Anthony Smith Hopeful of Competing in August at UFC Fight Night Lincoln Card

UFC 225 is now available on Amazon Prime.

On Saturday June 9, Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight Anthony Smith is slated to take on former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans as part of the prelims at UFC 225 inside the United Center in Chicago.

Smith (28-13), who used to compete at middleweight, found the weight cut to make 185 pounds a stretch which negatively impacted his family and teammates. He talked with MMA News’ Tim Thompson about his relief that he’s now fighting in a heavier division.

“I just don’t think I can do it to myself anymore. Not only me, I can’t do it to my family and I can’t do it to my coaches and the people that are there with me. It’s took me 12 hours to get on weight the last hard cut. I’m not doing it by myself. How ready is Jim and Mark the next day after getting no sleep, they’ve been cutting weight. I can’t do it to myself, I can’t do it to my family because I’m a much happier person.”

Smith is looking to get through the fight with Evans unscathed on Saturday night so he is eligible to put his hand up to compete on the UFC Lincoln card in August, as the area remains close to his heart.

“I’m less concerned with names and more concerned with location. There’s a UFC Fight Night in Lincoln, Nebraska. I’m gonna do whatever I have to do with Rashad to get him out of there as quick as possible to get a quick turnaround. I made my pro debut two blocks from that arena in Lincoln, almost 10 years.”

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