The UFC Is Bringing the Fight to Missouri in April

It’s been almost a year since Dana White’s UFC set up shop and had an event in the Show-Me State. Last May Derrick Lewis headlined a Fight Night in St. Louis. April 26^th the UFC will get loud at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City with Fight Night 257.

The main event has been announced as former Light heavyweight champ and 4^th ranked Jamahal Hill will take on 7^th ranked Khalil Rountree Jr. (!!!) Also featured that night are Light heavyweight Anthony Smith, Featherweight Giga Chikadze, and the always entertaining, unpredictable Michel Pereira in a Middleweight bout.

The full card has not been set yet. There may be another bout added to the main card, but the prelims haven’t been completely unveiled. One of the nice things about the UFC showing up in Missouri is that the company likes to give local and regional fighters a chance to show out in front of their hometown fans.

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In St. Louis last year Joaquin Buckley won a unanimous decision in front of friends and family. Sean Woodson, also from St. Louis was on the card and won a unanimous decision too. Charles Johnson, who fights out of St. Louis (meaning that’s where he trains) won a prelim fight that night and St. Louis’ Michael Johnson was on the card but had to withdraw.

The last time the UFC came to Kansas City was April 15, 2017. So, it’s been a minute. Could we see Missouri native Julian Marquez? Probably not as he is scheduled to fight Cody Brundage March 1. Miranda Maverick is from Buffalo, Missouri and hasn’t fought since December of 2024. Perhaps she could feature.