Anthony Smith ought to have fought this dude
within the crowd earlier than retiring
#UFCKansasCitypic.twitter.com/oyM4cyWMka— Delinquent MMA (@DelinquentMMA)
April 27, 2025
Apparently not everybody in attendance on the T-Cellular Middle in
Kansas Metropolis was there to pay tribute to Anthony
Smith as he formally known as it a profession on Saturday
night time.
Shortly after the previous mild heavyweight title challenger
suffered a bloody technical knockout loss to Mingyang
Zhang within the UFC
Kansas Metropolis co-main occasion, “Lionheart” walked to 1 aspect of
the Octagon, the place he appeared to yell and flip the chicken to somebody
within the crowd.
Because it seems, the fan in query had been taunting Smith even
earlier than the combat started.
“There was a man in a Nebraska shirt and he was like booing me and
flipping me off and form of speaking trash earlier than the combat,” Smith
stated on ESPN+ post-fight present. “However I used to be actually centered on what I
needed to do. Then after the combat, his buddy is cheering and he’s
nonetheless flipping me off and saying some fairly disrespectful
issues.
“I used to be so mad. He was sporting a Nebraska shirt. We’re purported to
be household right here. It’s not a really large neighborhood of individuals right here. … I
simply couldn’t imagine that. I pour my coronary heart and soul into this recreation
and I don’t care should you suppose that I suck or that I’m not very
good, should you’re sitting within the crowd, you’re undoubtedly not doing
what I’m doing, particularly sporting a Nebraska shirt. You’ll be able to’t speak
trash sporting a Nebraska shirt. Like come on now. That’s all that
was.”
The second was short-lived, and Smith moved on to have his second
within the Octagon, which included a while on the microphone and a
video tribute. The 36-year-old Omaha, Nebraska native exits the
sport with a 38-22 profession mark. His UFC tenure discovered new life in
2018 when he earned successive victories over Rashad
Evans, Mauricio Rua
and Volkan
Oezdemir to earn a 205-pound title shot. Although “Lionheart”
misplaced a unanimous choice to Jon Jones at
UFC 235, he has remained a distinguished determine within the promotion, typically
working as an analyst when he wasn’t combating.
“It’s bizarre,” Smith stated. “As a result of I’m used to combating, whether or not
you win otherwise you lose, you go onto no matter’s subsequent. You begin rolling
by this Rolodex like, ‘All proper, I misplaced, so I’ve obtained to seek out
this man, I’ve obtained to chase this rating.’ You win, you’re wanting
forward. There may be nothing else. “So I’m refusing to be unhappy. I
shouldn’t be allowed to be unhappy. It’s been a protracted journey. I’ve been
doing this since I used to be 17 years previous, I’m going to be 37 in a pair
of months. I obtained sufficient. I constructed my life round what I used to be capable of
do on this sport. It’s afforded me alternatives I used to be by no means, ever
capable of have. I’m forcing myself to be pleased that it occurred and
not unhappy that it’s over.”
