UFC Quote: Anthony Smith Lays Out Scenario Where He Could Jump The Line For Alex Pereira Title Fight
Anthony Smith has laid out a scenario where he could end up jumping the line to challenge Alex Pereira for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
Pereira captured the UFC light heavyweight gold after scoring a second-round finish over Jiri Prochazka in the main event of UFC 295 inside Madison Square Garden in New York City. After the fight, former champion Jamahal Hill was in attendance and he could be heard confidently saying he'd put Pereira away in a title fight.
While the UFC is planning on booking Hill in another title fight once he recovers from an Achilles injury, guarantees are anything but a lock in the UFC. Depending on how Hill's recovery goes, "Lionheart" knows to stay on his toes, especially since he has beef with Alex Pereira.
Speaking to media members ahead of his UFC Vegas 83 clash with Khalil Rountree, Anthony Smith was asked about possibly being able to jump ahead for a title opportunity if he can have an impressive showing on December 9.
"I just think I need to not give them any other option," Smith said. "I know champions always wanna feel like they make all the decisions, but if there is no clear contender and I go in there and I look really good and put myself in a position where people start asking for it, then that's the fight. But, we gotta hurry up and do it quick because we got Ankalaev and Johnny Walker fighting, and then Rakic and Blachowicz. Let's do it quick and then, hopefully, they just wanna sign it really fast before those guys fight [laughs]."
Smith has been caught off guard by the trash talking from Pereira. "Lionheart" believes "Poatan" may have been offended by one of his comments made while doing analyst work for UFC on ESPN. Pereira publicly called Smith "washed up." Since then, Smith has made it clear that if Pereira wants to settle things inside the Octagon, the UFC won't have a hard time getting him to agree.
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