This past Tuesday, UFC President Dana White surprised fight fans worldwide with a special live broadcast, revealing a series of blockbuster matchups set to electrify upcoming events.
The announcements included two title fights for UFC 316 in June and the confirmation of Ian Machado Garry vs. Carlos Prates as the main event for UFC Fight Night on April 26, in Kansas City.
🧨 Ian Garry vs. Carlos Prates Confirmed as Main Event in April
Dana White confirmed that undefeated Irish sensation Ian Machado Garry will square off against rising Brazilian star Carlos Prates in the UFC Fight Night Kansas City headliner on April 26, 2025, at the T-Mobile Center.
-
Ian Garry, one of the welterweight division's hottest prospects, carries an impressive winning streak and looks to solidify his place among the elite.
-
Carlos Prates, representing the renowned Fighting Nerds team, has been making waves with highlight-reel knockouts and now gets his biggest UFC opportunity yet.
📌 This fight replaces the original main event between Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree Jr., which was cancelled due to injury.
📍 Event: UFC Fight Night: Garry vs. Prates
📍 Date: April 26, 2025
📍 Location: Kansas City, Missouri
📍 Broadcast: UFC Fight Pass / ESPN
🏆 UFC 316: Two Major Title Fights Confirmed
Dana also revealed the main and co-main events for UFC 316, set for June 7, 2025, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
🔥 Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O’Malley 2 – Bantamweight Title Fight
-
A highly anticipated rematch between reigning champion Merab Dvalishvili and former champ "Sugar" Sean O’Malley.
-
Merab claimed victory in their first encounter via unanimous decision and has since successfully defended the belt.
-
O’Malley returns from shoulder surgery, hungry to reclaim his title.
👑 Julianna Peña vs. Kayla Harrison – Women’s Bantamweight Title Fight
-
Olympic gold medalist and former PFL champion Kayla Harrison will make her UFC debut in a direct title shot against reigning champ Julianna Peña.
-
This matchup is set to be one of the most anticipated women’s fights of the year.
📍 Event: UFC 316
📍 Date: June 7, 2025
📍 Location: Prudential Center – Newark, NJ
📍 Broadcast: ESPN PPV / UFC Fight Pass
🤖 UFC + Meta Partnership: Revolutionizing the Rankings
In addition to fight announcements, Dana White unveiled an exciting partnership with Meta (Mark Zuckerberg’s company).
This collaboration aims to transform the UFC’s ranking system, using advanced technology and AI to deliver more accurate rankings and interactive content for fans during broadcasts.
🎯 Live Recap – The Main Takeaways
✅ Ian Garry vs. Carlos Prates headlines UFC Kansas City on April 26
✅ Merab vs. O’Malley 2 and Peña vs. Harrison set for UFC 316
✅ UFC + Meta partnership introduces innovative fan engagement and ranking systems
✅ New fights shake up the divisions and bring title implications across weight classes