As Anthony Smith prepares for his retirement battle at UFC Kansas Metropolis, the one-time mild heavyweight title challenger has already set himself for a profession afterwards because of working as an analyst for the UFC — to not point out producing his personal weekly podcast.
However a couple of years in the past, Smith actually had no thought what would occur to him when MMA was completed. He clearly knew he couldn’t battle ceaselessly however that worry of the unknown haunted him lots.
“It used to maintain me up at evening,” Smith advised MMA Combating. “As a result of I had no thought what I used to be going to do once I was accomplished. It wasn’t even about how I used to be going to earn a residing. It was how am I going to be fulfilled? How am I going to make a distinction? I ended up on this place as a result of I’ve at all times been totally different. I knew once I was a child, I used to be by no means meant for a traditional 9 to five — any time I say this it makes it sound like I’m being disrespectful — I’m not in opposition to anyone who will get up, clocks in, works their day and clocks out. I’m not in opposition to that. I did the identical factor as a carpentry finisher and different building trades for a very long time whereas I used to be coaching and combating full time. I used to be ending concrete and combating within the UFC at one time limit.
“I respect that nevertheless it was by no means meant for me. I knew this was simply within the interim till I get to what I truly need to do. Whereas that was occurring, I spotted what the hell am I going to do when that is over? That thought bought me right here, what occurs when right here is gone? Then what do I do? It used to trouble me lots. It stored me up at evening.”
It wasn’t till a couple of years in the past when Smith began getting invited to make appearances on a Sirius XM present hosted by Dan Hardy that he discovered a voice speaking in regards to the sport that lastly gave him a brand new possibility. The 36-year-old veteran had by no means even contemplated a profession in broadcasting however these visitor spots on Hardy’s present bought him acknowledged as an analyst and it didn’t take lengthy for the UFC to note.
That’s when he was provided a chance to work on tv for a UFC pre and post-fight present when the promotion was nonetheless in a partnership with FOX. Smith admits he was nervous going into that debut look however fortunately he discovered a steadying hand from a future UFC Corridor of Famer to information him.
“Michael Bisping saved my ass in that gig,” Smith revealed. “He gave me a crash course in desk work and broadcasting once we had been at FOX. He actually made me really feel snug and helped me out lots on that first present and lined me. He carried me in loads of conditions. He actually saved me.”
Smith ultimately partnered with Bisping on his Imagine You Me podcast the place they co-hosted exhibits collectively, however that ended only in the near past, which led to hypothesis that the fighters had some type of falling out.
In actuality, Smith says he at all times supposed on forging his personal path, which meant beginning a brand new podcast and shifting on from his co-host position alongside Bisping. Regardless of the thirst for some controversial blowup between the fighters, Smith guarantees he has nothing however the deepest gratitude and admiration for Bisping and he positively believes the sensation is mutual.
“We’re good,” Smith mentioned about his relationship with Bisping. “He would have advised all people — if Bisping hated me, you guys would understand it. When has he ever minced phrases? There’s issues that occurred that neither of us has talked about within the background. Nothing to do with battle or something like that. Bisping and I are good.
“That was the plan in conversations that Bisping and I had from the start [that I would go onto create my own show]. There was no shock I used to be going to start out my very own present. It wasn’t a shock to anybody behind the scenes. He’s unimaginable. He’s an unimaginable dude. He helped me lots.”
So far as the longer term goes, Smith remains to be one of many prime analysts working for the UFC however with the top of his combating profession approaching, he’s excited to tackle some new challenges.
Calling fights for the UFC might be on the prime of that listing as a result of Smith has at all times needed to function a coloration commentator for the promotion however he additionally understands these jobs are few and much between.
Add to that, Smith confesses that as a lot as he desires a type of coveted positions, he would by no means need his success to return on the expense of someone else dropping a job. It’s for that motive Smith doesn’t publicly marketing campaign for that position, nevertheless it’s a place the UFC positively is aware of he desires.
“I’d soar at a chance to name fights and simply tackle that position,” Smith mentioned. “I believe that’s the place my talent set might be higher utilized. I believe I’m higher in that position. However it’s important to bear in mind, if I’m calling for that chance, which means I’m calling for a misplaced alternative for one in every of my mates. So I’ll sit patiently and wait and see if that chance pops up. The UFC is aware of that I’m prepared and that’s one thing I’d actually take pleasure in doing. I really like [Michael] Chiesa and I really like Alan Jouban and I get so uncomfortable once they name publicly and discuss eager to name fights. As a result of which means they need to take the job of one in every of their friends, and I do know that they don’t imply it like that. They simply need to name fights. I do, too. It will be unimaginable. It will be loads of enjoyable.
“However calling for it publicly, sort of campaigning for it, I don’t need [Daniel Cormier] taking a look at me sideways. I don’t need [Paul] Felder being uncomfortable with me or round me and I don’t need Bisping being uncomfortable round me as a result of they really feel that I’m scheming and weaving and attempt to get into their place.”
The excellent news is the UFC is about to embark on a brand new broadcast rights deal beginning in 2026 that just about assuredly means extra content material and new alternatives. The UFC already produces greater than 40 occasions per yr however that quantity may improve relying on what sort of deal will get struck.
It’s one of many largest the reason why Smith is greater than prepared to remain affected person and bide his time as a result of ultimately he’s assured that the UFC goes to name him as much as do coloration commentary with out his position eliminating someone else’s.
“Alternatives pop up,” Smith mentioned. “Within the final 10 years, there’s been a bunch of various guys, you had Brian Stann, Dan Hardy, there’s been folks that has been out and in. I believe as this sport continues to develop, I believe there’s going to be extra roles and extra alternatives are going to pop up. I believe we’re going to proceed to maintain shifting in a course the place there’s extra fights, not much less. So in some unspecified time in the future in time, they’re going to wish one other man anyhow. As these new rights offers give you the ESPN negotiations, that stuff, I think that there’s going to be extra fights and extra alternatives and so they’re going to wish extra.
“In some unspecified time in the future in time, Bisping and Felder and Laura [Sanko] and D.C. and Dominick Cruz, they’re going to wish a break. They’re going to wish somebody to tackle one thing for them, and in the event that they want me, I’ll be there.”
