Anthony Smith Confirms His Final UFC Fight Is Scheduled with Surprising Opponent

UFC veteran Anthony Smith has confirmed that his final fight is already set, though the identity of his opponent is a surprising one. Smith, who has had a storied career in the UFC, shared the news on Submission Radio, revealing that the opponent for his retirement fight was unexpected but intriguing.

Smith (38-21 MMA, 13-11 UFC) will step into the octagon one last time, but he kept details of the fight under wraps, mentioning only that the opponent was “out of left field” and not someone he had anticipated facing. Despite the surprise, Smith acknowledged that the matchup made sense upon further reflection. He emphasized that the focus seemed to be on the fight’s potential rather than legacy, which resonates with his approach to the sport.

“It wasn’t on my bingo card, that’s for sure,” Smith said. “But when you really think about it, it makes sense. It’s about the type of fight it is, not necessarily the name attached to it. And that’s exactly how I feel – I’m not concerned with the name as much as I am with the excitement the fight brings. It’s a fight I’m looking forward to.”

Smith, who challenged for the UFC light heavyweight title, has faced some of the biggest names in MMA, including Jon Jones, Glover Teixeira, Alexander Gustafsson, and Magomed Ankalaev. After a couple of tough losses in his career, he’s looking to end on a positive note. His previous two losses to Roman Dolidze and Dominick Reyes left him contemplating retirement, but he’s determined to go out on his terms.

Although Smith did not reveal the exact date or location, he did hint that the fight is “close enough” to his home, making it accessible for his fans and supporters to attend. Smith’s retirement fight promises to be an exciting one, regardless of the surprise opponent.