The UFC returned to Kansas City on Saturday night where a former title challenger hung up the gloves.
Before the main event between Ian Machado Garry and Carlos Prates got underway, the co-main event saw an emotional ending to the career of a 60-fight veteran.
Anthony Smith was stopped by Zhang Mingyang in his retirement fight at the T-Mobile Center having stepped inside the Octagon 25 times in total.
Having returned to the UFC in 2016, ‘Lionheart’ went on to defy expectations by making it all the way to a light heavyweight title shot as a staple of the 205-pound division.
Some fellow fighters, including Conor McGregor, were not so supportive of Smith after his career came to an end with a three-straight defeat.
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Dillon Danis ‘officially revokes’ Anthony Smith’s nickname after his knockout loss in Kansas City
Anthony Smith may not have been a world champion during his time in the UFC but if you look at his career trajectory, he certainly overachieved and put together a great run all things considered.
‘Lionheart’ has had his fair share of notable defeats along the way with 12 knockout losses on his record, two of which came in his latest outings.
The former title challenger has also suffered devastating losses in the past to the likes of Khalil Rountree and Glover Teixeira where he was stopped in dominant fashion.
In a reaction to Smith’s retirement, controversial star Dillon Danis weighed in with his thoughts on the legacy of ‘Lionheart’ now that he has called time on his career.
His last dance was far from a fairy-tale ending as the 36-year-old was bloodied and beaten by a recent addition to the division who has hit the ground running.
As a result, Danis doesn’t believe that Smith deserves to hold the ‘Lionheart’ nickname after the way that his final moments inside the Octagon played out.
“Retired in a puddle of his own blood giving up like he does every fight I officially revoke the Lionheart nickname for Anthony Smith he literally has the heart of a poodle.”
Is Anthony Smith a future UFC Hall of Famer?
There was an ongoing topic of conversation around fight week as to whether Anthony Smith deserves a spot in the UFC Hall of Fame now that his career has come to an end.
Aljamain Sterling already weighed in with his thoughts on Smith’s legacy and he seemed to be on the right lines.
You can still have a great career that deserves celebration without being a Hall of Famer and ‘Lionheart’ doesn’t have one classic war that will see him enter via the fight wing even if his longevity is impressive.
Outside of a few notable exceptions, you’d expect that former UFC champions will be the first ones to have their names called for many years to come.