Anthony “Lionheart” Smith doesn’t want to have to rely on the judges and is looking for the finish each and every time he steps into the Octagon. Smith has only won two of his 34 professional victories via decision in his career.
Smith (34-16) kicks off the UFC 261: Usman vs. Masvidal 2 main card on Saturday against Jimmy Crute (12-1). Smith will enter the fight ranked no. 6 in the light heavyweight division while Crute sits in the no. 13.
UFC 261 free fight: watch Valentina Shevchenko defeat Jennifer Maia
April 22, 2021
Flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko continued her dominant run as champion this past November with a defeat of Jennifer Maia at UFC 255. On Saturday, April 24, Shevchenko will put her belt on the line again against former strawweight champion Jessica Andrade.
The Shevchenko and Andrade women’s flyweight title fight is one of three title bouts featured on Saturday’s UFC 261 pay-per-view. The strawweight title is on the line in the fight card’s co-main event between champion Zhang Weili and former champion Rose Namajunas, and welterweight champion Kamaru Usman faces Jorge Masvidal in a rematch in the main event.
Dana White calls UFC champ Kamaru Usman the welterweight GOAT
April 22, 2021
In an interview with TSN’s Aaron Bronsteter, UFC president Dana White said he believed UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is the greatest welterweight of all time.
Usman has the longest win streak in welterweight history, and is tied with Tyron Woodley for title fight victories with four behind Matt Hughes’ nine and Georges St-Pierre’s twelve.
White stated the reasoning behind his complimentary belief in Usman.
“I just think that if you look at what this guy’s done, every time he fights, he looks better and better,” White said. “He’s literally fought everybody out there and now he’s going for a second run on these guys. And the fight with him and Colby Covington is one of the best fights I’ve ever seen.”
No. 4 ranked UFC welterweight contender Jorge Masvidal spoke with Ariel Helwani about his rematch against UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman for the belt at UFC 261.
The first title fight between Usman and Masvidal took place in July 2020 at UFC 251 where Usman won by dominant decision. Usman oustruck Masvidal in total strikes 263 to 88, he also secured five takedowns and maintained control time for 16:38 (just over three rounds).
While it was a one-sided performance, Usman’s original opponent Gilbert Burns was forced to pull out after he contracted COVID-19 and as a result, “Gamebred” filled in for “Durinho” on just six days notice.
Kamaru Usman made his third successful welterweight title defense against Gilbert Burns at UFC 258 earlier this year and earned a Performance of the Night bonus