Anthony Smith, a fan-favorite fighter, had been contemplating retirement for quite some time. Recently, he announced that his upcoming fight against Zhang Mingyang at UFC Kansas City would be the last of his career. ‘Lionheart’ has struggled with back-to-back losses in his recent fights, but he has now confirmed that this will be his final bout.
Smith had been considering retirement for a while but kept pushing it back, always telling himself he had “three or four more fights.” Despite his love for fighting, the demands of training and competition started to feel overwhelming. He realized that being a husband and father needed more of his attention. Over time, the ups and downs of the sport no longer felt worth it, and he decided it was finally time to step away.
“It’s final,” Smith said. “Now, I’m not saying if there was like an Anderson Silva-Chael Sonnen boxing match in nowhere Brazil that popped up in some years or something that I wouldn’t be willing to do that. But in terms of fighting for a living, and this being my full-time gig, not anymore. No, I’m done.”
Smith reflected on his past fight, saying he needed it for his personal healing. While it didn’t fully heal him, he felt he carried the pain better afterward. Soon after his loss in December, he decided to have one last fight before retiring. He reached out to the UFC, and in a heartfelt conversation with UFC executive Hunter Campbell, he appreciated the support and discussion about his future beyond fighting.
Anthony Smith Picks Jon Jones Over Islam Makhachev in P4P Debate
The pound-for-pound (P4P) debate in 2025 remains heated, despite Dana White naming Islam Makhachev the top fighter during the UFC 311 announcement. Anthony Smith has reignited the discussion, arguing that Jon Jones deserves the No. 1 spot due to his longevity and dominance across three generations of fighters. Smith emphasized that while Makhachev suffered a legitimate loss, Jones remained undefeated throughout his career.
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In an interview with Ariel Helwani, Smith stated that if all top fighters were in a room, Jones would be the last one standing. Both Jones and Makhachev impressed in their recent bouts—Jones stopped Stipe Miocic via TKO, while Makhachev secured a first-round submission over Renato Moicano. Despite Smith’s stance, Makhachev currently holds the No. 1 P4P ranking as the reigning lightweight champion.
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