UFC Veteran Announces Retirement Fight Details

Anthony Smith is making his last stand. 

Fresh off a loss to Dominick Reyes in his last fight at UFC 310 in December and the personal loss of his best friend and coach, Scott Morton, the UFC veteran has officially set the date for his retirement fight, and he's not coasting to the finish line. 

On April 26 in Kansas City, Smith will step into the Octagon one last time against Zhang Mingyang, aka “Mountain Tiger”—a dangerous finisher with 18 first-round knockouts to his name.

For a fighter called “Lionheart,” this is a full-circle moment—going out against a young, hungry opponent, just like how he came in. Smith, whose career has been a rollercoaster of wars, upsets, and gritty performances, is set to close the book his way—Frank Sinatra-style.

This announcement comes after Smith’s emotional TKO loss to Reyes at UFC 310 in Las Vegas. That fight wasn’t just another tough night at the office—it was a raw, vulnerable moment for Smith, who was still mourning the recent passing of his longtime coach and friend, Scott Morton. At one point in the fight, Reyes revealed that Smith dropped his guard and told him, “Punch me in the face.”

In a recent interview on The Ariel Helwani Show, Smith admitted, “I cried every single day on my way to practice and on my way back.” The weight of grief, back-to-back losses, and the pressure of his future all came crashing down.

One last fight. One last walk to the cage. One last chance to go out on his terms.

Mingyang, meanwhile, isn’t here for a sentimental send-off. The Chinese knockout artist is riding an 18-fight first-round finish streak, and if Smith isn’t careful, “Mountain Tiger” could send him into retirement with a highlight-reel KO.

Does Smith have one last war left in him? Or will the young lion feast on the veteran’s final stand?

Either way, April 26 is a must-watch.