One of the longest active careers in the UFC comes to a close this weekend as Anthony Smith makes his final walk to the Octagon in Kansas City, Missouri.
Smith (37-21 MMA, 13-11 UFC) will step into the cage for the 59th and final time when he faces Mingyang Zhang (18-6 MMA, 2-0 UFC) in Saturday’s co-main event at T-Mobile Center. “Lionheart” revealed this week that since turning professional in 2008, he has never withdrawn from a bout after signing the fight agreement.
"Yeah, 59 professional fights. I've never pulled out of a fight", Smith said this during an interview with Home of Fight. "I don't know what the secret is. I think I just care so much that I just always find a way.
"I mean, it's not that I've ever gone in injured or dealing with some things or maybe in situations where I should have pulled out. I just...it goes back to this ego thing that I can't shake. I like to think I'm a pretty humble person, but I can't say out loud that I can't do it. I'm just unable to say it. So even when it's probably beneficial for me or it would be in the best interest of my career, I just can't say it. So, even when you probably should have, I just couldn't bring myself to do it."
Smith signed with the UFC in 2016 and has earned victories over notable names such as Rashad Evans, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, and Alexander Gustafsson throughout his illustrious career. He also challenged Jon Jones for the light heavyweight title at UFC 235 in 2019.
This weekend, Smith faces rising Chinese star Mingyang Zhang, who has racked up an astounding 18 first-round finishes as a professional. Ahead of Saturday’s fight, Smith says he feels no pressure.
"I think in this fight, being my last walk to the octagon, I think it's a lot less pressure", he said. "Because I get to just go in there and just leave whatever I got left. Whatever's left in this tank, I just got to go unload it. And that's it. And the result will play itself out.
"I've prepared really hard. I feel really good. I don't think that this guy is on my level. I'm not retiring because I can't compete anymore. But I'm really excited to go in there, kind of pressure-free, and just go have a lot of fun. And just try to put hands on someone one last time and just empty the tank and see where we get."
