The MMA world was left buzzing after UFC Kansas City, which served up a night filled with thrilling action and controversial outcomes. While the main and co-main events provided edge-of-your-seat moments, not every bout met expectations—especially the underwhelming performance by veteran Anthony Smith. The polarizing reactions from fans weren’t the only talking point; two of the sport’s biggest stars, Conor McGregor and Israel Adesanya, found themselves at odds—at least initially—before ultimately agreeing on one standout performance.
As debates erupted online, Adesanya took to social media to defend Smith, who had just announced his retirement. In contrast, McGregor mocked Smith’s crushing defeat to Zhang Mingyang, even posting a laughing emoji on X (formerly Twitter) before quickly deleting it. Yet, the internet never forgets, and screenshots of the post spread rapidly, fueling the fire between McGregor and Smith’s camps.
Despite their differences earlier in the night, both McGregor and Adesanya were full of praise for one fighter—rising welterweight star Ian Garry. Garry’s five-round chess match against Carlos Prates impressed fans and fighters alike. Adesanya called it a display of high-level strategy and shared his admiration via Instagram, applauding both fighters for their performance. McGregor also chimed in with a brief but respectful “Great Fight” message and some flag emojis, although, in true McGregor fashion, he later deleted the post. Still, the message was clear—Garry had earned their respect.
Ian Garry didn’t wait long to capitalize on his momentum. Following his win, he declared his readiness to step in as a replacement at UFC 315 in Montreal, should either Belal Muhammad or Jack Della Maddalena withdraw from their welterweight title clash. UFC president Dana White later confirmed Garry as the official backup, further elevating the Irish fighter’s status. With backing from legends like McGregor and Adesanya, Garry’s trajectory toward superstardom seems inevitable.
Meanwhile, Anthony Smith’s night ended in heartbreak and controversy. After suffering a brutal first-round knockout, Smith let his emotions take over, flipping off a taunting fan wearing a Nebraska jersey. It was a jarring moment for a fighter who had given nearly two decades to the sport. Behind the scenes, Smith had been grappling with deep personal grief, having recently lost his longtime coach and mentor, Scott Morton. The emotional weight, combined with criticism and online