UFC on ESPN: Machado Garry vs. Prates

UFC on ESPN: Machado Garry vs. Prates (also known as UFC on ESPN 66) is an upcoming mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that will take place on April 26, 2025, at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, United States.

Background

The event will mark the promotion's third visit to Kansas City and first since UFC on ESPN: Holloway vs. Allen in April 2023.

A light heavyweight bout between former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jamahal Hill and former title challenger Khalil Rountree Jr. was scheduled to headline the event. The pairing was previously expected to co-headline UFC 303 in last June, but it was scrapped as Rountree withdrew from the event after unintentionally ingesting DHEA in a tainted supplement. On April 1, the pairing was scrapped once again as Hill pulled out due to a lingering leg injury.

A welterweight bout between Ian Machado Garry and Carlos Prates is now expected to serve as the new event headliner.

A featherweight bout between Giga Chikadze and David Onama was scheduled for UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs. Murphy, but it was moved to this event for unknown reasons.

A middleweight bout between Ikram Aliskerov and André Muniz is expected to take place at the event. The pair was originally scheduled to compete at UFC on ESPN: Perez vs. Taira in June 2024, but Muniz withdrew from the bout after he suffered a foot fracture. Subsequently, the bout was rescheduled for UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Imavov in February, but it was cancelled once again as Muniz and his team had visa issues.

A lightweight bout between Mitch Ramirez and Ahmad Sohail Hassanzada was scheduled for this event. However, Ramirez withdrew from the fight due to an injury and was replaced by Evan Elder.

A bantamweight bout between Chris Gutiérrez and John Castañeda is scheduled for this event. They were previously scheduled to compete in a short notice featherweight contest at UFC 313 in March, but the bout was scrapped hours before taking place as Castañeda suffered an undisclosed illness.