UFC Kansas City Co-Main Event Breakdown

“I’m goin’ to Kansas City

Kansas City, here I come.”

While Harrison passed on close to 30 years ago at the age of 65, the song is still brought up when people think of Kansas City. This weekend, MMA’s top promotion, the UFC, sets up its traveling show in the area.

Kansas City, Here Comes The UFC!

Saturday, one week removed from an exciting main event in UFC 287, the T-Mobile Center serves as the backdrop for UFC Kansas City and the UFC Kansas City co-main event. Live coverage of this weekend’s show begins with the prelims at 5:30 pm ET/ 2:30 pm PT, exclusively streaming on ESPN+.

Main card action immediately follows at 8:30 pm ET/ 5:30 pm PT on the main ESPN channel. Be mindful, however, that ESPN is slated to run Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Quarterfinal between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks at 6 pm ET/ 3 pm PT on Saturday. Should the game run long, the main card telecast will probably start on ESPNEWS.

Featherweight Showcase in UFC Kansas City Co-Main Event

Barring any late postponements between now and Saturday, UFC Kansas City is to feature a full 14-fight card, capped by two bouts at 145 lbs. at the top of the show. Your co-main event pits No. 14 contender Edson Barboza (22-11 MMA, 16-11 UFC) against unranked Billy Quarantillo (17-4 MMA, 5-2 UFC).

Being a nontitle fight, the UFC Kansas City co-main event is an advertised maximum of three rounds at five minutes per round. Afterward, a battle between top fighters at featherweight takes place when No. 2 contender Max Holloway (23-7 MMA, 19-7 UFC) clashes with No. 4 contender Arnold Allen (19-1 MMA, 10-0 UFC.) More on that later.

UFC Kansas City Co-Main Event Fighter Comparison and Betting Odds

Heading into the co-main event of the evening, Edson Barboza stands as the taller man at 5-foot-11, compared to the 5-foot-10 frame of Billy Quarantillo. Additionally, the former owns a five-inch reach advantage (75 inches to 70 inches) and a three-inch leg reach advantage (41 inches to 38 inches over the latter.

As of late Tuesday afternoon, the oddsmakers have Billy Quarantillo installed as a -155 favorite, with Edson Barboza countering as a +135 underdog. If you plan on betting on this or any other fight happening this weekend, please wager responsibly.

Edson Barboza in Must-Win Situation For UFC Kansas City Co-Main Event

Edson Barboza enters Saturday night’s card having posted a record of 2-3 in his last five bouts, but he’s fallen on hard times of late. Currently, Barboza is on a two-fight losing streak, one which was extended most recently against Bryce Mitchell (15-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) more than a year ago on March 5, 2022, during UFC 272.

He was slated to have fought Ilia Topuria (13-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) on Oct. 29 of last year in UFC Vegas 63’s co-main event, but was forced to withdraw from the show upon suffering a knee injury and undergoing subsequent surgery. With Barboza fully recovered, he’s going to be in a fight that’s most critical to the fate of his status on the promotion’s roster.

A loss in the UFC Kansas City co-main event would mark three in a row and 12 under the promotion’s banner. It could result in him getting cut if the fight doesn’t go his way.

Billy Quarantillo Looking to Break Into UFC Rankings

In the other corner, Billy Quarantillo comes into the co-main event with a 3-2 record over the last five fights. Last time out, he scored a second-round technical knockout of Alexander Hernandez (14-6 MMA, 6-5 UFC) in December’s UFC 282.

After the fight, Quarantillo spoke with Joe Rogan about how he finished the job in the second round.

“I knew he was going to bring that dog out in me,” Quarantillo began. “He tried to push the pace. I gave it to him right back. Oh, yeah, I broke my Joe Rogan curse. It’s a bucket list thing. I was 4-0 without Joe, I was 0-2 (with Joe), and now we’re back on, baby! Let’s go!”

Quarantillo has yet to get his name in the top-15 at featherweight. Will he crack the rankings after the UFC Kansas City co-main event?

Analysis, Film Study, and Prediction

Stylistically, the UFC Kansas City co-main event looks to favor Edson Barboza, a kickboxer who owns a black Prajied in Muay-Thai, a black belt in Taekwondo, and a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, compared to Billy Quarantillo’s black belt in BJJ.

Edson Barboza Can Punch His Way to a Win

While it hasn’t happened in some time, Edson Barboza has been known to be a knockout artist. His 2021 fight against Shane Burgos is a textbook example.

The third and final round of the fight began with the fighters exchanging low leg kicks, with Barboza narrowly missing on a punch to Burgos’ face.

Barboza bided his time and stalked Burgos as he waited to land that big shot. As had been the case at the start of the round, they traded inside leg kicks.

Upon an exchange of punches, Barboza landed a right-handed shot that gradually sent Burgos flying backward and eventually crashing down to the cage mat. The former ended things with a few ground-and-pound shots before referee Mike Beltran intervened.

Look for Edson Barboza to land punches in bunches during the UFC Kansas City co-main event. Billy Quarantillo can counterpunch, however.

Don’t Discount Billy Quarantillo

In the other corner, it would be foolish to think that Billy Quarantillo has no shot in this co-main event He’s got one-punch power, as was illustrated at the UFC Apex during the pandemic against Kyle Nelson.

Right from the start of the third round, Quarantillo landed just a single left-handed shot to send Nelson down and out immediately. The official time of the knockout: Seven seconds into the third round. All it takes for Billy Quarantillo to win and get into the featherweight rankings is just one punch on the money.

Final Thoughts

We’ve got two fighters at a crossroads during the UFC Kansas City co-main event. Rest assured, this fight will be a career-defining one for its winner.

Prediction: Billy Quarantillo by Unanimous Decision.

Featured Image Credit: Getty Images