For veteran fighter Anthony “Lionheart” Smith, his final walk to the octagon at UFC Kansas City delivered something he realized was far more valuable than the championship title he spent his career chasing: genuine acknowledgment. Despite a first-round TKO loss to Zhang Mingyang in the co-main event, which marked the end of his extensive 60-fight journey, Smith found a profound sense of fulfillment.
Smith, who once challenged for the UFC light heavyweight title, reflected on his long pursuit of the belt during an appearance on MMA Today with Din Thomas. He admitted his core motivation wasn`t the gold or the money, but the desire for the world to recognize him, even if just for a day, as the best. He now understands that the title was merely a symbol for a deeper need for validation.
“I spent all those years chasing the title, and it was like, the only thing that mattered,” Smith said, elaborating on his drive. “But do you remember what I always said, why I wanted the title so bad? I wanted, for even that one day, for the whole world to acknowledge me as the best in the world. That’s why I wanted it. It had nothing to do with the money or the 12 pounds of gold or the actual, physical belt itself. I just wanted the entire world to not have any other option, but they had to acknowledge me.”
Looking back after his final fight, Smith had a realization. “I’ve realized this last couple weeks, it was never really about the title. I just wanted my journey acknowledged, and my effort. I wanted my effort to be acknowledged. I’ll never win a title, obviously, I’ll never be in the Hall of Fame, but I think what I got that Saturday night was what I’ve been looking for this whole time. I just wanted to be acknowledged. I think that’s what it was.”
He concluded, “I don’t know that it was every really about the title. I think that was the vehicle I was chasing and that’s what I thought it was, but I left there content. I went in there thinking, ‘I just have to be happy with what I’ve got because this is all I’m going to get, so I have to be happy with it.’ Then I walked out of there with everything I’d ever wanted.”
Smith`s retirement had been planned in advance. Following the bout, the UFC took a moment to honor his career, showcasing a video package featuring statements from past opponents and highlights of his memorable performances.
Reflecting on the entire experience, Smith shared that the video tribute, combined with the enthusiastic reaction from the Kansas City crowd and the respect shown by his fellow fighters present, brought him a profound sense of peace and closure regarding his career.
“It was down to, when I made the walk and it was just different,” Smith described the atmosphere. “It was different. The arena was insane. Everybody was on their feet, from the floor to the ceiling, to the seats in the rafters. And then, just the reaction I got from the crowd.”
A particularly meaningful moment for Smith was the reaction from his peers. “And one thing that meant a lot to me, when I was getting ready to walk in, I was in the check-in station… I walked up the stairs, I turned around, and Dana’s fighter section is right there, and everybody was standing up, clapping. So then I got the acknowledgement from my peers, the other fighters. Even if they didn’t like me, at least they appreciated the journey.”
He added, “I got the acknowledgement from my peers. And then the UFC and ESPN, with the video package, Jelly Roll, which was cool, you were on there [Din Thomas], and Rashad [Evans], and Glover [Teixeira], the people I respect the most, Laura [Sanko], [Jon] Anik. I think that was the acknowledgement I was looking for the whole time. It was wild. Other than the win, it couldn’t have been any better.”
Anthony Smith concluded his professional fighting career with an overall record of 38 wins and 22 losses, including a UFC record of 13 wins and 12 losses.
