Anthony ‘Lionheart’ Smith went out on his defend at UFC Kansas Metropolis, struggling a brutal first-round TKO loss to deliver his combined martial arts profession to an official shut.
Anthony Smith got here out aggressive from the get-go, even refusing to the touch gloves together with his opponent. Nonetheless, Smith’s aggressiveness wouldn’t final lengthy after Zhang landed a slick step-in elbow that busted ‘Lionheart’ open.
With blood pouring into his eye, Smith shortly went on the retreat earlier than capturing in for a takedown. Zhang sprawled and began to pour it on with some nasty elbows on the mat. Smith did all the pieces he might to enhance his place, however with blood pooling on the mat and seemingly no means out, referee Jason Herzog had no selection however to step in and convey a cease to the competition within the opening spherical.
Official Outcome: Mingyang Zhang def. Anthony ‘Lionheart’ Smith through TKO (floor and pound) at 4:03 of Spherical 1.
After the combat, Smith appeared to have phrases with a fan within the crowd, and even approached the fence as if he have been going to climb over it. Fortuitously, Zhang and his staff stopped Smith from doing so.
Talking with Paul Felder contained in the Octagon, Smith turned emotional as a profession retrospective performed all through the world, celebrating his 12-year run with the promotion.
Try highlights from Anthony ‘Lionheart’ Smith vs. Mingyang Zhang at UFC Kansas Metropolis:
