Anthony Smith stepped into the octagon for the final time on Saturday at UFC Kansas City, facing Zhang Mingyang in the final bout of his 60-fight career.
Smith had fought for light heavyweight gold (opposite Jon Jones), headlined over a half-dozen UFC cards, and become one of the longest-serving veterans in the UFC’s light heavyweight division.
He entered his final bout the underdog against China’s Zhang, but that was no surprise given one fighter was at the tail end of his career, and the other starting out.
Mingyang fired a side kick to the midsection early, a kick he would return to moments later. Between those attacks the pair exchanged punches over the top; a minute in, they clinched up after another exchange, Mingyang firing a knee in the clinch. Smith reversed, getting Mingyang’s back to the fence. Coming off it, they’d do some hand fighting in close, Smith controlling wrists and firing an elbow, then another. Yet it was Smith getting split open, as Mingyang was firing offense in kind. And Mingyang’s elbows were equally if not more nasty. Soon, Smith was pawing at his eye as the blood trickled into it. Mingyang closed the distance for more, and Smith changed levels, only to have a takedown attempt stuffed. Smith would then try to drag the Chinse fighter into his guard; Zhang just barely missed an illegal kick.
Smith appeared to be fading in the final 90 seconds, bleeding badly, on his knees, and taking damage as Mingyang landed elbow after elbow. With the ref hollering “move Anthony” repeatedly, Mingyang kept smashing away, several blows hitting the back of the head. The ref either didn’t see them, or didn’t consider them illegal, eventually waving off the fight. After the loss, Smith flipped off someone in the crowd and moved to the fence, Zhang Mingyang trying to restrain him.
Cooler heads prevailed, and Mingyang got the celebrate the biggest win of his career. Smith, meanwhile, wraps up a solid run that, while it didn’t produce gold, left him a household name and one of the more recognizable faces at 205lbs.
Hanging it up! Thank you for everything, Anthony Smith! 🤍🦁 pic.twitter.com/5fvGDDXH4m
— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) April 27, 2025
Official Result: Zhang Mingyang def. Anthony Smith by TKO (elbows), Round 1, 4:03
