UFC 301’s Anthony Smith ‘offended’ Vitor Petrino called him out

Anthony Smith is bored with rising contenders attempting to make use of him as a stepping stone.

Vitor Petrino (11-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) referred to as out Smith (37-19 MMA, 12-9 UFC) after beating Tyson Pedro lower than two weeks in the past at UFC Battle Evening 238. He bought his want, and can face the previous title challenger at UFC 301 on Might 4 in Rio.

Smith is concerned by undefeated Petrino’s callout. After spending years dealing with former champions and the division’s higher echelon, “Lionheart” has not too long ago been combating down the rankings. He vows to make fighters suppose twice earlier than calling him out.

“I’m offended,” Smith mentioned on MMA on SiriusXM’s MMA In the present day. “Why didn’t he name out somebody larger ranked? Why didn’t he name out (Aleksandar) Rakic? So far as timelines go, Rakic goes to be combating quickly. That might be a little bit nearer to your timeline, by way of two guys which are combating across the similar time. Why didn’t you name out Rakic or Volkan Oezdemir? Why didn’t you name out any of these guys? Since you suppose you’ll be able to beat me. You’re undecided in regards to the different ones and that pisses me off.

“I’m not finished. I’m not the previous wounded lion that’s simply pacing round ready to be killed by the youthful ones. That’s not me. I refuse to be the brand new Neil Magny. That’s three guys in a month and a half which have fought, received, and referred to as me out. All unranked, all younger guys. We’re going to useless this proper in its tracks. Name me a gatekeeper. Name me regardless of the hell you need to name me, however right here’s the actual fact: I’ve been combating inside the highest 10 for a really very long time and have been combating within the rankings in two completely different weight lessons for a really very long time.”

Smith isn’t any stranger to shutting down rising contenders. He spoiled Devin Clark’s first major occasion by submitting him, completed Jimmy Crute, and defeated Ryan Spann twice – and he plans on persevering with to stake his declare as a prime mild heavyweight.

“In case your favourite fighter isn’t already within the prime 10, he received’t be till I’m gone,” Smith mentioned. “F*cking prefer it or not, that’s simply the life that we stay in proper now. I’ve bought a profession plan with the place I’m headed and it begins with shutting these younger guys up, after which we’ll go to the subsequent one. …My plan, when that is all finished, is to not have one other younger man open his f*cking mouth with my title in it once more.”

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 301.