UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping wants to see his podcast co-host Anthony Smith return to the Octagon despite a concerning performance at UFC 310.
Anthony Smith's fight against Dominick Reyes at UFC 310 is said to be part of his grieving process following the loss of his longtime friend and coach, Scott Morton. But things didn't go to plan against Reyes, as he lost by TKO and reportedly begged Reyes to hit him while he let his guard down.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
After competing for the first time since Morton's death, a tearful Smith teased his retirement in the Octagon at UFC 310. While he didn't explicitly say he was done fighting, he hinted at the steep mountain he had to climb in a attempt to compete again without Morton in his corner.
It was a sad night for fans and pundits after watching Smith compete at the highest levels throughout his career, at one point challenging for the light heavyweight title. But Bisping, the weekly co-host of Smith's podcast, believes Smith should fight at least one more time and prepare as if it were a world championship.
Michael Bisping encourages Anthony Smith not to retire after UFC 310
During a recent episode of the Believe You Me podcast, Bisping talked about Smith's performance and his next move.
“I don't think he should have taken that fight at all,” Bisping said of Smith. “But I don't think he's going to retire. I think when he watches that back, he'll be ashamed of watching it, and it'll inspire him to come back. The world doesn't deserve to remember him like this…
“Maybe it was therapeutic in some ways, but I would love to see him fight again. This is not a sport you play, which is why Dana White says Chris Weidman and Clay Guida should retire. That shit will stick with you,” Bisping continued. “If he fights, I call him and say, 'If you're going to do this, do it for the right reasons. Train like you're training for a world title fight, like you're fighting Jon Jones. Leave no stone unturned, otherwise if you're not willing to do it, you shouldn't even be thinking about it in the first place!”
Before the loss to Reyes, Smith lost to Roman Dolidze via short notice booking at UFC 303. His last win came against Vitor Petrino at UFC 301, a fight in which he looked to return to top form in a first-round victory. .
After UFC 310, UFC CEO Dana White implored Smith, Chris Weidman and Clay Guida to all retire after defeats on the card. Guida has since rejected White's insistence and is preparing for an eventual return to the cage.
Anthony Smith continues to mourn the loss of his longtime friend and coach Scott Morton
Smith is one of the most talented light heavyweights in UFC history with wins over Rashad Evans, Alexander Gustafsson and Volkan Oezdemir. He fought for the light heavyweight title at UFC 235 and fell to Jon Jones by unanimous decision.
In addition to his fighting career, Smith is also a leading analyst for ESPN's MMA coverage. Once he decides to hang up the gloves, he will have a promising career full-time in broadcasting.
In the meantime, as Smith continues to mourn the loss of a key part of his inner circle, fighting is likely one of the last things on his mind after UFC 310. But Bisping hopes Smith will put his best foot forward and give another will fight again. inside the Octagon to give fans a lasting impression.
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