To shore up the allure of the upcoming UFC 301 spectacle, the pay-per-view showcase will feature a light heavyweight clash between former title challenger Anthony Smith and burgeoning contender Vitor Petrino. Smith hopes to end the 1-3 tailspin in which he finds himself, with knockout losses to Magomed Ankalaev and Khalil Rountree at the forefront. The veteran 205-pound mainstay owns an 8-6 divisional record in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and aims to kick off his 2024 campaign with a bang. Meanwhile, Petrino, a Dana White’s Contender Series alum, has rattled off four victories within a span of 12 months. That was enough for the division’s stalwarts to take notice, and he has now been tasked with the challenge to take on the No. 10-ranked Smith. The Brazilian can expect to curry some favors from the matchmakers should he upend “Lionheart” this Saturday at Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro.
Prior to the forthcoming Smith-Petrino showdown in Brazil, a look at the statistical intricacies that bind the fighters together:
7: With seven finishes to his credit, Smith has cemented his spot at No.7 in divisional history.
4: Smith has four submission wins on his UFC record, tying him for sixth-best in the light heavyweight division.
5: Occupying the ninth spot on the divisional ladder, Smith has recorded five post-fight bonuses throughout his career.
54: Smith has rattled off 20 knockout victories throughout his career, accumulating a 54% finish rate on that front.
38: The 35-year-old Smith has recorded 14 submission wins, which constitute 38% of his professional total.
11: Petrino has 11 victories on his ledger. The imposing 205-pound prospect has not lost a single fight so far.
64: Petrino has a reputation for possessing dynamite in his hands, punctuated by the seven knockout victories that he has rattled off in his career. They account for 64% of his total.
4: The Brazilian also has four first-round finishes in his career, which only goes on to prove that he does not shy away from swinging right out of the gate.
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