Anthony Smith explains why he declined new fight offer immediately after UFC 301 victory

Anthony Smith has been proud of his activity during his UFC career, but this time he has a change of heart.

Just days after scoring a first-round submission victory to upset previously undefeated Vitor Petrino on Saturday at UFC 301, Smith (38-19 MMA, 13-9 UFC) revealed that matchmakers presented him with another offer to step back into the octagon “soon”. .”

During many stages of his career, Smith would have jumped all over the place on the way back. But at 35 years old and at a valuable time to try to make another — and perhaps final — run at the title belt, Smith said that wouldn’t be wise.

“I already got another fight offer, and the turnaround is too quick,” Smith said on the “Believe You Me” podcast with Michael Bisping. “I found out it was nothing physical. It’s (mental). I have to be 100 percent committed, 100 percent focused and just focused on this, and I realized I can only do that for a certain amount of time. I’m not in my early 20s anymore and I can keep going back. I should return to training camp next week. The thought makes me want to bang my head against a fucking car door.

Smith, No. 12 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie light heavyweight rankings, would not reveal the opponent or the date he was offered, but said it was not up to date. UFC 302 or UFC 303.

Ultimately, Smith knows he could have competed again in the schedule presented, but it wouldn’t be in his best interest. He said he wanted to spend the summer with his children and thought he would be unhappy with his decision to return to training camp during the first two weeks of preparation.

After his third-round TKO loss to Khalil Rountree in December, which Smith accepted on short notice and claims he did no proper training, “Lionheart” vowed never to fight again without the support of a training camp. complete workout.

Smith knows he’s walking into troubled waters if he really wants to get another title shot and that he needs to stack the right wins in the right way. He forced his doubters back with Petrino’s two-minute arrival in Brazil and was happy to shake off some narratives that he didn’t have it anymore.

“It was a great feeling of relief, because the questions are coming,” Smith said. “Some depends on my decision-making and some if it’s just circumstances. I kept telling myself, ‘You’re okay. Are you doing well.’ Just like some of my career has been, it’s up and down, and you kind of get in a rut and have a hard time getting out of it. You can only hear people say it where you listen and you’re like, ‘Damn, maybe they see something I’m missing.’

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 301.

Story originally published on MMA Junkie