The unusual rivalry between Anthony Smith and Alex Poatan has apparently come to an end. The light heavyweight veteran (up to 93kg) revealed behind-the-scenes details of his encounter with the champion during UFC 303 week and made a point of dispelling any animosity, emphasizing the respect they both have for each other.
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“Alex and I have this really cool relationship. I think it's really cool what we have. We're very competitive in general, but when we're in person, I thought it was cool how we showed a lot of respect for each other. Because it's not weird in person. It's unfair of me to talk about him as a fighter and then we get all angry about nonsense. I think it would be unfair of me not to say, on the other hand, like in social situations or when we're in person, he's super respectful,” Smith said.
The provocations between Poatan and Smith began after the American claimed that the former middleweight champion wouldn't have as much success in the light heavyweight division. Glover Teixeira 's protégé didn't handle the criticism well and accused 'Lionheart' of being envious for never having won the Ultimate belt. The rivalry continued to be fueled by both for several more weeks, including a grappling challenge. It seems that the animosity between the two athletes has finally come to an end.
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