Tag: Anthony Smith

Anthony Smith ‘Definitely Thinks There’s a chance’ he fights Alex Pereira after UFC 295

Anthony SmithPerennial light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith believes there’s a very real chance that he could be the first man…

Anthony Smith

Perennial light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith believes there’s a very real chance that he could be the first man to challenge Alex Pereira, should ‘Poatan’ walk out of Madison Square Garden with the 205-pound title on Saturday night.

Pereira, who will be competing in his third title fight in less than a year, has the opportunity to claim his second UFC championship in as many divisions when he meets former light heavyweight titleholder Jiri Prochazka to crown a new king of the division. The belt currently sits vacant after Jamahal Hill was forced to lay down the title after suffering a ruptured Achilles during a charity basketball game in July.

Both Prochazka and Pereira recognize that Hill would be coming for the gold once healed up and ready to return, but with an injury that could take a year or more to recover from, it leaves the door wide open for another potential contender to earn their shot.

Enter Anthony Smith, a mainstay in the division’s top ten determined to score a UFC title fight before hanging up his gloves for good. Losing two of his last three, including back-to-back defeats against Magomed Ankalaev and Johnny Walker, ‘Lionheart’ doesn’t appear to be a logical choice for title contention, but with so many injuries plaguing the top of the weight class, Smith believes he could benefit from the lack of contenders available.

I definitely think there’s a chance, for sure,” Smith said during a recent appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani. “I mean, especially if [Pereira] wins. Looks good doing it. Wants a quick [turnaround].

He continued, “If Jamahal’s ready then it’s him. I couldn’t expect to jump the line on him and I would be jumping the line anyway, which I’m fine with. I think I’ve been around long enough.”

Alex Pereira Accuses Anthony smith of Being a hater

It’s safe to say there is no love lost between Alex Pereira and Anthony Smith. In August, ‘Poatan’ called out the part-time analyst and full-time fighter, believing ‘Lionheart’ has been consistently biased against him in his commentary.

“The issue is, he has his job with the UFC commentating,” Pereira said through a translator on an episode of The MMA Hour. “He’s got to do what he’s got to do, but we feel that since the beginning, he gives me no credit. For example, I made my debut, I came from Glory, he was like, ‘Yeah, he’s a Glory kickboxer, but now he’s fighting a very tough grappler, [Andreas] Michailidis, he’s going to be a wrestler and everything, it’s going to be too much of a challenge.’ I go and knock the guy out.

“Then he goes, ‘Oh, but that guy he fought wasn’t tough. He was a nobody. Now he’s going fight Bruno Silva, beat [Alexander] Schlemenko in Russia by knockout, he’s a beast, this is going to be too much for him.’ I go and beat Bruno Silva, and then that’s when [he says with] Sean Strickland… ‘Bruno Silva wasn’t that tough, but Sean Strickland, he’s a challenge right now. It’s not going to be good for him.’ I go and beat Sean Strickland.

“It’s always something [after],” Pereira continued. “‘Oh, Sean Strickland, that was not a tough challenge,’ and this and that. [He says] ‘He’s still got to prove himself. Now he has to go fight Adesanya!’ I go and beat Adesanya, and then after that, I go up to light heavyweight but [it’s], ‘He just lost his last fight. He’s too small for light heavyweight. He’s a tough fight, Blachowicz. He won’t pass.’ I go and beat [Blachowicz].

“It’s always something going on that Anthony doesn’t give me the proper credit that I deserve. He kind of hates on me a little bit” (h/t MMA Fighting).

‘Lionheart’ Snaps Back

Anthony Smith responded to Pereira’s comments, claiming that ‘Poatan’ had misunderstood him, particularly when it came to his comments about Pereira’s move from middleweight to lightweight.

“I’ll be honest: I texted Glover (Teixeira) yesterday and said, ‘What in the f*ck is this?’” Smith said on his SiriusXM radio show. “I’m trying to figure out which direction I’m supposed to go here. Did he take something out of context? Is he reading headlines, or did he actually listen to what I said? Because what I said was that, essentially, he’s the same size as everyone else. You think if I said Islam (Makhachev) is the same size as every lightweight, he’s going to come at me pissed off about it? No.

“My whole point was that he moved up to 205 so he’s not going to enjoy the same size advantage that he did at 185. That’s it. Is that crazy? Am I wrong?

Though we can’t necessarily see the UFC chomping at the bit to make a potential title fight between Alex Pereira and Anthony Smith, there is enough background between them to give the hypothetical clash a little nudge in the right direction from a marketing standpoint.

Anthony Smith plays up future clash with Ex-UFC kingpin Alex Pereira amid bitter rivalry: ‘I would smoke him’

Anthony Smith plays up future clash with Alex Pereira I would smoke him UFCFormer light heavyweight title challenger, Anthony Smith has claimed if he ever landed a proposed grappling match with former middleweight champion, Alex Pereira outside of the UFC – he would handily “smoke” the Brazilian on the mats. Smith, a former one-time light heavyweight title challenger under the promotion’s banner, snapped a disappointing two-fight losing skid […]

Anthony Smith plays up future clash with Alex Pereira I would smoke him UFC

Former light heavyweight title challenger, Anthony Smith has claimed if he ever landed a proposed grappling match with former middleweight champion, Alex Pereira outside of the UFC – he would handily “smoke” the Brazilian on the mats.

Smith, a former one-time light heavyweight title challenger under the promotion’s banner, snapped a disappointing two-fight losing skid on the main card of UFC Fight Night Singapore back in August, defeating two-time opponent, Ryan Spann in a close, split decision victory.

And as for Pereira, the Sao Paulo knockout artist made good on a light heavyweight divisional bow at UFC 291 back in July, defeating former undisputed champion, Jan Blachowicz in a close, split decision win in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Booking his Octagon return for November in the co-main event of UFC 295 in Madison Square Garden, former middleweight champion, Pereira will attempt to mint himself as the new light heavyweight champion as he takes on former champion, Czech Republic native, Jiri Prochazka in a vacant title showing.

Anthony Smith is prepared to take on Alex Pereira as soon as possible

Finding himself firmly inserted into a verbal rivalry with Pereira in recent weeks since his rematch win over Spann, Nebraska veteran, Smith – who was linked with a grappling clash with the former, confidently claimed he would brush Pereira aside with ease.

“I would grapple him (Alex Pereira) in my front yard right now,” Anthony Smith told MMA Fighting. “It doesn’t matter, I would smoke him in a grappling match, But isn’t he supposed to – I don’t know why he’s not talking trash to Jiri (Prochazka). Like, that’s the guy, I understand trying drum up some business and drum up some intrigue into what you’re doing and things in the division.”

“Someone needs to be in his (Alex Pereira) saying, ‘If you’re going to be talking all this sh*t, you need to do it to the guy that you could be fighting for the title,” Anthony Smith explained. 

Would you like to see Anthony Smith compete against Alex Pereira?

Anthony Smith hits out at Alex Pereira amid verbal war: ‘If you want a f*cking rival you’ve got one right here’

Anthony Smith offers Alex Pereira fight if you want a f*cking rival UFCFormer light heavyweight title challenger, Anthony Smith has responded to recent comments from arch-rival and former undisputed middleweight championship holder, Alex Pereira – claiming if he is in search of a UFC rival, he’s got on in waiting. Smith, who snapped a disappointing two-fight losing skid earlier this month, managed to land a close, split […]

Anthony Smith offers Alex Pereira fight if you want a f*cking rival UFC

Former light heavyweight title challenger, Anthony Smith has responded to recent comments from arch-rival and former undisputed middleweight championship holder, Alex Pereira – claiming if he is in search of a UFC rival, he’s got on in waiting.

Smith, who snapped a disappointing two-fight losing skid earlier this month, managed to land a close, split decision win over Ryan Spann in the pair’s rematch – landing his first victory since he submitted the former with a rear-naked choke in a 2021 headliner at the UFC Apex facility.

As for Sao Paulo knockout artist, Pereira, the Brazilian made a successful light heavyweight divisional bow at UFC 291 back in July in Salt Lake City, Utah – landing in the division with a close, split judging win of his own over former champion, Jan Blachowicz. 

Reacting to claims from Smith ahead of his outing in Kallang that he looked entirely normal at the light heavyweight limit, Pereira the one-time title challenger, claimed the former would amount to nothing, and described him as “washed-up”.

Anthony Smith hits back at UFC foe, Alex Pereira

Sharing his thoughts on the comments from Pereira – as well as a subsequent offer of a grappling match, Smith claimed he would be willing to rival the Brazilian if needs be.

“I said a bunch of nice sh*t about you, and you’re going to talk sh*t?” Anthony Smith said of Alex Pereira on his SiriusXM radio programe. “I don’t think so. That’s not how this works. Then we’re going to shake hands when we see each other because you’re doing this media thing because you’re looking for a rival? If you want a f*cking rival, you’ve got one right here. I didn’t do sh*t to you. I’ve been nothing but complimentary of him and his whole team and a lot of his training partners. I don’t know what I did to that guy.” 

As for Pereira, the Brazilian has been lined up to challenge for vacant light heavyweight gold against former champion, Jiri Prochazka – potentially as soon as December of this year at UFC 296. 

Do you want to see Anthony Smith fight Alex Pereira in the future?

Alex Pereira blasts UFC rival Anthony Smith in brutal tirade: ‘He’s washed up and never amounted to anything’

Alex Pereira hits out at Anthony Smith he's washed up and never amounted to anything UFCFormer undisputed middleweight champion, Alex Pereira has hit out at former light heavyweight title challenger, Anthony Smith – after the Nebraska native questioned if the power of the Brazilian had translated since his 205lbs leap, referring to the former as a “washed-up veteran’. Pereira, a former undisputed middleweight champion, most recently co-headlined UFC 291 back […]

Alex Pereira hits out at Anthony Smith he's washed up and never amounted to anything UFC

Former undisputed middleweight champion, Alex Pereira has hit out at former light heavyweight title challenger, Anthony Smith – after the Nebraska native questioned if the power of the Brazilian had translated since his 205lbs leap, referring to the former as a “washed-up veteran’.

Pereira, a former undisputed middleweight champion, most recently co-headlined UFC 291 back in July in Salt Lake City, Utah – securing a split decision win over former undisputed champion, Jan Blachowicz in his light heavyweight divisional bow.

As for Smith, the former Bellator MMA contender recorded his first victory since 2021 over the course of the weekend in the co-main event of UFC Singapore, landed a split decision win of his own over Ryan Spann in the pair’s rematch – having previously submitted the latter in the opening round in his last win.

Alex Pereira goes scorched earth on Anthony Smith after UFC Singapore

And reacting to Smith’s thoughts on his ability at the light heavyweight limit since his summer move, Pereira has gone scorched earth on the veteran, claiming he “never amounted to anything”.

“I always see him [Anthony Smith] talking, especially about me,” Alex Pereira said on his official YouTube channel. “He talks really bad, I don’t know what he has against me but he criticized other athletes too, saying the athlete didn’t make weight and a guy who in Glover [Teixeira’s] fight in Rio de Janeiro was a backup and the guy didn’t make weight. It shows why he’s not successful. Because someone who’s going to be a backup fighter, he takes it easy, unlike Glover.” 

“If there’s one guy doing well and another guy only criticizing, people aren’t stupid,” Alex Pereira explained. “They’ll see what’s going on. They’ll see that he’s just a bitter man. The only ones who speak bad about me are Anthony Smith-types. Washed-up vets who never amounted to anything, who are still fighting. They’re in a really tight spot or the guy who is still a nobody but those who are already doing well. I don’t see them talking about me, you know? It’s the one who are beneath me.”

Would you like to see Alex Pereira fight Anthony Smith next after UFC Singapore?

Johnny Walker congratulates Anthony Smith on UFC Singapore win, insists ‘I didn’t attack your family’

Johnny WalkerLight heavyweight standout Johnny Walker congratulated Anthony Smith on his return to the win column at UFC Singapore, but once again made it clear that he in no way attacked his family. On Saturday, ‘Lionheart’ snapped a two-fight losing skid after scoring a closely contested split decision victory over Ryan Spann. It was Smith’s second […]

Johnny Walker

Light heavyweight standout Johnny Walker congratulated Anthony Smith on his return to the win column at UFC Singapore, but once again made it clear that he in no way attacked his family.

On Saturday, ‘Lionheart’ snapped a two-fight losing skid after scoring a closely contested split decision victory over Ryan Spann. It was Smith’s second victory over Spann, having earned a first-round submission against ‘Superman’ in 2021. The win will no doubt help erase the bad taste left in Smith’s mouth after delivering a lackluster performance against rising contender Johnny Walker earlier this year.

Walker had a dominant performance against Smith in May, but much of his victory was overshadowed by a very strange accusation that ‘Lionheart’ made during their UFC on ABC 4 scrap.

During the second round of the bout, Anthony Smith could be heard telling Walker, “You’re attacking my family.” A confused Walker said, “What?” before Smith repeated his statement.

Johnny Walker Recalls Awkward Exchange with Anthony Smith

Taking to social media following Smith’s win inside Singapore Indoor Stadium, Johnny Walker congratulated his former foe online and reassured Smith that he never attacked his family.

“Congratulations @lionheartasmith for the win, but I didn’t attack your family I promise you,” Walker wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

To this day, the motivation behind Smith’s statement is unclear, but many believe that it could have been ‘Lionheart’ using a terrifying moment from his life to help get him in a mindset to fight inside the Octagon.

Appearing on the Believe You Me podcast with Michael Bisping not long after the loss to Johnny Walker, Smith detailed an incident where he and his family were the victims of a home invasion. Fortunately, nobody was hurt and the intruder was taken into custody, but fight fans believe that ‘Lionheart’ could still be suffering PTSD from the incident with many pointing to the video clip below:

Anthony Smith suffers gnarly eye injury in razor thin decision win over Ryan Spann – UFC Singapore Highlights

Anthony Smith survives gnarly eye injury to win close decision in rematch Ryan Spann UFC SingaporeHaving previously submitted arch-rival, Ryan Spann back in 2021, one-time light heavyweight title challenger, Anthony Smith managed to survive some serious adversity from the second round onward in the co-main event of UFC Singapore tonight — defeating the former for the second time in his career in a close, split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) victory. […]

Anthony Smith survives gnarly eye injury to win close decision in rematch Ryan Spann UFC Singapore

Having previously submitted arch-rival, Ryan Spann back in 2021, one-time light heavyweight title challenger, Anthony Smith managed to survive some serious adversity from the second round onward in the co-main event of UFC Singapore tonight — defeating the former for the second time in his career in a close, split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) victory.

Back to the winner’s enclosure for the first time in two years since his submission win over Spann, Nebraska veteran, Smith was forced to continue through a massive swelling around is left eye caused by a left hand from the former, gritting through from the second frame through to the third to win a close split judging triumph.

Announcing plans for a title siege following a prior 2019 decision loss to former division kingpin and current heavyweight champion, Jon Jones, Smith, who had entered tonight’s pairing with Spann off the back of consecutive losses to both Magomed Ankalaev, and Johnny Walker, can now enter the winner’s enclosure for the first time in two years.

Below, catch the highlights from Anthony Smith’s decision win over Ryan Spann