Anthony Smith is on the stage of his profession the place he needs every battle to have that means.
After making his MMA debut in October 2007 and competing almost 60 occasions since, Smith (38-20 MMA, 13-10 UFC) has skilled virtually every little thing a fighter can, together with difficult for the UFC gentle heavyweight title towards then-champ Jon Jones in March 2019.
At 36 and with 4 losses in his previous six fights, although, indicators level to issues winding down for “Lionheart.” He’s not able to declare a retirement plan, be it numerous fights or size of time. That’s as a result of he nonetheless has battle left in him, and Smith can really feel the fireplace burning robust when he will get particular fights.
That’s the case for his UFC 310 matchup with Dominick Reyes (13-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC), which takes place Dec. 7 at T-Cell Area in Las Vegas (ESPN+, ESPN2). It’s a battle Smith has been fascinated with for a while and what he feels he needs and desires at this level in his profession.
“I’ve all the time preferred the Dominick Reyes battle,” Smith instructed MMA Junkie. “For no different cause than he’s among the finest guys on the planet and a type of guys that I feel lots of people thought beat Jon Jones. He’s a reputation. It’s attention-grabbing to me, which is sort of the place I’m at in my profession proper now. I simply need to have some enjoyable. I need to practice actually arduous, I need to get pleasure from no matter I’ve left in my profession, and I need fights with guys that I feel matter. And Dominick Reyes issues to me.
“That’s a win. You look again at – as enjoyable because the (Vitor) Petrino battle was, I gained’t look again at that one. If I’m sitting round a camp hearth with a chilly beer in my hand, I’m not going to sit down round and inform my pal and reminisce in regards to the time I beat Petrino. That’s not the one which’s going to face out. Alexander Gustafsson issues. ‘Shogun’ (Rua) mattered. Rashad Evans mattered. And Dominick Reyes issues. In order that one goes to imply lots to me.”
Smith and Reyes have each had their ups and downs in recent times. Smith is coming off a unanimous determination loss to Roman Dolidze in a short-notice battle at UFC 303 in June, whereas Reyes brings the momentum of a first-round TKO over Dustin Jacoby in June, which snapped his four-fight shedding skid.
“The extra I dig into it the extra harmful I discover Dominick Reyes is, which is absolutely enjoyable for me,” Smith stated. “I’m actually excited. I don’t actually give a sh*t about wins and losses and all that stuff proper now. I simply need to be one of the best model of myself that I will be and have as a lot enjoyable making ready for this as I probably can.”
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