Anthony Smith emerged a top contender in the light heavyweight division by knocking out two of its legendary champions.
Former UFC title challenger Anthony Smith is set to make his 59th walk to the Octagon this Saturday in what will be his retirement fight against Chinese KO artist Mingyang Zhang at UFC Kansas City.
Turning 37 in July, Smith’s fought the best in the world for years, going up against five title challengers, three former champions and two current champions in Magomed Ankalaev and Jon Jones, who he could have taken the title from by disqualification after an illegal knee but decided not to.
‘Lionheart’ earned his shot at then light heavyweight champion Jones with three-straight finishes after moving up from the middleweight division.
Embed from Getty ImagesAnthony Smith retired Rashad Evans with hellacious knee
In his light heavyweight debut, Anthony Smith was matched up with former light heavyweight champion and ‘The Ultimate Fighter 2’ winner Rashad Evans in 2018.
It was a homecoming fight for Evans in Chicago at UFC 225. Evans had dropped his previous two fights by split decision, the 38-year-old hoping to finally get back on track against the younger Smith.
Being the most prolific takedown artist of the division, Evans tried to take Smith down in the first 40 seconds of the fight.
Evans pressed Smith against the cage with Smith framing Evans in the clinch, looking to time a knee.
Smith pulled Evans’ head down as he fired a beautiful knee to floor Evans. Smith landed a follow-up punch on Evans as he was going down and another one on the ground as the referee pushed him out of the way.
Weeks after the KO result, ‘Suga’ Rashad Evans announced his MMA retirement.
Anthony Smith ran through Shogun Rua in first UFC main event
A month after his first win at light heavyweight, Smith was rewarded with his UFC main event spot against another former champion in Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua in Hamburg, Germany.
Smith stepped in on short notice for Volkan Oezdemir, who he’d actually choke out in his next fight before meeting Jones for the title at UFC 235.
Rua was ranked #8 in the world at the time, having his three-fight win streak snapped by Smith in less than 90 seconds.
Smith starting touching up Rua early on, even landing a front kick to the face. Unbothered, Rua stood his ground like he has in so many wars before. However, at 36 years old, Rua’s chin would fail him.
Rua pressured Smith against the cage with strikes before he retreated after a clubbing right hand landed flush for his opponent.
Smith smelled blood in the water, swarming Rua with lefts and rights across the Octagon. Smith ended a combo with a brutal left which sent Rua down to the canvas.
Smith celebrated as he did against Evans, beating on his chest as Shogun Rua struggled to get back up on very wobbly legs, not knowing where he was.
Mauricio Rua joined Rashad Evans in the UFC Hall of Fame last summer. Evans was inducted in 2019.