Latest news with #ZhangMingyang
USA Today
28-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Zhang Mingyang calls out Jiri Prochzaka after UFC Kansas City finish of Anthony Smith
Zhang Mingyang calls out Jiri Prochzaka after UFC Kansas City finish of Anthony Smith Chinese light heavyweight has 12 straight first-round wins, three straight UFC bonuses. Zhang Mingyang is looking for a big step up in competition after UFC on ESPN 66. Mingyang (19-6 MMA, 3-0 UFC) scored yet another first-round TKO when he stopped Anthony Smith (37-22 MMA, 13-12 UFC) in Saturday's co-main event at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo. With the rising light heavyweight continuing to make quick work of his opposition, Mingyang thinks it's time he aimed high. He called out former champion Jiri Prochazka (31-5-1 MMA, 5-2 UFC), who's coming off a knockout of fellow ex-champ Jamahal Hill at UFC 311. "Next fight, I want Jiri Prochazka," Mingyang told Full Send MMA after the win. "I watched your fight in Singapore, and you won your belt in that fight. I like your style. I respect your warrior spirit. Although you are not the champion anymore, I would like to fight you to test myself." Mingyang embraced the boos from the crowd after he spoiled Smith's retirement party. "Boo me again, let me hear that," Mingyang said in his post-fight octagon interview. "I know you don't know who I am, but if you don't know, now you know."
Express Tribune
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Anthony Smith confronts fan after retirement fight loss at UFC Kansas City
Anthony Smith may have stepped away from MMA after his loss to Zhang Mingyang at UFC Kansas City, but it almost wasn't his final fight of the night. Moments after suffering a TKO defeat — and while medical staff tended to a nasty cut on his head — Smith was seen furiously flipping off a spectator cageside. Blood streaming into his face, Smith repeatedly gestured at the fan before getting off the canvas and walking toward the cage, shouting at the heckler. Speaking during the UFC Kansas City post-fight show, Smith revealed the man had been taunting him even before the bout began — and that betrayal hit harder given the fan was wearing a Nebraska shirt, representing Smith's proud home state. 'There was a guy in a Nebraska shirt booing me, flipping me off, and talking trash,' Smith said. 'I was really focused before the fight, but afterwards, hearing him and his friend cheering and still flipping me off, it just made me so mad.' Smith, who resides in Omaha and has long represented Nebraska, said the fan's actions cut deeper than usual, adding, 'You can't talk trash wearing a Nebraska shirt. Come on now!' Emotions boiled over in the aftermath, and it even took his opponent, Zhang Mingyang, stepping in to calm him down. 'Mingyang is like, 'Don't do this brother, you've got to quit that,'' Smith recalled. 'The fight didn't go how I wanted. I poured my heart and soul into this, and seeing that guy just set me off.' Smith admitted retirement is still sinking in, especially after spending nearly 20 years in professional fighting. 'It's weird,' he said. 'You're always chasing the next thing — a win, a ranking. Now, there's nothing else. I'm forcing myself to be happy it happened, not sad that it's over.' Smith closes the book on a long, passionate MMA career — one final night full of heart, fire, and a little bit of defiance.
USA Today
27-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC on ESPN 66 post-event facts: Zhang Mingyang's streak continues at Anthony Smith's expense
UFC on ESPN 66 post-event facts: Zhang Mingyang's streak continues at Anthony Smith's expense Show Caption Hide Caption UFC Kansas City video: Dana White full post-fight interview UFC CEO Dana White spoke to reporters at the UFC on ESPN 66 post-fight press conference and talked Ian Machado Garry's win, the Du Plessis vs. Chimaev, Makhachev vs. Topuria, Jones vs. Aspinall and more. The UFC's return to Kansas City, Mo., delivered on Saturday with UFC on ESPN 66 at T-Mobile Center. In the main event, Ian Machado Garry (16-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) proved too much for Carlos Prates (21-7 MMA, 4-1 UFC) when put on a largely one-sided performance for a unanimous decision to put himself back in title contention at 170 pounds. For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie's post-event facts from UFC on ESPN 66. * * * * Event stats The UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payout for the event totaled $201,500. Debuting fighters went 1-1 at the event. Randy Brown, Nicolas Dalby, Zhang Mingyang, Malcolm Wellmaker earned $50,000 UFC on ESPN 66 fight-night bonuses. UFC on ESPN 66 drew an announced attendance of 15,984 for a live gate of $2,204,307. Betting favorites went 12-1 on the card. One fight had even odds. Betting favorites improved to 9-5 in UFC headliners this year. Total fight time for the 14-bout card was 2:30:50. Ian Machado Garry def. Carlos Prates Machado Garry was successful in his first UFC main event. Prates had his 10-fight winning streak snapped for his first defeat since June 2019. Mingyang Zhang def. Anthony Smith Mingyang (19-6 MMA, 3-0 UFC) has earned all 19 of his career victories by stoppage. He's finished all of those wins in Round 1. Mingyang's three-fight UFC knockout streak is tied for the second-longest streak among active fighters on the roster behind Steve Garcia (five). Anthony Smith (37-22 MMA, 13-12 UFC) fell to 9-9 since he moved up to the UFC light heavyweight division in June 2018. Smith has suffered 17 of his 22 career losses by stoppage. David Onama def. Giga Chikadze Giga Chikadze (15-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC) has suffered three of his four career losses by decision. That includes all three of his UFC defeats. Abus Magomedov def. Michel Pereira Michel Pereira (30-13 MMA, 9-4 UFC) fell to 3-2 since he moved up to the middleweight division in October 2023. Pereira has suffered nine of his 13 career losses by decision. That includes two of his four UFC defeats. Randy Brown def. Nicolas Dalby Brown (20-6 MMA, 14-6 UFC) has earned 13 of his 20 career victories by stoppage. He's finished his opponent in seven of his 14 UFC wins. Dalby (23-6-1 MMA, 7-5-1 UFC) fell to 6-3 with one no contest since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in September 2019. Dalby suffered the first stoppage loss of his career with a knockout defeat. Ikram Aliskerov def. Andre Muniz Ikram Aliskerov (16-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) has earned all three of his UFC victories by knockout. Andre Muniz (24-7 MMA, 6-3 UFC) has suffered all seven of his career losses by stoppage. Muniz has suffered six of his seven career losses by knockout. Matt Schnell def. Jimmy Flick Matt Schnell (17-9 MMA, 7-7 UFC) has earned four of his seven UFC victories by decision. Evan Elder def. Gauge Young Evan Elder (10-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) has earned two of his three UFC victories by decision. Gauge Young (9-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) has suffered two of his three career losses by decision. Chris Gutierrez def. John Castaneda Chris Gutierrez (22-6-2 MMA, 10-3-1 UFC) has earned seven of his 10 UFC victories by decision. John Castaneda (21-8 MMA, 4-4 UFC) fell to 5-6 in his past 11 fights dating back to November 2017. Castaneda has suffered six of his eight career losses by decision. Da'Mon Blackshear def. Heili Alateng Heili Alateng (17-10-2 MMA, 5-3-1 UFC) has suffered all three of his UFC losses by decision. Malcolm Wellmaker def. Cameron Saaiman Malcolm Wellmaker (9-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) has earned seven of his nine career victories by stoppage. Cameron Saaiman (9-3 MMA, 3-3 UFC) has suffered three consecutive losses after starting his career 9-0. Saaiman has suffered both of his career stoppage losses by knockout. Jaqueline Amorim def. Polyana Viana Jaqueline Amorim's (10-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) four-fight UFC winning streak at strawweight is tied for the third-longest active streak in the division behind Zhang Weili (five) and Virna Jandiroba (five). Amorim's three submission victories in UFC strawweight competition are tied for the second-most in divisional history behind Mackenzie Dern (five). Amorim's four-fight UFC stoppage streak is tied for the third-longest active streak in the division behind Garcia (five) and Jean Silva (five). Amorim has earned all 10 of her career victories by stoppage. She's finished eight of those wins by submission. Polyana Viana (13-8 MMA, 4-7 UFC) has suffered three of four of her career stoppage losses by submission. Timmy Cuamba def. Roberto Romero Timmy Cuamba (9-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC) has earned all five of his career stoppage victories by knockout. Roberto Romero (8-5-1 MMA, 0-2 UFC) has suffered both of his career stoppage losses by knockout. Joselyne Edwards def. Chelsea Chandler Joselyne Edwards (15-6 MMA, 6-4 UFC) has earned 10 of her 15 career victories by stoppage. Chelsea Chandler (6-4 MMA, 2-3 UFC) suffered the first stoppage loss of her career with a first-round TKO defeat. UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on X @MJCflipdascript.
USA Today
26-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC free fight: Watch Zhang Mingyang torch Ozzy Diaz in under three minutes
UFC free fight: Watch Zhang Mingyang torch Ozzy Diaz in under three minutes Zhang Mingyang rarely sees a second round. Relive the moment he finished his second UFC opponent in rapid fashion. Zhang Mingyang fights like he's double-parked outside. At Saturday's UFC on ESPN 66, Mingyang (18-6 MMA, 2-0 UFC) fights former title challenger Anthony Smith (37-21 MMA, 13-11 UFC), who will be fighting for the last time. Prior to the fight at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo., relive Mingyang's latest victory, which was his 15th consecutive fight to end in the opening round. Mingyang fought Ozzy Diaz at UFC Fight Night 248 in November, which didn't last long. The light heavyweight bout in Macau ended quickly after Mingyang landed a short elbow and then capitalized with ground and pound to record his second UFC victory and maintain his 100 percent finish rate. Check out a replay of the full fight in the video above before Mingyang meets Smith Saturday.
