Anthony Smith
Active 2016–present · rated in 4 editions · peak overall 84.0
Scouting report
Hailing from Omaha, Nebraska, Anthony "Lionheart" Smith fought across a career spanning more than fifty professional contests. Known for Muay Thai elbows, submission skills off his back, and composure, Smith ascended to a light heavyweight world title challenge against Jon Jones after scoring stoppage wins over former champions Rashad Evans, Shogun Rua, and Alexander Gustafsson, his skillset captured by an 86 Boxing and 84 BJJ.
Peak ratings
By edition
Upon moving to light heavyweight in 2018, Smith scored first-round knockouts of former champions Rashad Evans in Chicago and Mauricio Rua in Hamburg, submitted Volkan Oezdemir with a rear-naked choke in Moncton, challenged Jon Jones across five rounds at UFC 235, and submitted Alexander Gustafsson in Stockholm. His power hooks and submission opportunism are reflected in an 86 Boxing and 84 Kickboxing.
Smith rebounded from tough losses to Glover Teixeira and Aleksandar Rakic by putting together a three-fight first-round stoppage streak in 2020 and 2021, submitting Devin Clark with a triangle choke, stopping Jimmy Crute via doctor stoppage leg kick, and submitting Ryan Spann in Las Vegas. His submission game and durability anchor his 86 Boxing and 85 BJJ.
Smith defeated Ryan Spann in their Singapore rematch in August 2023 and submitted undefeated prospect Vitor Petrino with a first-round guillotine choke at UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro, while dropping bouts to Magomed Ankalaev, Johnny Walker, and Khalil Rountree. His submission acumen and durability remain reflected in his 84 Boxing and 85 BJJ.
Anthony Smith, the concrete finisher from Nebraska City
Anthony Smith grew up in Nebraska City, dropped out of high school in his senior year and worked full time as a concrete finisher until 2016. He started fighting in 2006, went pro in 2008, and was cut after losing his big-promotion debut to Antonio Braga Neto by kneebar in 2013. He returned in 2016, moved to light heavyweight in 2018 and beat Rashad Evans, Mauricio Rua and Volkan Oezdemir in a run that ended with a title shot against Jon Jones in March 2019.
Smith, attribute by attribute
Boxing. Tied for his best. He knocked out Evans in round one of his light heavyweight debut.
Kickboxing. Strong. A leg kick left Jimmy Crute with foot drop and the doctor stopped that fight in 2021.
Wrestling. His lowest number, and takedowns are not how he wins.
BJJ. One of his signature tools. He submitted Alexander Gustafsson with a rear-naked choke in 2019 and Devin Clark with a triangle in 2020.
Strength. Good for the weight. He knocked out Rua on short notice in 2018.
Durability. Tied for his best. He went the full five rounds with Jones and lasted into round five against Glover Teixeira in 2020.
Cardio. Very good. He took Jones to the judges in a five-round fight.
Fight IQ. Comfortable in a scrap and a good finisher, though he lost decisions to Aleksandar Rakic and Johnny Walker.
Boxing and durability tie at 86
The matching numbers describe a fighter who takes damage and keeps punching. He beat Gustafsson in round four of their 2019 main event and finished Clark and Ryan Spann with chokes. He finished eight light heavyweight opponents in the promotion.
Wrestling is the gap: 76
It is the lowest of his eight ratings. He does not lean on it, and he lost decisions to Rakic in 2020 and Walker in 2023. A wrestler with patience can rob him of the chance to strike.
Keep exploring
Closest light heavyweight profiles to Anthony Smith, measured by how near their peak attribute ratings sit across all eight categories.
- Nikita Krylovbest cardio 86 · weakest wrestling 80
- Shogun Ruabest kickboxing 90 · weakest wrestling 78
- Thiago Silvabest boxing 84 · weakest wrestling 76
- Ovince Saint Preuxbest strength 85 · weakest fight iq 80
- Light Heavyweight division guide: how the whole division rates and who to draft from it.
- Grappling vs striking in the draft: a guide that fits Anthony Smith's strongest attribute, Boxing.
Draft Anthony Smith into your build
Anthony Smith enters the pool on any spin landing on light heavyweight between 2018 and present. Spin, draft eight attributes, then simulate 25 fights.
Ratings shown are my own estimates, made with AI assistance and informed by how Anthony Smith is regarded by the MMA community. They are unofficial and do not constitute an assessment of Anthony Smith's real-world abilities. How the ratings are made. See the disclaimer below. Ratings and write-ups by Haaris A. Last reviewed 2026-09-30; spot an error? Tell us. Read our editorial standards.