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Stephen Smith admits he is still learning about MMA, but his criticism of Donald Cerrone at UFC 246 is justified.
Despite facing heavy criticism after his harsh words on Donald Cerrone’s UFC 246 performance, ESPN’s Stephen A Smith has stood by his comments on “Cowboy.”
Following Cerrone’s 40-second KO loss to Conor McGregor in the main event of UFC 246 last month, Smith said he was “disgusted” by Cerrone’s “atrocious” performance and thinks he “gave up” in the octagon. Some of the biggest names in MMA caught on to Smith’s comments with the likes of Joe Rogan disagreeing and Nate Diaz defending with the broadcaster.
Talking recently on Sirius XM’s “The AK & Batak Show”, Smith discussed his controversial opinion of Cerrone’s fight with McGregor.
“Fellas, I’m learning the sport,” Smith said. “Muay Thai, being in a rear-naked choke. I don’t know. I never said I knew. What I said was, I was at that fight. I know what the hell I saw for those 40 seconds. I’m not debating the sport. Like for example, there’s a whole bunch of cats that talk basketball, you think they know basketball like I know basketball? I’ve been covering the sport for 25 years. I got inside information all over the place. No, I’m an aficionado on basketball. I’m a reporter and spectator everywhere else.”
Smith might not be informed enough to know the technical terms of MMA, but the 52-year-old seasoned basketball reporter admitted he is a spectator in every other sport he covers. In his opinion, Smith wouldn’t have gotten such backlash if it was another fighter losing in this fashion, but because it was a veteran like Cerrone he took a lot of heat for his comments.
“I saw this dude get hit with three shoulder shrugs right to his nose. He backed up, had a chance to run away for a few seconds to gather himself, didn’t do it. Only did one side kick, which didn’t connect. Then got kicked in the side of his head by Conor McGregor, he goes down and out.
“This is your 50th fight, dog,” Smith added. “You didn’t know how to back up and catch your breath? Then, oh — by the way — you went out in 40 seconds. Then we find out it’s your first pay-per-view fight. Oh, how man times we’ve seen brothers step in the ring and we go like this, ‘Bright lights might have been too much for them.’ But because it’s Cowboy Cerrone and it’s the MMA, suddenly I’m not allowed to say that? It’s ridiculous. It’s ridiculous.”