LEMOORE, Calif., Jan. 13 WEC light heavyweight champion Scott Smith came back in electric fashion Friday at the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino, surviving an early knockdown by Justin Levens (Pictures) to stun his challenger 1:58 after the opening bell.
Despite a chorus of boos from the pro-Smith crowd, Levens strolled to the cage with the sly smile that the Ruas Vale Tudo student seems to always wear before fights. The sold-out audience exploded when Smith, sporting an aggressive demeanor, walked out.
In the fights first few seconds, Levens dodged a punch from the traditionally slow-starting champion and plastered a right hand to his jaw, the impact of which forced Smiths legs to give.
Ive definitely been stunned like that before, like a flash knockout type of thing, said Smith, who recovered to survive Levens frenzied early pace. Thank God they didnt stop it.
Seeing a quick end to the fight, Levens moved forward but his eagerness to capitalize on the early fortune backfired. Going after a rear-naked choke while failing to control Smiths back was Levens first major misstep. Had he secured the position or decided instead to remain separated and strike, there is real possibility he could have ended Smiths night before it really had a chance to start.
That sort of thing happens with inexperience, and for a fighter whod never been out of the first round in seven professional fights the mistake is almost understandable.
Smith, with just nine bouts under his belt before tonight, showed great poise in coming back from the brink. I remember he did actually have my throat and I was like this isnt happening, all that shit I talked about being able to take him on the ground Im not getting submitted by this guy.
The two scrambled on the mat and Smith, his faculties having returned, fell backwards with Levens left leg. I think just because I got stunned so quick I just felt I had to act [even though] I still had 14 minutes left to fight, Smith said. I think I was just kind of overreacting jumping in trying to finish the fight really quick.
Instead of countering and regaining position, Levens applied a toehold. Neither man was going to give and Smith realized this first. The champion released the submission to get top position, which Levens immediately countered.
The fighters returned to their feet and the pace was very different. Levens, slow now, controlled the champion from behind and for the first time neither man pressed the action. Clinched in his corner within earshot of his Capital City Fighting Alliance training partners, Smith heard the instructions of Urijah Faber (Pictures).
Scott was attacking the wrist and I told him to hook one elbow just like Sakuraba does, said Faber, the current KOTC bantamweight champion. You can control a guy from there and it really immobilizes. You cant throw a power punch with the other arm because you dont have any leverage.
I had the two-on-one you know both hands on his right hand, Smith remembered. I wanted to switch off and get the left hand on it and throw the elbow. Obviously [Levens is] hearing the same thing I am, so you dont want to do it right away.
Giving Faber a nod, Smith walked Levens to their right, tracing the line of the pentagon-shaped cage. It was then that the champion put Fabers words into action, swinging his right elbow back in a sweeping motion.
It connected and Smith pounced on the stunned challenger, unloading several punches, one of which, a right hand, caught Levens on the side of his head. A left uppercut finished the combination and Levens fell hard to the floor.
I thought he was out when he hit the ground, said Smith, who didnt let that stop him from firing down punches.
I got to go until the ref stops it. I dropped a couple more bombs. As soon as the ref jumps in Im done I want the win just as bad as he wants to stop getting beat up.
Referee Josh Rosenthal jumped between the fighters Levens prone silent on the canvas and Smith jubilant on his feet.
Dont piss me off, Smith told his teammates after it was done. They agreed. Dont piss him off.
Of the advice offered from his corner, Smith smiled. Yeah, he said, I owe Urijah one. Im gonna have to buy him a drink.
Several minutes after taking the first defeat of his career, the shocked challenger made his way out of the cage with an apparent concussion. Levens did not speak with the media after the fight.
Having come into tonights bout five pounds under the light heavyweight limit, Smith now appears on the verge of making his way into the UFC at middleweight.