Following Conor McGregor‘s exit from the June 29 main event, the promotion has opted for major changes at UFC 303. As part of the massive overhaul, Anthony Smith has accepted a short-notice fight against Carlos Ulberg for International Fight Week. However, ‘Lionheart’ could be less than worried about the matter.
The light heavyweight veteran even touts that Carlos Ulberg was on his radar long before the Kiwi fighter replaced Khalil Rountree against Jamahal Hill. Rountree had tested positive for traces of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in his custom supplement. Hence, the #11 ranked light heavyweight cued in as a replacement. Smith iterates how Ulberg came into purview as part of the previous camp.
So, I was training with Jamahal…um, so like Carlos Ulberg has already been on my radar. For the last, you know, however many weeks…I was already studying him…I was already paying attention to him. He’s already on my mind…So I could study him to help Jamahal…
Anthony ‘Lionheart’ Smith via Submission Radio (@SubmissionRadio)
Completing his last bit of camp in Denver, Smith told Michael Bisping how Hill was in great pain. With ‘Sweet Dreams’ Hill overburdening himself with the commitment, the close friend thus came to be as a replacement. Anthony Smith is coming off an upset win in his last outing. He handed Vitor Petrino his first pro skid via submission (guillotine choke) at UFC 301 this past May.
Meanwhile, Ulberg is riding a six-fight winning streak. His last win came against Alonzo Menifield just a month ago. Hence, Carlos Ulberg and Smith have picked up enough momentum to scale to the top of the equation, with title contention as a possibility. ‘Lionheart’ thinks there’d be a shove for greater things to come from this.
Anthony Smith believes UFC will make him the next fight for Alex Pereira
Smith isn’t oblivious to how the rivalry between him and Alex ‘Poatan’ Pereira has steamrolled into a whole other shape. The feud between the 205lbers ranges back from UFC 291. Smith was critical of the Brazilian’s performance over Jan Blachowicz. As such, the two gradually traded barbs online, and ‘Lionheart’ braved the notion that he could choke ‘Poatan’ out.
Anthony Smith knows where he goes from UFC 303 (Source: heavy.com/superlutas.com.br)Furthermore, Anthony Smith recognizes what Pereira has done in his short run. However, he also recognizes that the Brazilian kickboxer has a lineal path of destruction and does not boast a superior grappling game. The Team FactoryX Muay Thai striker is a better BJJ Stalwart than Pereira and just got his first guillotine in. Hence, he yet again critiqued his win against Hill at UFC 300.
It’s not lost on me the promotional situation that we’re being put into [Pereira and me]…There’s some stuff behind the scenes that are happening that I understand why they’re doing it. Every UFC event is the set up for whatever the next matchups are for the next people…so I know what I’m getting myself into.
Anthony ‘Lionheart’ Smith via Submission Radio (@SubmissionRadio)
Pereira starched Jamahal Hill with a first-round knockout in April’s historic UFC 300 PPV headliner. Smith (38-19 MMA, 13-9 UFC) challenged holes in his grapple games going into the bout and was hopeful that Hill might win this. Pereira even offered him $50,000 to grapple him and finally settle their differences. Now, the 35-year-old finds ‘Poatan’ headlining his UFC 303: Pereira vs Procházka 2 PPV event Live from T-Mobile Arena.
Hence, with two top-tier 205-pound matchups in the roll, Smith knows that this means oiling the cog to get things moving. The “next big thing” can mean to capitalize on their rivalry. With them having history as such, Smith maintains he’ll be ready for it.
