Shogun Rua’s late-career resurgence came to an end at the hands of Anthony Smith at UFC Hamburg on Sunday.
The main event of UFC Hamburg pitted Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua against up-and-comer Anthony Smith. It was an old guard vs. young guard battle, a possible passing of the torch. Not that Shogun would go quietly. The former UFC light heavyweight champion was on a three fight winning streak heading into the main event in Hamburg. Yet ‘Lionheart’ Smith had only recently put an end to the career of Rashad Evans.
The main event pairing met in the middle, feeling each other out, with Smith circling to one side, eating a leg kick. Shogun took a big swing and a miss, Smith missed on the counter. Smith landed a front kick to Shogun’s face! Shogun kept moving in, but he ate another big punch! Wobbled, he covered up, and Smith attacked, unleashing a flurry of strikes. A number hit behind the ear, both punches and elbows. Shogun looked out on his feet, and the ref was moving in to wave it off while Shogun Rua was still crashing to the canvas. A changing of the guard moment without question. For the second fight in a row, Anthony ‘Lionheart’ Smith had stopped a former UFC light heavyweight champion in his tracks.
WOW‼️ @lionheartsmith knocks out Shogun at #UFCHamburg! pic.twitter.com/hrsZA172vk
— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) July 22, 2018
The big question then became — what is next for Smith? After the bout, Smith pointed out that Alexander Gustafsson was in need of an opponent at UFC 227. “Gustafsson, I’ll see you in L.A.!” he exclaimed to finish the night.
Anthony Smith def. Shogun Rua by knockout, Round 1, 1:29
