Anthony Smith will be helping Jamahal Hill for his Glover Teixeira UFC 205lb title showdown: “He understands the game.”
‘Lionheart’ Anthony Smith and ‘Sweet Dreams’ Jamahal Hill were booked to fight each other later next year, but now instead they will be working alongside one another in the gym to get ready for a title shot.
At UFC 282 earlier this month, the vacant UFC light heavyweight title was fought over between Jan Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev, however this fight ended in a draw. Quickly the UFC brass got on the phone and set up a clash for the vacant throne between the former world champion Glover Teixeira and the US-born Jamahal Hill.
The two American athletes Smith and Hill were booked in March 2023 for a top-ranked showdown. But UFC pulled Hill out of that match to face Teixeira for the title at UFC 283 on January 21 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Jamahal Hill and Anthony Smith agree to help each other
In the UFC, the 31-year-old Jamahal Hill has earned a three-fight win streak all won via KO/TKO. On his path to his title shot, ‘Sweet Dreams’ has stopped Jimmy Crute, Johnny Walker, and Thiago Santos. To help him get ready for Teixeira, Hill has enlisted a former opponent of the Brazilian veteran; Anthony Smith. Smith fought Brazil’s Teixeira in 2020 for five rounds before losing via TKO.
While speaking with Fanatics View, Jamahal Hill explained the enlistment. He said:
“I’ve talked with Derek Brunson, thinking of getting him out here. Antony Smith, ‘Lionheart.’ Yeah, in the phone call where we talked about it I asked him, I was like, ‘Hey, bro. I need you. If you’re willing to step [up] and help me and let me know what your experience of dealing with this opponent, I would more than appreciate that.’ And he was amazing, bro … He understands the game. He was like, ‘It sucks for me.’ He didn’t have any ill [will] toward me or nothing. He was actually happy for me.”
Even though Anthony Smith no longer had a scheduled match, he was happy for Hill for getting a shot at the throne. ‘Sweet Dreams’ added what the gameplan will be:
“I want to get him (Teixeira) out of there. That’s how I see it playing out. If I gotta take my time and beat him up and put it on him until I get him out of there, I feel like I can get him out of there, but if I don’t then just beat him up. Assert my dominance as the champion.” [Transcript courtesy of MMA Mania]
See the full interview below:
