Welcome to The Weekly Takedown, Sports Illustrated’s in-depth look at MMA. Every week, this column offers insight and information on the most noteworthy stories in the fight world.
Anthony Smith will return to the cage Saturday for his fight since July, matching up against Johnny Walker in a bout that serves as the co-main event of the UFC on ABC card.
With all due respect to Walker, who has won his last two fights, life has placed far different opponents in front of Smith.
Smith’s life has been chaotic since he defeated Ryan Spann in September 2021. He needed knee surgery, which led to complications resulting in a staph infection. He lost in his return bout in July ’22 to Magomed Ankalaev, suffering a broken ankle in the defeat. Then came a blood clot in his leg. In the middle of all those calamities, he suffered heartbreak when his mother died.
Amid all the unraveling, Smith never lost his fighting spirit. It was tested, bent and even dented—yet there was a steadfast refusal in his soul preventing it from shattering. Now he is back, months after his bout against Jamahal Hill was called off when Hill was called up for a title shot Saturday against Walker.
“I’ve battled through the adversity—mentally, physically, emotionally,” says Smith. “I believe things are supposed to happen the way they happen. The broken ankle, the blood clot, I wouldn’t slow down. My mentality has always been to push through, keep moving forward. But the blood clot forced me to stop. I couldn’t travel. I couldn’t do physical therapy. I went to a dark place and grieved the loss of my mother. Now the clouds have started to clear. The days aren’t as long as they used to be.
“Camp started off tough, and I didn’t want to be there, but then I started getting into a good place. I am where my feet are. I don’t want to be anywhere else. It’s all going to culminate into something special on Saturday night.”
Never forget Lion Heart's got these hands!! 🦁👊@LionHeartASmith's coming for a finish in our #UFCCharlotte co-main!
— UFC (@ufc) May 10, 2023
[ Saturday at 3pmET / 12pmPT | LIVE on ABC ] pic.twitter.com/2jWcuazqgF
A win on Saturday would put Smith (36–17) back within reach of the lightweight title, which he last challenged for in 2019. Walker (20–7) is a power striker, a style that suits Smith.
“Johnny Walker’s not going to give me any Houdini s---,” says Smith. “There are no surprises here. You’re not going to see me grapple or go for takedowns. That’s not how this is going to go. This is a guy who’s going to fight me. This isn’t an Ankalaev who wants to stay safe on his feet—and that isn’t me talking bad about him. He had a great game plan—trying to get a takedown or nullify my jiu-jitsu. Aleksander Rakić used that approach. Glover Teixeira used that approach. Walker is going to fight me on my terms. I respect that. He’s not going to shy away from a fight.”
Smith, who turns 35 this summer, has been fighting professionally for the past 15 years, spending the last seven in the UFC. Despite the miles, it finally feels like he is on the verge of a breakout moment.
“I’ve just come into my prime,” says Smith. “I’m thankful for the opportunity to compete at this level, and now it’s my time to do something special.
“I’m ready for Saturday. We’ll see who falls down first. I’m confident it’s not going to be me.”
Mansour Barnaoui gets the fight he has been awaiting at Friday’s Bellator 296
Entering on an eight-fight win streak, Barnaoui (20–4) will face off against Brent Primus in a quarterfinal bout of the Bellator Lightweight World Grand Prix. Awaiting the winner in the semifinals is Usman Nurmagomedov, who will put his lightweight title on the line, putting the winner of Barnaoui-Primus only one win away from a title shot.
Primus (11–4) is no easy out. A former Bellator lightweight champion, he won and lost the belt to Michael Chandler. This is also his chance to return to the title picture, foreign territory after he dropped two of his last three fights.
The timing feels ripe for Barnaoui. He has finished his last eight fights, a streak he looks to extend tomorrow. His explosiveness is a legitimate strength, and he backs that up with considerable power. While he hasn’t earned those victories against the caliber of opponents like Primus, he can start to change that with a victory at 296.
Justin Barrasso can be reached at JBarrasso@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinBarrasso.
