With so much hype surrounding the McGergor-Nurmagomedov suspension fiasco and Jones’s positive drug test, we have lost track of the man who keeps his words. Yes we are talking about the undisputed Lion, the “Lionheart” of the MMA world, Anthony Smith (31-13)!
Anthony Smith will take part in the biggest fight of his MMA career when he meets one on one with the UFC Light Heavyweight champion, Jon Jones. The fight is the main event of UFC 235, and will take place on March 2, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The “Lionheart” had a fabulous 2018. He won his first three fights at 205 pounds earning him a fast track to the title shot. It gives him extra respect to win (all finishes) against the likes of Rashad Evans, Maurico Rua and Volkan Oezdemir to eye his first-ever shot at the championship title.
Anthony Smith is all set to shock the audience. He is potentially at par to dethrone the most dominant 205-pound champion in UFC history. The KO artist impressed his counterpart with his winning streak that started last year.
In the last year, Smith has showed the world a highlight-reel of his potential. Momentum is on his side after he outclassed Rashad Evans, Shogun Rua and Volkan Oezdemir.
Since moving up to the UFC’s light heavyweight division, Smith has gone unbeaten with two impressive knockout wins. Not only that, he got them over two former champions in Rashad Evans and Mauricio Rua. The win over the latter, which also marked Smith’s first UFC headliner, was given “Performance of the Night” honors.
Smith might not be feeling that great back at middleweight, but he didn’t exactly look terrible. Even the loss to Santos, which broke his three-knockout winning streak, ended up coming with the consolation prize of a “Fight of the Night” bonus.
Anthony Smith said;
“I think it really comes down to who you are as a person and who you are deep in your soul, are you the person that’s going to do the bare minimum to stay away from damage and win the points battle? Or are you someone that’s just going to jump in the fire, and if you get burned, you get burned? That tends to be more my style. I don’t think I could be a quote-unquote point fighter, or someone who’s just trying to grind down decisions.”
“I don’t think I could do that. I don’t think I have the patience for that. If the gameplan was to grind Volkan out, after the first or second round I’d just get sick of that (expletive) and I’d just want a firefight. I don’t think I could do that. As far as being better, the pressure is definitely there. But as far as exciting, I think that’s just who I am.”
Jon Jones Body Language Breakdown:
Mike Winkeljohn — Jon’s striking coach — on a recent appearance on The MMA Hour said via MMA Fighting;
“Tough. Just big balls to keep going. He has the ability to come back, I think the scariest thing about him is just that. As you saw in his last fight with Volkan (Oezdemir), he was behind in my mind, but he knows how to survive and find the right time to do something. I think he started hurting him with body shots and then he had the takedown there at the end,”
“I think it’s his ability, his mental toughness to survive and overcome that’s his greatest strength.”
