Anthony Smith plans to retire in the UFC.
Heading into his fight against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 277, Smith was on the final fight of his contract with the organization and was considering testing the free agency waters. Ultimately, “Lionheart” passed on that, re-signing with the UFC just a few days before the event, and one of the main reasons for that was all the outside-the-cage work he has with the company.
“I would like to fight in the UFC,” Smith said to Ariel Helwani during The MMA Hour . “I’m not saying that I’m about to retire, but I’ve got more time behind me than I have ahead of me. I want to end my career as a UFC fighter, and I want to continue covering the UFC as a broadcaster. I like working for ESPN. I like working for the UFC and doing the Fight Nights. At some point I want to transition to calling those fights live, and not being with the UFC interrupts that plan. That’s been the plan for a long time now. So I’m happy we were able to get it done.
“It’s an intangible value for me to continue my career with the UFC. Honestly, it’s comfortable. Everyone knows me, the staff and everyone at the back. I’m very comfortable. We had to work out the numbers. I have always believed that if you want to make more money you must bring in more value. So, I am happy. Financially, I am content with how many fights I have, and I am happy with my terms. I’m good.”
Smith has been with the UFC since 2016 (though he did have one fight with the promotion in 2013) and joined the analyst desk in 2018. Since then, he has been a regular on UFC broadcasts, and while “Lionheart” admits he likely could have made more on a per fight basis in free agency, he’s planning on sticking with the UFC long after his fighting career is finished.
“Realistically: Where am I going make more money at the end? It’s not about right now, it’s in the next 15 years,” Smith said. “Go from now to 15 years. Could I make more money now, per fight, for a short period of time, somewhere else? Possibly. Likely. It’s very likely. But in the next 15 years, when I’m not fighting anymore and I’m doing broadcasting and we’re looking at analyst roles and all that stuff, I’m going to make way more money staying with the UFC and continuing my career as an analyst and a broadcaster post-career. Also, I am thinking for the long-term. To be honest, I am very content with my current situation.”
Smith noted that he’s tried to emulate the careers of some fellow fighters who made the transition to analysis and commentary, like Daniel Cormier and his Michael Bisping, and said that one of the big things he’s noticed and taken to heart is the way to negotiate with the UFC.
” I don’t know much about some of the other negotiations and possibly some of the stuff that occurs with other fighters. But there was not a lot animosity,” Smith stated. It was simply that, at the moment, we could not come to terms with each other and couldn’t agree upon anything. It wasn’t like, ‘You suck and I hate you!’ For the most part it was pretty chill. They both came to me, and I also came to them. We couldn’t agree on anything so we walked away and signed Ankalaev’s fight. It never came up again. I didn’t bring it up and they didn’t bring it up, and that was really it. It was fine. I worked for ESPN and UFC. Mick Maynard would see me and it’s just like “Hey, how’s it going?” and then it turns into a hug. It’s nothing major. I would see Hunter [Campbell] or Dana [White]. We just never brought it up again.
I don’t talk about personal contracts with the media. I know that people get mad about this, but I do believe there’s something to be said for that. I don’t go to the media and try to negotiate through the media. I do not play the game of talking s***, getting angry, and hoping that the media will help me. Or that fans will clamor for something. It doesn’t work that way. I’ve never seen it work. It’s possible I am wrong, but it’s not something I have ever seen work .”
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Smith’s strategy paid off, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. It is the No. 8-ranked light heavyweight in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings fractured his leg against Ankalaev and will now likely be out of fight action until 2023. Fortunately, he’s got the analyst work to fall back on and the UFC is keeping him busy, with Smith working the next three shows for the promotion.
” Fortunately, I have the analysis stuff so I’m working on the next three events,” Smith stated. There is no rest for the wicked. “No rest for the wicked. I’m heading to San Diego.
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