Anthony Smith has revealed the UFC didn’t need him to compete within the standard Energy Slap promotion.
Smith is making ready for his retirement battle within the UFC following back-to-back defeats in 2024.
Smith fought Jon Jones in 2019 at UFC 235, shedding through unanimous determination
‘Lionheart’ is recent off a dominating TKO defeat to Dominick Reyes at UFC 310 in December and says he needed to participate in Energy Slap, however the UFC denied him.
“I tried. They told me no,” Smith mentioned on The Ariel Helwani Present.
“Straight up, I requested Hunter [Campbell, Chief Business Officer of the UFC], and he informed me no.
“He wouldn’t even bring it to Dana. I don’t know. He said no.”
Smith’s defeat to Reyes was an emotional one, because it marked his first bout in a number of years with out greatest good friend and mentor, Scott Morton, in his nook.
The previous UFC title challenger misplaced his long-time good friend, who handed away in his sleep, simply two weeks earlier than the bout.
Morton had made the stroll with Smith in 57 of 58 of his skilled bouts, due to this fact his absence undoubtedly had an impact.
That’s most likely the primary cause why Smith doesn’t wish to exit on a defeat, having additionally confirmed with Helwani that he’s gearing up for one final dance.
Though he avoided confirming his subsequent opponent, Smith did announce that his final battle will happen in April, subsequently marking his sixtieth skilled bout.
Smith has notable wins over the likes of Rashad Evans, Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua and Alexander Gustafsson throughout his 12-year UFC profession, and can search for another particular victory in a number of months time.
Stats
Reyes
- Whole strikes – 172 of 232
- Vital strikes – 121 of 162
- Management time – 3:51
Smith
- Whole strikes – 21 of 46
- Vital strikes – 24 of 49
- Management time – 0:01
Smith mentioned the UFC didn’t need him of their Energy Slap promotionGettyEnergy Slap has grow to be huge enterprise and White reckons it’s price a minimum of $750mGetty
Energy Slap has acquired combined evaluations since UFC President Dana White launched the slap preventing league in November 2022.
The game entails two contributors taking turns to slap one another as laborious as doable to try to knock one another out.
Many ex-UFC stars, resembling Paige VanZant, have competed within the promotion since turning away from MMA.
A number of brutal knockouts from the promotion’ exhibits have additionally gone viral on social media, prompting a bunch of high-profile folks to sentence White.
Nevertheless, Smith has beforehand admitted he’s an enormous fan of the slap league.
“I’ve been saying it for f***ing months. I cannot get enough of the Power Slap League,” he mentioned 2023.
White claims his $1m funding is now price $250mAFP
“My body is ready for a pay-per-view. I will pay for it. I don’t care how much it costs. I’ll pre-pay. I’ll pre-pay the next ten. I love it! I don’t know why. I can’t give you a reason.”
UFC CEO White claimed final 12 months that Energy Slap had grown 250 occasions its preliminary funding and was price $750million.
He revealed that himself, together with Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta, invested a million {dollars} every to kick begin the slap league promotion.
“You know the original guys; the Fertita brothers were my partners in the UFC,” White mentioned on The Pete and Sebastian Present in Might 2024.
“We bought in 2016 to Endeavor, so my go-to guys I mentioned: ‘Hey, I got another idea. you guys want to do this?’
“They usually’re like: ‘Yeah, we’re in.’ So all of us obtained to pony up one million bucks every and get this factor began.
“That was 13 months ago; it’s a $750 million business [today].”
Anthony Smith has revealed the UFC didn’t need him to compete within the standard Energy Slap promotion.
Smith is making ready for his retirement battle within the UFC following back-to-back defeats in 2024.
Smith fought Jon Jones in 2019 at UFC 235, shedding through unanimous determination
‘Lionheart’ is recent off a dominating TKO defeat to Dominick Reyes at UFC 310 in December and says he needed to participate in Energy Slap, however the UFC denied him.
“I tried. They told me no,” Smith mentioned on The Ariel Helwani Present.
“Straight up, I requested Hunter [Campbell, Chief Business Officer of the UFC], and he informed me no.
“He wouldn’t even bring it to Dana. I don’t know. He said no.”
Smith’s defeat to Reyes was an emotional one, because it marked his first bout in a number of years with out greatest good friend and mentor, Scott Morton, in his nook.
The previous UFC title challenger misplaced his long-time good friend, who handed away in his sleep, simply two weeks earlier than the bout.
Morton had made the stroll with Smith in 57 of 58 of his skilled bouts, due to this fact his absence undoubtedly had an impact.
That’s most likely the primary cause why Smith doesn’t wish to exit on a defeat, having additionally confirmed with Helwani that he’s gearing up for one final dance.
Though he avoided confirming his subsequent opponent, Smith did announce that his final battle will happen in April, subsequently marking his sixtieth skilled bout.
Smith has notable wins over the likes of Rashad Evans, Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua and Alexander Gustafsson throughout his 12-year UFC profession, and can search for another particular victory in a number of months time.
UFC 310: Dominick Reyes vs Anthony Smith
Stats
Reyes
Whole strikes – 172 of 232
Vital strikes – 121 of 162
Management time – 3:51
Smith
Whole strikes – 21 of 46
Vital strikes – 24 of 49
Management time – 0:01
Smith mentioned the UFC didn’t need him of their Energy Slap promotionGettyPower Slap has grow to be huge enterprise and White reckons it’s price a minimum of $750mGetty
Energy Slap has acquired combined evaluations since UFC President Dana White launched the slap preventing league in November 2022.
The game entails two contributors taking turns to slap one another as laborious as doable to try to knock one another out.
Many ex-UFC stars, resembling Paige VanZant, have competed within the promotion since turning away from MMA.
A number of brutal knockouts from the promotion’ exhibits have additionally gone viral on social media, prompting a bunch of high-profile folks to sentence White.
Nevertheless, Smith has beforehand admitted he’s an enormous fan of the slap league.
“I’ve been saying it for f***ing months. I cannot get enough of the Power Slap League,” he mentioned 2023.
White claims his $1m funding is now price $250mAFP
“My body is ready for a pay-per-view. I will pay for it. I don’t care how much it costs. I’ll pre-pay. I’ll pre-pay the next ten. I love it! I don’t know why. I can’t give you a reason.”
UFC CEO White claimed final 12 months that Energy Slap had grown 250 occasions its preliminary funding and was price $750million.
He revealed that himself, together with Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta, invested a million {dollars} every to kick begin the slap league promotion.
“You know the original guys; the Fertita brothers were my partners in the UFC,” White mentioned on The Pete and Sebastian Present in Might 2024.
“We bought in 2016 to Endeavor, so my go-to guys I mentioned: ‘Hey, I got another idea. you guys want to do this?’
“They usually’re like: ‘Yeah, we’re in.’ So all of us obtained to pony up one million bucks every and get this factor began.
“That was 13 months ago; it’s a $750 million business [today].” Learn Extra