Anthony Smith’s final walk to the octagon didn’t have the storybook ending some fans might have hoped for. At UFC on ESPN 66 in Kansas City, “Lionheart” suffered a tough first-round TKO loss to Zhang Mingyang, ending his MMA career in a bloody and emotional fashion. But if you thought Smith would leave the sport in bitterness, think again.
A Rough Farewell, but No Regrets
Smith, who’s been fighting professionally since he was 17, was cut open early by an elbow and overwhelmed on the ground before the referee stepped in. As he got up, cameras caught him flipping off someone in the crowd-a move that left viewers scratching their heads. Smith later explained that his gesture wasn’t random: it was aimed at a disrespectful fan wearing a Nebraska shirt, someone Smith expected to be supportive.
“There was a guy in a Nebraska shirt and he was like booing me and flipping me off and kind of talking trash before the fight,” Smith said on the post-fight show. “After the fight, his friend is cheering and he’s still flipping me off and saying some pretty disrespectful things. I was so mad. We’re supposed to be family here… You can’t talk trash wearing a Nebraska shirt. Come on now.”
Looking Forward, Not Back
Despite the disappointing result, Smith is determined to keep a positive outlook. He admitted that the reality of retirement hasn’t fully hit him yet, but he’s making a conscious choice to focus on gratitude instead of sadness.
“It’s weird,” Smith reflected. “Because I’m used to fighting, whether you win or you lose, you go onto whatever’s next… There is nothing else. So I’m refusing to be sad. I shouldn’t be allowed to be sad. It’s been a long journey. I’ve been doing this since I was 17 years old, I’m going to be 37 in a couple of months. I got enough. I built my life around what I was able to do in this sport. It’s afforded me opportunities I was never, ever able to have. I’m forcing myself to be happy that it happened and not sad that it’s over.”
What’s Next for “Lionheart”?
With his fighting days behind him, Smith is looking forward to focusing on his family and his growing role as a UFC and ESPN analyst. The competitive grind and sacrifices are over, but his passion for the sport and his impact on MMA will continue in a new chapter.
In true “Lionheart” fashion, Smith is choosing to walk away with his head held high-grateful for the journey, and ready for what comes next.
