Former UFC Fighter Readies for Final Match: "Victory, Defeat, or Draw, That's My Final Act"
UFC president Dana White has seldom requested a fighter to hang up their gloves and witnessed the retirement announcement shortly following his statement. Dealing with an unprecedented trifecta of retirements, White expressed his desire for Clay Guida, Chris Weidman, and Anthony Smith to call it quits. Guida was shown the door early this month, Weidman made his retirement official during UFC 311 weigh-ins, and now Smith has confirmed his upcoming fight will be his swansong.
Addressing The Ariel Helwani Show on Tuesday, Smith said, "Yep, it's the one more. Win, lose, or draw, that's gonna be it." Ever the enigma, Smith refused to reveal his opponent or set a date for the announcement, but alluded to the fight happening in April. Unable to disclose the details himself, Smith hinted at the possibility of revealing it on his podcast at a later date.
In November 2024, Smith was struck by personal calamities. Tragically, his best friend and mentor, Scott Morton, passed away due to a sudden heart attack, leaving Smith wrestling with his emotions during his fight against Dominick Reyes. Unsurprisingly, he faltered, ending the fight in a dismal second-round technical knockout loss.
Anthony Smith's 14-year career in MMA is a testament to his resilience. With 59 professional bouts under his belt, Smith boasted an impressive 38-21 record and an 11-11 tally in the UFC. His peak moment arrived in 2018, when he stringed together three consecutive victories over Rashad Evans, Mauricio Rua, and Volkan Oezdemir, leading to a title match against Jon Jones. Unfortunately, White's request for a retirement was met with Smith's dauntless continuation in the octagon.
Upon Smith's departure, a light heavyweight position will arise. Candidates for the Top 15 include Oumar Sy, Zhang Mingyang, Modestas Bukauskas, Rodolfo Bellato, Ibo Aslan, and Ion Cutelaba. In a surprising twist, Oumar Sy is set to face off against Alonzo Menifield on March 22, in the meantime, Smith's exit leaves room for fresh blood in the UFC light heavyweight division.
After announcing his upcoming fight as his final one, Anthony Smith mentioned potential reveal details on his podcast at a later date. Dana White expressed his desire for Smith's retirement, following a string of retirements within the UFC, with Smith's latest fight loss against Dominick Reyes occurring after his mentor Scott Morton's passing. The UFC schedule will soon feature a new light heavyweight position, as Anthony Smith prepares for his retirement fight.
