Following final night time’s spectacular first spherical submission win over the unbeaten, Vitor Petrino, former mild heavyweight champion, Anthony Smith has vowed to grant incumbent champion, Alex Pereira a grappling match – vowing to choke out the Brazilian striker in the event that they share the mats.
Smith, a former undisputed mild heavyweight title challenger below the promotion’s banner, managed to retain his standing because the quantity 10 rank within the division in a single day – handing the above-mentioned, Petrino his first skilled loss in a surprising first spherical win.
Fighting the surging prospect’s putting on the ft, Smith someway managed to drive a grappling trade throughout an ill-fated takedown try from Petrino, and regardless of discovering himself slammed to his again, wrapped up a quickfire first spherical guillotine choke win.
Anthony Smith accepts grappling provide from Alex Pereira
And revealing earlier this week how his pursuit of an Octagon title had encompassed his life, Smith vowed to honor Pereira’s guess of a $50,000 wager in a possible future grappling matchup.
“What did he (Alex Pereira) say? Alex Pereira mentioned he would put up $50,000, and I begin off his again.” Anthony Smith informed assembled media after his UFC 301 win. “So, I begin off on his again, hooks in, and I’ve acquired 5 minutes to complete him, and he desires to place $50,000 on it. I’ll take his $50,00. I’ll take his cash – if I begin off on his again, I’ll choke the sh*t out of him.”
As for Pereira, the previous duel-weight champion headlined UFC 300 final month, delivering his first profitable protection of the sunshine heavyweight title, courtesy of a primary spherical knockout win over former champion, Jamahal Hill.
And weighing up a title battle rematch with one other ex-titleholder, Jiri Prochazka within the quick future, Pereira was additionally himself floated as a possible suitor to the heavyweight throne, by present division kingpin, Jon Jones.
Would you prefer to see Anthony Smith and Alex Pereira share the mats?
