Anthony Smith`s career in the UFC has been notable.
Veteran fighter and former UFC title challenger Anthony Smith is set to conclude his professional career this Saturday at UFC Kansas City, where he will face Mingyang Zhang. This marks the end of an MMA journey spanning nearly 60 fights.
While his UFC record stands at 13-11, Smith consistently faced elite competition. His opponents included two current champions, Magomed Ankalaev and Jon Jones, three former champions (two of whom he knocked out), and five title challengers.
Notable victories for the veteran fighter include submission wins over Alexander Gustafsson and Volkan Oezdemir.
After their 2019 title bout, legendary fighter Jon Jones commended Smith, noting his ‘heart of a lion’ for enduring five rounds and refusing to quit.
However, not everyone holds the same view regarding the 36-year-old`s legacy. One prominent former world champion recently questioned whether Smith`s career warrants induction into the UFC Hall of Fame.
Aljamain Sterling questions if Anthony Smith has done enough for UFC Hall of Fame spot
As `Lionheart` prepares for his final fight at UFC Kansas City, leaving behind a significant mark on the sport, former UFC Bantamweight Champion Aljamain Sterling shared his thoughts on Smith`s potential Hall of Fame status.
Appearing on his YouTube channel, Sterling posed the question: “What would you induct him into the Hall of Fame for, respectively?”
Referencing Smith’s 38-21 professional record, Sterling clarified, “It’s not 38 wins in UFC.”
“He’s had a great run, but I don’t know if it’s [Hall of Fame worthy].”
Sterling considered if Smith had a single standout `Hall of Fame` fight, similar to the induction given to the classic bout between Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum. “Could maybe do something like that, but I don’t know if he has any of those fights,” Sterling remarked.
“But even with that said, I don’t know if it’s enough,” Sterling concluded.
Aljamain Sterling suggests a different type of recognition for Anthony Smith’s UFC tenure
The UFC Hall of Fame has predominantly inducted former champions over the years.
Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone, who holds multiple UFC records, stands as the sole non-champion in the modern wing of the Hall of Fame. This raises questions about other highly accomplished veterans like Jim Miller, the UFC’s all-time leader in wins and fights, and whether they will also be inducted.
UFC Hall of Fame – Modern Wing Inductees
| Mauricio Shogun Rua | Joanna Jedrzejcyzk |
| Frankie Edgar | Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone |
| Khabib Nurmagomedov | Daniel Cormier |
| Georges St-Pierre | Rashad Evans |
| Michael Bisping | Ronda Rousey |
| Urijah Faber | BJ Penn |
| Forrest Griffin |
Sterling offered his perspective on the criteria for UFC Hall of Fame induction:
He stated, “I almost feel the Hall of Fame should be reserved for champions who have sustained success, achieved spectacular feats, perhaps competed and had great runs in multiple weight classes, setting records for title defenses and similar accomplishments.”
“That makes it special because not just anyone could get in,” he added.
Sterling suggested that while fighters like Jim Miller or Anthony Smith might not fit this specific champion-centric Hall of Fame criteria, “I do feel there should be some type of recognition, maybe like a 20-win club or a tenure type of thing.”
“If you’ve been with the company over ten years, that means something, but you’re not technically a Hall of Famer for all your accolades of what you’ve accomplished,” Sterling elaborated.
“It feels kinda wrong because they did accomplish something,” Sterling admitted, “but I think the ultimate accomplishment is becoming a champ.”
Reflecting on Smith’s 13-11 UFC record, Sterling mused, “Do you give him a UFC Hall of Fame shot from that? I don’t know. I’m trying to be fair…”
In contrast to Smith’s situation, Aljamain Sterling himself is widely considered a strong candidate for future UFC Hall of Fame induction, having successfully defended his Bantamweight title against formidable opponents like Petr Yan, TJ Dillashaw, and Henry Cejudo.
