Anthony Smith received a final, brutal reminder of the unforgiving nature of mixed martial arts during his retirement fight.
Entering Saturday’s UFC Kansas City co-main event as the last fight of his 17-year journey, “Lionheart” undoubtedly hoped for a different conclusion. Instead, he endured a harsh and bloody defeat at the hands of rapidly rising light heavyweight contender Zhang Mingyang.
Zhang significantly hurt Smith with an elbow early in the first round, following up with relentless ground-and-pound that covered the canvas in Smith’s blood. Although referee Jason Herzog initially gave Smith considerable time to try and recover, it soon became clear that Smith was unable to defend himself effectively. Herzog stepped in to stop the fight at the 4:03 mark of the first round, bringing Smith’s career to a definitive close.
Naturally, fellow fighters offered their reactions online. Many paid tribute to Smith`s long and impactful contributions to the sport. However, the stoppage itself became a major point of discussion, with some notable pros criticizing the referee`s timing.
Former UFC champion Rafael dos Anjos was particularly vocal, calling the stoppage “terrible” and suggesting disciplinary action against the referee. Despite his criticism of the finish, Dos Anjos also praised Smith, acknowledging him as a “beast” for facing tough opponents throughout his career and wishing him a happy retirement.
Wesley Dunham