Will Anthony Smith announce his retirement from MMA soon?
Following his UFC Light Heavyweight title loss to Jon Jones at UFC 235, the 32-year-old hasn’t been able to recapture the magic that got him big wins over Rashad Evans, Maurício Rua, and Volkan Oezdemir. Smith did rebound with an impressive win against Alexander Gustafsson at UFC Fight Night 153; however, his performances against Glover Teixeira and Aleksandar Rakić has many questioning his future within the sport.
Smith was dominated in both light heavyweight matches and coming out of his recent bout, the former challenger for the 205-pound belt feels that he needs to make a decision on where to go next following his crushing loss (Transcript courtesy of MMA Junkie):
“I’ve never been one of the guys that’s out here pining and calling for more weight classes, but in these last couple of fights that’s kind of where my brain goes,” Smith said on the UFC on ESPN+ 33 post-fight show. “I’m just too big for 185, and you start getting into these bigger, stronger, taller, longer guys. They’re just so strong. … I think I got some big decisions to make in my career and figure out where we go from here. It’s super frustrating to lose to a guy you feel you can beat.”
Smith recalls his game plan for his fight against Rakić and the top light heavyweight feels that there wasn’t much he could within the contest:
“Well, the first round I kind of stayed in kicking range at the beginning, which was obviously stupid now. He just beat on my lead leg, and then we got into clinch and grappling exchanges, which I felt OK in, but he was just so strong. He’s so big,” Smith said. “… He was so tight on top that I couldn’t make any space. I guess just my biggest takeaway is that he’s just so big and so strong.”
Could Anthony Smith make a transition back over to middleweight division?
The Nebraska native has previously competed in the 185-pound division; however, Smith knows how much of a struggle it was for him to make weight and doesn’t know whether he’s willing to make that lifestyle change at this point in his career:
“I don’t know. (One hundred and eighty-five pounds) is still really tough,” Smith said. “It’s a total lifestyle change, and that’s year-round. It’s not like one of those things where I can get into camp and change my diet and cut down. It’s a complete lifestyle change. I guess that’s one of the options. I guess the other option is to take some time off and get bigger. I don’t know. I’ve got some things to decide on.”