Man. What a career.
To quote Chael Sonnen in the Anthony “Lionheart” Smithtribute video following his co-main event bout at UFC on ESPN 66, Kansas City, “you can either be grateful it happened, or sad that it’s over, and I can speak for all the Lionheart fans that we’re grateful it happened.”
Anthony boasts a record of 38-22, 20 KOs, 15 SUBs, 3 DEC (13-12 in the UFC). He’s done it all – wars, upsets (check the4/4/24 Vitor Petrino fight), scraps with legends, going the distance in a title fight with the consummate GOAT, Jon Jones, and fearless face-offs with tough up ‘n comers. He’snever said no to a fight, and he’ll always be a fighter’s fighter.
From humble beginnings, Anthony represents what it means to be a warrior and rise through the toughest game in the world. He’s the epitome of Midwestern grit.
The Fighting News spent time with Lionheart at LFA 129where he was on the call. Since then, he’s become a regular on the desk as an analyst for primetime UFC breakdown shows such as UFC Live, UFC Preshow and much more.
He has the face of a fighter with the scars and cauliflower ears to prove it. The heart of a lion with the tape and octagon time to show for it. We’ll miss him in the cage, but as Chael said, we’re grateful it happened and we look forward to Lionheart’s contributions to the sport outside of the octagon.
Written by Garey Symington, reporter for The Fighting News
Stats from sherdog.com
