Charlotte, NC – Anthony Smith spoke with media including Cageside Press on Wednesday about his upcoming fight against Johnny Walker at UFC on ABC 4 on May 13th in Charlotte, NC.
“Lionheart” Smith (36-17) and his opponent, Johnny Walker, were originally scheduled to be the five round main event bout for UFC on ABC 4. It was later announced by UFC officials that Jairzinho Rozenstruik vs. Jailton Almeida wound instead serve as the main event.
Smith was asked generally about being moved from the main event to the co-main event slot and appeared to be completely unfazed before giving context as to why.
“It honestly didn’t make any difference to me. The money’s the same. The paychecks the same- it’s just two less rounds.”
“No. No I don’t.” Smith remarked directly when asked if he cared or not about being moved from the main event slot. “I have never asked for a main event. The only time [thing] I ever asked for was a title shot and I asked for an event in Nebraska. Other than that, I’ve never asked the UFC for anything.”
Smith acknowledged that he has a very dangerous fight against an explosive guy in Johnny Walker ahead of him on Saturday but also pointed to the somewhat wild and high-risk style of his foe.
“But- I mean he’s one of those guys that if you let him- if you give him enough rope, he will hang himself.” Smith further clarified Johnny’s willingness to walk into damage saying: “He’ll walk on to something- he’ll run into something, he’s one of those guys, if you just let him drive himself- he’ll run into something.”
Anthony shut down any talk of ill feelings towards his opposition responding to an earlier comment from Walker remarking that he felt that Smith did not like him:
“He’s fine,” remarked Smith, upon learning that Walker had watched some of his shows and felt that Anthony wasn’t really a big fan of him replied simply with, “Well, that sounds like that’s his problem.”
Smith also gave his thoughts on the new high-profile entry into the UFC’s light heavyweight division, former middleweight champion, Alex Pereira. “I think that Alex Pereira is probably the reward for the winner.”
“I’m a huge Israel Adesanya fan, I don’t ever want to take anything away from that guy. But if Izzy is blast doubling you and controlling you on the ground, you know, a guy like Rakic or Ankalaev or Blachowicz or myself are going to give you the same problems.”
Watch the full UFC Charlotte media day appearance by Anthony Smith above.
