Zhang Mingyang picked up another violent finish at UFC on ESPN 66, spoiling Anthony Smith's retirement party. Anthony Smith made his final walk to the UFC's octagon Saturday evening, but unfortunately, he won't retire after a victory. Playing the role of spoiler was Zhang Mingyang, who proved too much for Smith (37-22 MMA, 13-12 UFC) to handle. The light heavyweight fight served as the UFC on ESPN 66 co-main event at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo.
Mingyang (19-6 MMA, 3-0 UFC) remained undefeated in the UFC by stopping Smith with heavy ground and pound at 4:03 of Round 1. It didn't take long for the action to heat up. Strikes were exchanged almost immediately as the crowd chanted "U-S-A." Mingyang went first with heavy strikes, forcing Smith to play a counter game early on. Smith landed a few solid step-in elbows, but Mingyang did as well, slicing open a nasty cut on his forehead. At the sight of the pouring blood, Mingyang turned up the pressure, hunting for a finish.
Smith turtled up on the ground while looking to survive the onslaught of heavy ground and pound. Mingyang continued to pour on the damage until referee Jason Herzog saw enough to stop the fight. With the result, Mingyang improves to 3-0 in the UFC, all by way of first-round finish. China's 26-year-old finisher entered this fight on the heels of back-to-back opening-round finishes of Brendson Ribeiro and Ozzy Diaz.
During his post-fight interview, Mingyang leaned into the boos from the crowd, taunting with a message in English. "I know you don't know who I am, but now you know," Mingyang said. Smith was given time on the mic to deliver a few final remarks as he walks into retirement. "Lionheart" thanked everyone on the UFC staff for changing his life for the better. A video package featuring Jelly Roll played highlights of Smith's career in the UFC with comments from multiple UFC personalities. Smith was shown in a picture-in-picture view, wiping away tears.
After it was all done, Smith left his gloves in the center of the octagon. Smith, 36, walks away from the sport on a three-fight skid. The former light heavyweight title challenger was surrounded by his family for his retirement fight and was given plenty of praise by the UFC broadcast and the fans in Kansas City. Not many athletes get two stints in the UFC with over 20 fights, and fewer get the chance to fight for a UFC title. Smith did all that and now walks away from the game as a fighter to turn his attention to broadcasting and other post-combat career ventures.
Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 66 results include:
- Zhang Mingyang def. Anthony Smith via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:03
- David Onama def. Giga Chikadze via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Abus Magomedov def. Michel Pereira via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Randy Brown def. Nicolas Dalby via knockout (punch) – Round 2, 1:39
- Ikram Aliskerov def. Andre Muniz via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:54
- Matt Schnell def. Jimmy Flick via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Evan Elder def. Gauge Young via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Chris Gutierrez def. John Castaneda via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Da’Mon Blackshear def. Heili Alateng via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Malcolm Wellmaker def. Cameron Saaiman via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 1:59
- Jaqueline Amorim def. Polyana Viana via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 1:49
- Timmy Cuamba def. Roberto Romero via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 3:55
- Joselyne Edwards def. Chelsea Chandler via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 2:31
Anthony Smith came up short in the final fight of his career, suffering a TKO loss to Zhang Mingyang in the co-main event of UFC Kansas City on Saturday night. The stoppage came at the 4:03 mark of the first round after Zhang brutalized Smith with elbows on the feet and then forced the finish via ground-and-pound. Zhang opened up a nasty cut on the top of Smith's head earlier in the round.
"Five years ago, that's a beatable guy," Smith said after officially retiring. "I'm aging. It is what it is." Following the bout, Smith was visibly emotional as the UFC aired a video package featuring his career highlights. "Lionheart" finishes his MMA career on the heels of a three-fight losing streak. Smith, a 36-year-old who fights out of Omaha, Nebraska, fell to 37-22 as a professional and 13-13 in the Octagon.
Smith, who challenged Jon Jones for the light heavyweight title in 2019, defeated the likes of Alexander Gustafsson, Rashad Evans, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, and Volkan Oezdemir throughout his 59-fight career dating back to 2008.
Despite his emotional night, Smith (38-22) was given no quarter by Mingyang (19-6) from the opening horn. The light heavyweight up-and-comer split Smith open with a step-in elbow early in the first round, leaving blood pouring into his eyes. Mingyang continued to blast Smith with standing elbows, then did more of the same once Smith hit the floor, leaving "Lionheart" in a pool of his own blood as referee Jason Herzog stepped in to wave off the action.
Smith debuted in the UFC for a one-fight stint in 2013 but didn't start his true Octagon run until his second chance began in 2016. He won seven of his first nine appearances in that second opportunity, including a destructive 3-0 streak after jumping up from middleweight to light heavyweight. That culminated in a shot at the UFC light heavyweight title against Jon Jones, which Smith lost via unanimous decision, however he earned widespread respect for refusing to game the system and end the fight on a Jones disqualification after sustaining an illegal knee to the head from the then-champion.
Smith went 6-8 over his final 14 Octagon appearances following his lone title shot, but remained a mainstay of the 205-pound contender rankings all the way through his farewell bout on Saturday. Over the course of his 17-year MMA career, Smith earned notable victories over former UFC champions Mauricio Rua and Rashad Evans, former Bellator champion Hector Lombard, plus UFC title challengers Alexander Gustafsson and Volkan Oezdemir. Smith's world was rocked this past November following the untimely death of his longtime coach Scott Morton, which "Lionheart" admitted this week helped to shepherd his transition into retirement. Smith ultimately exits the sport with a 13-12 record compiled over 25 UFC bouts.
In what can only be described as a classically unceremonious MMA retirement, Mingyang left Smith laying in a pool of his own blood, dealing heavy damage to the face and lead leg of the veteran. It's an unfortunate end for "Lionheart," but Mingyang remains as a promising 205-pound prospect after yet another highlight reel win.
