Anthony Smith finally has a fight again.
“Lionheart” had been booked opposite Jamahal Hill for a light heavyweight showdown in March; that was before Hill got the call to face Glover Teixeira for the vacant 205lb title in Brazil last month. With Hill freshly installed as champ, Smith (36-17) will now face Brazilian Johnny Walker (20-7) at the UFC’s May 13, 2023 Fight Night event.
MMA Ideas was first to report news of the booking.
Smith will be looking to bounce back from a loss against Magomed Ankalaev suffered last July. Prior to that, the 34-year old had put together a solid three-fight win streak — and with Anklaev and Jan Blachowicz fighting to a disappointing draw this past December in a hastily assembled title fight, Smith could be just a couple of wins away from another shot at gold of his own.
In his last two bouts, Walker has put together two wins for the first time since 2019. He submitted Ion Cutelaba in September, then returned at UFC 283 last month, finishing Paul Craig by TKO.
The UFC’s May 13, 2023 Fight Night event has one other fight reported for it thus far. That would be a women’s bantamweight contest that sees Jessica-Rose Clark welcome newcomer Tainara Lisboa to the octagon.
