Anthony Smith, born on July 26, 1988, is an American former professional mixed martial artist who competed in the Light Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Known as "Lionheart," Smith has had a notable career in the UFC, marked by significant fights and varying levels of promotional compliance pay.
Early Career and Strikeforce
Smith started his career in 2008 and fought mainly for local promotions in the midwestern United States. His Strikeforce debut was on July 22, 2011, at Strikeforce Challengers: Bowling vs. Voelker. He faced Adlan Amagov on November 18, 2011, at Strikeforce Challengers: Britt vs. Sayers. Further appearances included bouts against Lumumba Sayers on August 18, 2012, at Strikeforce: Rousey vs. Kaufman, and Roger Gracie on January 12, 2013, at Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine.
UFC Debut and Return
In his debut, Smith faced Antônio Braga Neto on June 8, 2013, at UFC on Fuel TV 10. On February 16, 2016, Smith was re-signed to the UFC.
UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance Pay
UFC fighters receive Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). This program includes outfitting requirements, media obligations, and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replacing the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.
Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program's payout tiers, fighters are paid based on their experience:
Read also: Biography of Anthony Henry
- 1-3 bouts: $4,000
- 4-5 bouts: $4,500
- 6-10 bouts: $6,000
- 11-15 bouts: $11,000
- 16-20 bouts: $16,000
- 21 bouts and more: $21,000
- Champions: $32,000
- Title challengers: $42,000
Additionally, UFC fighters receive royalty payments amounting to 20-66 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness.
For example, at UFC on ESPN 66, fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $201,500.
Top Finishes: Anthony Smith
UFC on ESPN 66 Compliance Payouts
UFC on ESPN 66 took place at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo. Here's a breakdown of the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts for that event:
- Ian Machado Garry: $6,000
- Carlos Prates: $4,500
- Zhang Mingyang: $4,000
- Anthony Smith: $21,000
- David Onama: $6,000
- Giga Chikadze: $11,000
- Abus Magomedov: $6,000
- Michel Pereira: $11,000
- Randy Brown: $16,000
- Nicolas Dalby: $11,000
- Ikram Aliskerov: $4,500
- Andre Muniz: $6,000
- Matt Schnell: $11,000
- Jimmy Flick: $6,000
- Evan Elder: $4,500
- Gauge Young: $4,000
- Chris Gutierrez: $11,000
- John Castaneda: $6,000
- Da'Mon Blackshear: $6,000
- Heili Alateng: $6,000
- Malcolm Wellmaker: $4,000
- Cameron Saaiman: $6,000
- Jaqueline Amorim: $4,500
- Polyana Viana: $11,000
- Timmy Cuamba: $4,000
- Roberto Romero: $4,000
- Joselyne Edwards: $6,000
- Chelsea Chandler: $4,500
Anthony Smith topped the bill for UFC Kansas City compliance payouts with $21,000 due to his 25 fights in the UFC. The next closest was Randy Brown with $16,000.
Compliance Payouts from Other UFC Events
Here are some compliance payouts from other UFC events:
Read also: British Boxer Anthony Yarde
- "UFC 314: Volkanovski vs. Lopes" - $300,500
- "UFC on ESPN 65: Emmett vs. Murphy" - $161,000
- "UFC on ESPN 64: Moreno vs. Erceg" - $168,500
- "UFC Fight Night 255: Edwards vs. Brady" - $204,000
- "UFC Fight Night 254: Vettori vs. Dolidze 2" - $173,000
- "UFC 313: Pereira vs. Ankalaev" - $213,500
- "UFC Fight Night 253: Kape vs. Almabayev" - $134,500
- "UFC Fight Night 252: Cejudo vs. Song" - $185,000
- "UFC Fight Night 251: Cannonier vs. Rodrigues" - $168,000
- "UFC 312: Du Plessis vs. Strickland 2" - $254,500
- "UFC Fight Night 250: Adesanya vs. Imavov" - $137,500
- "UFC 311: Makhachev vs. Moicano" - $306,000
- "UFC Fight Night 249: Dern vs. Yan" - $165,500
Significant UFC Fights
Throughout his UFC career, Anthony Smith has been involved in numerous significant fights:
- UFC 235: Jones vs. Smith - For the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
- UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Teixeira
- UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Clark
- UFC 261: Smith vs. Crute
Smith was scheduled to face Glover Teixeira on April 25, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 173, but the event was postponed and rescheduled to May 13, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Teixeira.
Personal Life and Incidents
On April 5, 2020, an intruder gained entry to Smith's home in Nebraska. Smith fought the man for five minutes until the police arrived, describing it as "one of the toughest fights" of his life.
Awards and Recognition
Smith has received several Performance of the Night awards and one Fight of the Night award throughout his UFC career.
Read also: Miranda's MMA Mishap