Anthony Smith is angry.
He is not angry at a group or any other individual. He’s merely mad at himself, especially for his performance against UFC Light Heavyweight champion, Jon “Bones” Jones, in their title fight at UFC 235 earlier this season.
Smith is a veteran with 31 victories and 14 losses to his name. He recently went throughout the division on a tear with crippling knockouts over former champions and legends Rashad Evans, and Mauricio Rua, the man called”Lionheart” appeared as a violent and bloody force to be reckoned with for almost any leading competitor. He followed these up performances with a thrilling entry win over former title challenger Volkan Oezdemir, cementing himself a legitimate threat to Jones’ long-held throne.
But after 25 minutes of fighting, Smith was ultimately outclassed by Jones.
Was it too much too soon? Were the big lights shining too bright? Or is Jon Jones just that good?
Looking back, Smith struggles to put his emotions into words.
As for what is next, Smith creates a fast turnaround against three-time title challenger Alexander Gustafsson at the main event of UFC Stockholm. Recognizing he has had little time from his loss to decompress, Smith brushes off any talk of the effects.
About getting his hands raised, he does not care; about playing it safe, he does not care; about getting another title shot, and he does not care. He wants to go back to the violent route that buzzed through his branch and the shakedown in the gutter feeling out of his stomach.
As for what challenges Gustafsson brings, Smith acknowledges the Swede’s skillset.
This Saturday in the Ericsson Globe Smith and Gustasson will throw down at UFC Stockholm’s event.
