Anthony Smith Planning To Take Time Off After UFC Stockholm
Anthony Smith is planning to take some time off from Octagon competition following his next fight.
He meets three-time UFC light heavyweight title challenger Alexander Gustafsson in the main event of UFC Stockholm (also known as UFC on ESPN+ 11). The event is set to take place on Saturday, June 1, 2019, at the Ericsson Globe in Stockholm, Sweden.
Smith is looking to get back on the winning path as he is coming off a unanimous decision loss to UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones in the main event UFC 235. “”Lionheart” earned his title opportunity by defeating former title contender Volkan Oezdemir via third-round rear-naked choke.
He now makes a quick turnaround, and against a game opponent in “The Mauler.” Smith made it known during a recent interview with MMA Junkie that he actually didn’t want to take the fight:
“Initially, it wasn’t what I want to do,” Smith said. “But that’s part of life, is doing what you need to do, not what you want to do. I knew if I turned the fight down, I would have regretted it later.”
Despite taking the fight, it hasn’t changed his mindset of needing time off after being one of the more active 205 pounders in the division as of late:
“Obviously, I’m going to have to have a conversation with the UFC and say, ‘Listen, I need a break,’” Smith said. “Just don’t call and leave me be. I didn’t feel like I had to take it. “I’ve been pretty active, I’ve been pretty successful up until the Jon fight, especially (at) 205. I’ve hit a lot of bonuses. I just got a nice paycheck. I don’t need to fight.”
