Glover Teixeira absolutely mauled Anthony Smith. He turned back the clock and had fans both satisfied and worried. The satisfaction came from seeing an older Teixeira show more gas in the tank against a young contender. The worries came from seeing Smith come out for a fifth round looking deflated and beaten.
He sustained a crazy amount of damage. He went on to get finished in the fifth, but the damage was done. “Lionheart” definitely earned his nickname. Now, he has to show more in order to rise up during a new era.
With Jon Jones gone from the division and an undisputed title fight on the horizon, Smith has a great opportunity. Teixeira has his fight coming up against Thiago Santos, and Dominick Reyes and Jan Blachowicz are determining the next champ. Smith has his sights set on the rising Alexander Rakic. The light heavyweight division has become clear. Santos and Teixeira are most likely vying for the number one contender spot. Meanwhile, Smith and Rakic, both coming off losses, are right on their heels.
With the logjam cleared up, Smith has a clear path to the title. The Teixeira loss was disheartening, but Smith has the abilities and mindset to improve. He showcased heart that is rare, even for MMA. He found success in the fight early on. Thus, he can adjust and learn from the mistakes that cost him.
Smith can accomplish all of that improvement, but first, he has to worry about his opponent. Rakic is extremely dangerous, and Smith will have his hands full. It will be interesting to see how he responds to the loss and to such a dangerous opponent.
Still, losing isn’t new territory for Smith. He has lost, and he has been finished. Nevertheless, he has always rebounded and showed his tremendous grit. On Saturday, at UFC Vegas 8, Smith has the opportunity to showcase his grit once again against Rakic. If he can, his path to the title is wide open. If he can’t, rest assured “Lionheart” will exemplify his nickname.
