Anthony Smith is an icon in the UFC and has seen it all in MMA. This past Saturday, Kahlil Rountree Jr. knocked out Smith. Many people wonder if Smith should retire from fighting. Yet, Rountree has stated that Smith has a lot left in the tank.
Khalil Rountree Jr on Anthony Smith
Smith is a UFC veteran who has had many contests in the MMA juggernaut. He came into the matchup against Rountree on short notice and put on a great showing. It was one of the better battles of the night as the two men laid it all out in the Octagon. Smith showed how tough he was, but it wasn’t enough, as Rountree secured a knockout in the third and final round. The defeat is a setback to Smith’s title ambitions. Yet, Rountree believes we haven’t seen the last of Smith in the UFC.
Khalil Wants Smith to Return
At the post-fight press conference, Rountree says he wants Smith to return.
“The guy can last forever. He can fight ten more fights if he wants to,” Khalil Rountree Jr said. “It could have been a much different fight for him had he had a whole camp, you know? But, he lived up to his name and took the contest against me on ten days’ notice. So, it doesn’t look good to get another loss. But given the circumstances, it’s not what you expect, but don’t be too surprised, right?
“Give him a full camp against someone else,” Rountree continued. “He’s still got fight in him. He (needs to) bring some new people in the corner, you know? I’m not talking about coaches but the circle of influence. Some people around him will encourage him and bring out the best in him. The skill is there, and the experience is there. Smith’s not old. So yeah, the guy can keep fighting for sure.”
Quotes via MMA News
Smith is a great fighter, and we may see him in the Octagon again. If not, the former light heavyweight title challenger has a great career still in the sport behind the desk.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
