Five Things You Might Not Know About Anthony Smith

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In his next outing, Anthony Smith will face Volkan Oezdemir in the main event at UFC Fight Night 138 on Oct. 27 in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada.

In build up to the pivotal clash, here are five things that you might not know about the 30-year-old, known as “Lionheart.”

1. His fights rarely go to the judges.

Across his 11-year, 43-bout career, Smith has only gone to a decision on three occasions. Of his 28 wins by stoppage to date, 17 (57 percent) have come by way of KO, 10 (33 percent) via submission, and 1 by disqualification. This aggressive approach has seen the Omaha, Nebraska, native gain a reputation as an exciting, fan-friendly fighter.

2. He has faced gruelling weight cuts.

Prior to his successful UFC 225 light heavyweight clash with Rashad Evans, Smith had spent the vast majority of his career at middleweight. The cut to 185 had always been difficult for the 6’4” pugilist. But, as he approached his 30s, the downsizing from his typical walk-around weight of 220 was becoming untenable. Smith would typically begin his cut around 9 or 10 p.m. and continue all the way through to the weigh-in the next day. He said in an interview of his later cuts to middleweight: “My vision was starting to blur … and I’m having the burning feeling in my back, like you can feel your organs hurting.” By upshifting to light-heavyweight, Smith was adamant that his performances would improve. And his results to date in his new weight class have certainly testified to that.

3. He has fought for Bellator, Strikeforce and the UFC.

A veteran of 43 fights, Smith has competed in numerous promotions during his career. His formative period in the sport was spent in the Midwest regional scene. From there he progressed to the big leagues. “Lionheart” has turned out for Bellator MMA and Strikeforce, as well as having two stints with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. In his first time out with the Las Vegas based promotion, Smith was released after losing his debut. In 2016, he was re-signed. This time around, he has been far more successful, winning six of eight. Five (83 percent) of those victories have come by way of stoppage.

4. He nearly died in a car accident.

Back in 2009, Smith, who had been drinking heavily, fell asleep behind the wheel while driving along a gravel road. When he woke up in hospital, he found himself attached to a life support machine, with no recollection of the accident that had put him there. His injuries included a fractured cheek bone, damaged lungs and face lacerations, but miraculously he suffered no long-term effects from the crash. He was out of hospital in a week and fought less than one month later. These days, Smith is a devoted family man who abstains from heavy drinking.

5. He didn’t always seem destined for such success.

Smith had a wretched 2013. That year, he lost all three of his contests by submission. This was far from his first taste of adversity. Back in 2009 and 2010, he experienced a four-fight losing skid. However, despite the setbacks, “Lionheart” has never suffered from a lack of self-belief, and that combined with his dedication to the sport has led to him resurrecting his once ailing career. Smith’s recent run has seen him win 13 of his last 15.