Tag: Anthony Smith

Anthony Smith Criticizes Ref In Aljamain Sterling Fight: ‘You Don’t Need Help Making The Decision’

SmithAnthony Smith was frustrated by a number of things at UFC 259 this past weekend. The major talking point, of course, was the illegal knee Aljamain Sterling suffered against Petr Yan in their bantamweight title fight. Sterling was criticized for overacting in the aftermath with the referee giving him as much time as possible to […]

Smith

Anthony Smith was frustrated by a number of things at UFC 259 this past weekend.

The major talking point, of course, was the illegal knee Aljamain Sterling suffered against Petr Yan in their bantamweight title fight. Sterling was criticized for overacting in the aftermath with the referee giving him as much time as possible to recover.

In the end, Sterling never got to his feet and the referee disqualified Yan with the former being crowned the new champion. Sterling has since received plenty of hate online, especially for posing with the belt after initially claiming he didn’t want to win it that way.

Smith is no stranger to receiving an illegal knee. He was on the receiving end of one against Jon Jones in their light heavyweight title fight in 2019. Unlike Sterling, however, Smith continued and ended up losing a unanimous decision.

But despite that, he doesn’t get why Sterling has been receiving so much hate.

“First of all, I see all the Aljamain hate, I see all the bs. I hate it,” Smith said on Sirius XM (via Middle Easy). “I only hate it for one reason. It’s because I got a s**t ton of it when I continued to go on. Those exact same people are the same ones shitting on Aljo for not. So that’s frustrating.

“I don’t expect the same people to do some things that I do. I don’t expect people to live their life the way I live mine. It doesn’t matter how hurt I was. If I was unconscious I would’ve woke up and would’ve stood up and said I was fine to continue fighting because that’s who I am. I don’t expect people to do that. I put myself in terrible positions all the time.”

Smith also took issue with the referee.

While the referee allowed Sterling plenty of time to decide whether he can continue, Smith believes the right decision to make was obvious.

“I am so sick of these refs wanting to pass the buck, and punt every single problem they have,” Smith explained. “You don’t need help making the decision. Especially from a fighter who was just fouled to their brain.

“Second, if we’re tasking these referees with the responsibility to know when fighters are hurt — to know when they can’t continue anymore, to stop the fight, in a legal fight-ending sequence — why does the legality of that shot matter? Because if Aljamain’s knee was one inch off of the mat, when he took that knee, Mark Smith would have stepped in and stopped that fight immediately.

“Wouldn’t have even been any follow-up shots. Why does that change because that blow was illegal? If it was legal we would have stopped that fight and given Aljo a chance. Why are we gonna force him to continue because it was illegal?”

Smith certainly makes a good point.

Do you agree with him?

Anthony Smith Explains His Frustration Watching UFC 259 DQ Finish

Anthony Smith has offered a thorough critique of UFC 259’s controversial disqualification, and it is mostly targeted at referee Mark Smith. There is one man who is in a truly unique position when offering a take on the Petr Yan/Aljamain Sterling UFC 25…

Anthony Smith has offered a thorough critique of UFC 259’s controversial disqualification, and it is mostly targeted at referee Mark Smith. There is one man who is in a truly unique position when offering a take on the Petr Yan/Aljamain Sterling UFC 259 controversy that no one else can. Only Anthony Smith has been exactly […]

Petr Yan Tells Jon Jones He Should Have Lost Title For Illegal Knee

Former bantamweight champion Petr Yan believes he shouldn’t have been the first champion to lose his belt by disqualification and called out Jon Jones for not losing his belt to Anthony Smith in the same fashion. The conclusion of the bantamweigh…

Former bantamweight champion Petr Yan believes he shouldn’t have been the first champion to lose his belt by disqualification and called out Jon Jones for not losing his belt to Anthony Smith in the same fashion. The conclusion of the bantamweight title fight between Yan and Aljamain Sterling was very messy. After a back-and-forth war […]

Anthony Smith On Khamzat Chimaev: ‘He’s Not Used To Being Weak’

Anthony SmithUFC light heavyweight contender, Anthony Smith, has been through his fair share of trials and tribulations. The former title challenger made his debut back in 2013, where he picked up a severe knee injury. This subsequently lead to him being cut from the UFC, after only 1 fight. Smith would have to put together a […]

Anthony Smith

UFC light heavyweight contender, Anthony Smith, has been through his fair share of trials and tribulations.

The former title challenger made his debut back in 2013, where he picked up a severe knee injury. This subsequently lead to him being cut from the UFC, after only 1 fight.

Smith would have to put together a 7 fight win streak on various regional promotions to earn a second chance in the UFC.

Having come through such adversity allows Smith to empathise with the current situation surrounding Khamzat Chimaev.

Chimaev is suffering the long-term effects of covid, which appeared to lead him to retire. He has since rescinded his retirement, following a conversation with Republic of Chechnya leader, Ramzan Kadyrov.

Speaking on Sirius XM, Smith attempted to give some insight into Chmiaev’s current mindset.

“You look at the hill, and sometimes, it doesn’t even seem like it’s worth it. When you’re injured, and it just seems like a mountain you can’t climb,” he said. “When I hurt my hand after Gustafsson, and then the surgery failed, the bones shifted again, the plate broke, and they had to do it again. Sometimes, when your body betrays you, it seems like it’s just too much and you’re never going to be the same, and if you can’t be the same, you don’t want to compete if you can’t be the same.”

The fact that Khamzat was breaking UFC records as the much active fighter in modern MMA undoubtedly only made things worse for him. Anthony Smith also reveals the impact of a forced hiatus can have on an ultra competitive athlete.

“He’s used to being a f*cking killer,” Smith said. “He’s out here smoking people. It’s not even competitive at this point yet. And now he’s a shell of himself? There’s more than just physical stuff that goes along with it. There’s a lot of mental stuff. He’s not used to being weak. He’s not used to struggling, he’s not used to having a tough time because he’s so good and he works so damn hard.

“Through this, through injuries, through sickness, it doesn’t matter how hard you work. It just takes time. And fighters aren’t patient” (as transcribed by MMA Fighting)

While Khamzat’s rehabilitation process will no doubt take a substantial amount of time, Smith is certain that we will once again see him in the octagon, back to winning ways.

Things start to get better, day by day,” he said. “I have no doubt that Khazmat will be back.”

Smith himself is currently coming off a win against Devin Clark, and is set to face talented prospect Jimmy Crute next at UFC 261.

What do you think about the comments made by Anthony Smith? Let us know in the comments.

Anthony Smith Steps In For Johnny Walker, Faces Jimmy Crute On April 24

SmithAnthony Smith will be taking on Jimmy Crute in light heavyweight action. Crute was initially set to face Johnny Walker on the UFC’s upcoming March 27 card. However, Walker had to pull out due to injury and will now be replaced by Smith. Additionally, the fight will be rescheduled for the UFC’s April 24 event. […]

Smith

Anthony Smith will be taking on Jimmy Crute in light heavyweight action.

Crute was initially set to face Johnny Walker on the UFC’s upcoming March 27 card. However, Walker had to pull out due to injury and will now be replaced by Smith. Additionally, the fight will be rescheduled for the UFC’s April 24 event.

It’s something that pleases Crute as he believes Walker is ducking him. Instead, he will now get a bigger opponent in former title challenger Smith.

“A wise man called @danielkellyjudo once told me “in a sport that’s supposed to be full of tough guys you’d be surprised at how many pussies there are in this sport” very true words. Disappointed that my opponent has ducked me yet again but I can’t say that I am surprised that being said I can’t express how excited and grateful I am that a true fighter has decided to step in and fight me. This is a better fight , better name and bigger challenge but I’m ready for it.”

As far as Smith is concerned, he’s happy to give Crute an opportunity and is also excited about the matchup.

“He’s a good kid and he deserves it, it’s a tough fight for sure,” Smith told ESPN.

Smith recently snapped a two-fight losing streak with a submission win over Devin Clark in November.

Crute, meanwhile, is on a two-fight winning streak following a submission win over Michal Oleksiejczuk and a knockout victory over Modesta Bukauskas. In total, he has won four of his last five outings since signing wih the UFC in 2018.

Who do you have winning this matchup?

Anthony Smith Steps in for Johnny Walker to Face Jim Crute April 24

Anthony Smith will be filling in for Johnny Walker to face Jim Crute on April 24 in a fight between two ranked light heavyweights. ESPN has reported that Johnny Walker has been forced to pull out of his fight against Jim Crute, prompting Anthony Smith …

Anthony Smith will be filling in for Johnny Walker to face Jim Crute on April 24 in a fight between two ranked light heavyweights. ESPN has reported that Johnny Walker has been forced to pull out of his fight against Jim Crute, prompting Anthony Smith to step up to the plate. Thus far, there is […]