Unbeaten since chopping again right down to his unique weight class in 2022, Brazilian gentle heavyweight Philipe Lins desires to ship Anthony Smith into retirement.
The 2018 PFL heavyweight champion got here up quick in his first two UFC bouts at heavyweight towards Andrei Arlovski and Tanner Boser, however lately rebounded with back-to-back victories over Marcin Prachnio and Ovince Saint Preux. He demolished the latter in simply 49 seconds earlier this yr.
Lins will face Maxim Grishin within the preliminary portion of Saturday’s UFC Vegas 74 on the UFC APEX, and has his post-fight callout prepared in case of an emphatic victory.
“There’s a superb ranked fighter who fought lately, Anthony Smith, and I believe I’m a superb match-up for him,” Lins stated on this week’s episode of MMA Combating podcast Trocação Franca. “I believe it’s a superb struggle. He’s very skilled, fought nice fights and proved he’s very harmful, so let’s go for it. If the UFC asks me [who I want] and desires to present me this struggle subsequent, let’s do it.”
Smith is 36-18 within the sport and as soon as challenged Jon Jones for the UFC belt, however dropped his previous two to Magomed Ankalaev and Johnny Walker. “Lionheart” stated following his most up-to-date defeat he’s “not going out like that,” so Lins desires to be his last struggle.
“It’s time to hold up the gloves,” the Brazilian stated with fun.
“There’s a whole lot of adjustments within the division and that opens area for people who aren’t ranked,” he added, referring to Jon Jones’ full-time transfer to heavyweight and Glover Teixeira’s retirement. “I consider that one other good win will earn me a struggle with a ranked man. I’ve requested for rated opponents earlier than however I really feel that this struggle with Maxim Grishin is smart as effectively. I’m not a younger athlete so I must take massive steps on strategy to my objectives.”
Lins feels he carries no further weight on his shoulders after securing a “much-needed” first knockout win beneath the UFC banner in February. Grishin, a Russian expertise with 32 wins in 43 skilled bouts, joined the UFC in 2020 after a nine-fight unbeaten run, going 2-2 to this point contained in the octagon.
“He’s completed nice fights and fought nice opponents,” Lins stated of Grishin. “I must struggle sensible however on the identical time do what I do finest, which is be aggressive and go for it once I see a possibility. My velocity and jiu-jitsu might be my differential on this struggle.
“Let’s see if I get one other knockout, or perhaps a submission. The vital is that I am going there and get my third straight victory within the group. Folks like to observe thrilling fights and other people getting knocked out, in order that motivates me as a result of it’s my model.”
