Anthony “Lionheart” Smith received a harsh reminder of the fight game`s unforgiving nature in his final outing.
Entering the UFC Kansas City co-main event on Saturday, Smith knew this bout would mark the end of his 17-year career. He was surely hoping for a different conclusion, however, as he suffered a severe beating from the rapidly rising light heavyweight contender Zhang Mingyang, leaving him battered and bloodied.
Zhang initially hurt Smith with an elbow in the opening round before finishing the fight with ground-and-pound, splashing Smith`s blood across the canvas. While referee Jason Herzog allowed significant time for Smith to recover, it became evident that “Lionheart” was unable to defend himself against Zhang`s relentless attack. Herzog subsequently called a halt to the contest—and Smith`s career—at the 4:03 mark of the round.
Unsurprisingly, fellow fighters lauded Smith for his enduring efforts and significant contributions to mixed martial arts. Nevertheless, former UFC champion Rafael dos Anjos was critical of the officiating, expressing strong disapproval of what he considered a delayed stoppage.
“What a terrible stoppage,” Dos Anjos wrote, adding emphatically, “Get this man fired.”
Despite his criticism of the stoppage, Dos Anjos also paid tribute to Smith`s career pedigree: “Anthony Smith has fought all the killers in his career. Guy is a beast. Happy retirement.”
