Expert prediction
UFC Kansas City: Anthony Smith vs. Zhang Mingyang Preview, Odds, Prediction
Pick rationale
Analysis & key factors
- Fifty-one of Anthony Smith’s 59 career fights finished before the final bell.
- Each of Zhang Mingyang’s 18 wins happened inside the distance.
- Anthony Smith vs. Zhang Mingyang odds heavily favor the Chinese fighter.
Our Anthony Smith vs. Zhang Mingyang prediction is that the UFC Kansas City co-main event will end quickly, possibly even in Round 1. The reason is that both of these fighters are incredible finishers. Thirty-five of Smith’s 38 pro wins happened by a finish, while Zhang Mingyang has a 100% finish rate.
How to Watch
- Where: T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri
- When: Saturday, April 26, 10 pm ET
- How to Watch: ESPN
Anthony Smith vs. Zhang Mingyang Odds
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Anthony Smith | +400 |
| Zhang Mingyang | -550 |
Anthony Smith vs. Zhang Mingyang Preview
Anthony Smith (38-21) is a UFC veteran who’s been fighting since 2008. One may argue that he was in his prime in 2019 when he went five rounds with Jon Jones in a title fight.
Smith fully justified his nickname Lionheart by staying in the fight for the full 25 minutes despite being outstruck nearly 4-to-1 and taken down three times.
Unfortunately for him, his career took a downward path since that fight. He’s 6-7 since that fight, which includes back-to-back losses in 2024. He lost to Roman Dolidze and Dominick Reyes, who both put on dominant performances.
Heading into UFC Kansas City, Smith is the underdog, and with good reason – his opponent is a finisher on the rise. Zhang Mingyang (18-6) is a Chinese prospect with all 18 wins coming in the first round.
His finishing rate is 100%, with 12 wins by KO/TKO and six by submission. Although most of those wins came in Asian promotions, he’s looked sharp in the UFC, knocking out both Brendson Ribeiro and Ozzy Diaz in the opening round.
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Saturday, April 26, marks the biggest fight of Zhang’s career because a win over a name like Smith (especially with another early finish) would get him into the UFC Light Heavyweight rankings.
Anthony Smith vs. Zhang Mingyang Prediction
Zhang Mingyang is our pick for the UFC Kansas City co-main event. He’s got a wonderful opportunity to become the biggest Chinese MMA star, and we think he’s going to take it.
This guy is coming to Kansas City to make his dreams come true, which is why our prediction is that he’s going to win by KO/TKO.
Free Pick:
- Zhang Mingyang
MMA
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