Anthony Smith articulates his reason for displaying a middle finger gesture to a spectator following his defeat against Zhang Minyan: "We're all part of the same clan."
Feeling Salty After Retirement
In the wee hours of April 27, Anthony "Lionheart" Smith, a retiring UFC fighter, found himself inside the octagon for his final bout. In the co-main event, he squared off against Zhang Mingyang, who secured a swift technical knockout win in the first round. Post fight, Smith was showered with a heartfelt video tribute. Yet, before he could fully bask in the moment, he flipped off one of the spectators, donning a Nebraska shirt, who had been heckling him during the event.
On the post-fight show, Smith unveiled the reason behind his angry outburst,
"There was this guy, decked out in a Nebraska jersey, booing me, flipping me the bird, and cussing me out even before the bout. But at the time, I was fully concentrated on my job."
Smith went on to say, "And then after the fight, his buddy started clapping, but the guy kept flipping me off and hurling insults. I was beside myself with fury. He was wearing a Nebraska jersey! We're meant to be one family. Our community isn’t that big... I just couldn't believe it."
Having spent his career sharing the octagon with fighters like Jon Jones, Glover Teixeira, Rashad Evans, Maurício Rua, and Magomed Ankalaev, Smith retired with a 38-22 record.
Incidentally, Smith calls Nebraska his home.
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Remember, I can’t find any reports on Anthony Smith's altercation with a spectator in a Nebraska shirt. To stay updated on recent happenings, check out the latest news reports or verified social media updates from Nebraska-based news outlets.
- Anthony Smith, a retiring UFC fighter who recently had an incident with a spectator wearing a Nebraska jersey during his final bout at UFC, now resides in Nebraska.
- Despite being showered with a heartfelt video tribute, Smith expressed anger towards a heckler decked out in a Nebraska shirt, who booed him, flipped him off, and hurled insults throughout the event.
- During his career, Smith has shared the octagon with several prominent fighters in the realm of mixed-martial-arts, such as Jon Jones, Glover Teixeira, Rashad Evans, Maurício Rua, and Magomed Ankalaev.
- After his retirement with a record of 38-22, Smith referred to the incident at Wrestlemania, mentioning his frustration over the heckler's disrespectful behavior in front of a community that is not supposed to be that big.
