Anthony Smith is the UFC’s No.10 ranked light heavyweight. At 6-4 tall, Smith is one of the tallest fighters in the UFC‘s 205-pound division.
The 35-year-old who fights out of Omaha, Nebraska is a former middleweight champion at the Victory FC and Cage Fury FC promotions. He began his pro MMA career in 2008 and has been permanent with the UFC since 2016.
Well, technically, this is Smith’s second tenure in the UFC as he appeared at UFC on Fuel TV 10 on 8 June 2013. In that event, Lionheart suffered a first-round submission loss to Antonio Braga Neto and was released by the UFC after the defeat. He retreated to Bellator before winning the middleweight belts at Cage Fury and Victory FC.
Smith began his UFC career as a middleweight. Despite a strong start in the division, he moved up to the 205-pound weight class where he made his mark. Most fighters moving up usually become undersized in their new weight class. But not Lionheart who is 6-4 tall and is a couple of inches above the average height of a UFC light heavyweight. In fact, he is still one of the tallest fighters in the light heavyweight division.
In 14 bouts fought at light heavyweight, Smith has faced a taller opponent only three times. The tallest opponent he’s ever faced in the UFC was 6-6 Johnny Walker at UFC on ABC 4 last year. He lost that fight via unanimous decision. The only other fighter who was taller than Smith was Ryan Spann who stands 6-5 tall. Smith fought Spann twice, winning both bouts.
In comparison, Smith is as tall as Jon Jones. Current UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira is also 6-4 tall. The man who last fought Pereira- Jamahal Hill, who is also a former champion, is likewise listed at 6-4. On the other hand, No. 1 ranked Jiri Prochazka, another ex-champion, is 6-3 tall.
For now, the task at hand for Lionheart is Petrino. And in his upcoming fight, Smith will enjoy a two-inch height advantage. The Brazilian does however have a one-inch reach advantage over Smith so their fight at UFC 301 should be interesting.