and ESPN+ at 7:30 p.m.

Max Holloway faces Arnold Allen in the main event Saturday. Holloway is the second-ranked featherweight and former UFC title-holder. Allen is the No. 4 contender and brings a 19-1 record and 12-fight winning streak to Kansas City.

There are eight bouts on the preliminary card and six on the main card, including the main event.

This story was originally published April 13, 2023 at 7:00 AM.