Anthony Smith reveals why he was upset with fans during his retirement fight at UFC Kansas City

Anthony Smith gets angry with fans after defeat in UFC Kansas City. Photo: Reproduction X UFC

Anthony Smith didn't have the retirement fight he planned. In his 60th career fight, the veteran was massacred on Saturday night (26) by the rising star of the light heavyweights (up to 93kg.) Zhang Mingyang, in the co-main fight of UFC Kansas City. 'Lionhearth' was badly injured by the Chinese fighter's blows and lost in the first round by technical knockout.

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And the famous phrase 'nothing is so bad that it can't get worse' was present again. Covered in his own blood and kneeling in the octagon after losing one of the most important fights of his life, Smith still got into a fight with fans at the T-Mobile Center and started showing them the middle finger. He even advanced against the fence to get satisfaction and was restrained by Mingyang. (see below)

Anthony Smith should have fought this dude in the crowd before withdrawing #UFCKansasCity
pic.twitter.com/oyM4cyWMka

— Delinquent MMA (@DelinquentMMA) April 27, 2025

In a post-fight interview with UFC Kansas City, Smith explained why he was at odds with fans.

“There was a guy in a Nebraska jersey booing me and flipping me off and talking trash before the fight. But I was really focused on what I had to do. After the fight, his friend was cheering and he was flipping me off and saying really disrespectful things. I was so mad. He was wearing a Nebraska jersey! We’re supposed to be a family here. It’s not a very big community of people here!” Smith said.

'Lionhearth' is a resident of Omaha, Nebraska, a fact that only added to his frustration after the defeat. Despite everything, Smith described the moment of retirement as 'strange', but he is proud of everything he has achieved throughout his 20-year career.

“It’s weird. Because I’m used to fighting, win or lose, you move on to whatever comes next. You start flipping through your contact list, like, okay, I lost, so I need to find this guy, I need to chase this ranking. You win, you’re looking forward. There’s nothing else. So I refuse to be sad. I shouldn’t be allowed to be sad. It’s been a long journey. I’ve been doing this since I was 17 and I’ll be 37 in a few months. I’ve had enough. I’ve built my life around what I’ve been able to do in this sport. It’s given me opportunities that I never, ever could have had. I’m forcing myself to be happy that it happened and not sad that it’s over,” he concluded.

You will always be remembered, Lionheart!